The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-11-19


Mrs. Psnkhurst, DivlSe Into Small
Squads and March to Parliament
euiIdIns-scrimmases Start over
e. Possession Of Banner Poles, Which
Are contscated by officers-Told
h That Their Case Is Hopeless.
London, Nov. ia raid Of suffra.
settes on the house of commons re.
suited In 119 arrests. Three of the
prisoners were men. The raid was
preceded by a meeting at Caxton
hall at which all sorts Of dreadful
things were predicted. Mrs. Pethick
Lawrence, one Of the speakers, warn.
ed her hearers that their deputations
might meet with "hostilitles." She
asked them to be merciful toward
the enemy when once they were ar
rested. The enemy" she explained
were the police, who were mot men
of today, but machines of the new
home secretary" 1t was possible. she
said, that the police had received or.
ders not to arrest but to beat the
women down.
In order to comply with the police
regulations The suffragettes then di-
vided up into a number of minor
deputations, each composed of 13
members. Mrs. Emeline Pankhurst
led the first detachment to the at
tack on the house of commons, the
police doing everything In their pow.
,er to facilitate the progress of the
women. Other deputations followed
at short intervals. They found par
lament square crowded, mostly by
men, among whom were a number OF
American sailors from the warships,
who viewed the scene with puzzled
Amazement. But there were also
many women waiting to swell the
ranks OF the approaching army.
Many OF them were mere girls. Just
as soon as the deputation led by Mrs.
Pahkhurst arrived, series of scrim-
images began.
4 Somebody seized one OF the suffra-
gette banners. The women made a
desperate effort TO regain the bamboo
pole Of the banner, which threatened
to become dangerous weapons,
whereupon the police confiscated all
OF them and broke them across their
knees. Each seizure led to a sep
arate scrlmmage, the police coming
In for a pummeling. which they took
with good-natured forbearance.
But for the presence OF the police
there would probably have been a
long list of casualties among the
women. Several women fell and
would undoubtedly have been tram.
pied under foot without the ready
aid Of the nearby constables. One
determined woman attempted TO get
inside by strategy. She climbed the
wall near one entrance to the house
Of commons, but found a deep drop
on the other side. She let go. never
theless. but a policeman who had
seen her danger rushed forward and
caught her. breaking the fall AS it
was. the, woman walked away limp
ing badly.
The police finally succeeded in
clearing Parliament square by ar
resting the women who refused to
disperse quietly, leaving Mrs. Pank-
hurst's deputation outside the st.
Stephen entrance to the house.
Shortly afterward three Of their
number were allowed to enter. where
they were received by Prime Minis
ter's Asquith's secretary, who In
formed them that there was no
chance OF their measure being car
ried at this session Of parliament.
4, At least 400 women participated In
the demonstration. The only casual.
ty OF any consequence 30 far report
ed Is that OF a policeman who was
badly gashed In the hand. apparently
by knife.
An amendment offered in the house
Of commons by Viscount Castlereagh
OUnionisD. that an opportunity be
given to discuss James Keif Hardies
motion calling for further facilities
for the woman's suffrage Cancellation
bill. was defeated by vote of 1893 to
So. MIR. Asquith announced that he
would make a final settlement on the
question Of woman suffrage next
week.