Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-11-26
SUFFRACETTES
BEAT ASQUITH
British Premier Assaulted by
Hundreds Of Women
SCORES WERE ARRESTED
irate Women Denounced His Promise
Of Franchise Bill at Next Session Of
Parliament as a Trick.

FaiNauSWh 40 q iifSNs
Premier Asquith. OF England. while
on his way from his official residence
in Downing street. London. to parlia-
ment. was attacked by crowd Of suf-
fragettes.
The premier received a blow from
one oil them and escaped rougher
treatment only through the interven'
ton of the police.
Mr.. Asquith had. earlier In the day,
yielded to the opportunities of the
suffragettes and In the house of com.
mons announced that II he were still
In power at the next session OF parlia.
inent the government would give IA
cilities for the consideration OF wo-
mans franchise bill so framed as 10
admit Of free amendment.
II seems that the premier's promise,
instead OF placating. only infiamed the
women. who decided that Mr.. Asquith
was playing with them.
At meeting at Caxton hall Miss
Christabel Pankhurst characterized
the minister's statement as wholly un
satisfactory and nothing more nor
less than an insult TO the cause The
women. she shouted, considered the
premier's attitude a declaration of war
and they would answer the challenge
Immediately.
No sooner said than done. With a
rush the women emptied the hall and
caNnro1 hundred aeN 81 - Cd
Downing street. With unexpected good
fortune they encountered Mr.. Asquith
en- route, and before the premier real.
ICED the situation, he was surrounded
by irate suffragettes. II was not long
before he recognized that he was in a
hostile camp. and without any prelim-
inaries Miss Henrietta Williams struck
the government leader. at the same
time calculating:
You tax women as heavily as men,
yet women are not represented in par.
lament"
Shrill police whistles brought officers
from all nearby quarters. and as the
women struggled among themselves
for the privilege OF getting at him. the
premier was hustled into taxicab.
As the car started OFF. with bound
Miss Williams made another attempt
to reach its occupant. and in doing so
put her fist through the glass OF the
car window She was pulled away. still
crying Traitor" and Coward"
About 100 women were arrested.
The trouble did not end with the es.
cape OF Mr.. Asquith. Robbed of their
special prey. a big body OF women
broke through the police barrier and
reached Downing street. For a con.
siderable time pandemonium reigned
in the vicinity OF the ministerial resi-
dences and government Offices.
Shrieking women. many OF them
armed with bamboo poles that had
been used to support banners. but now
serves as lances, fought like Amazons,
desperately attacking the police and
clawing and kicking to such good pur
pose that the police line was broken
and the officers forced temporarily TO
retire.
Police reinforcements were hurried
TO the scene and, throwing themselves
against the rioters. checked the adj
vance.
Women and their male sympathlzers
were hurled to the ground. In many
instances the officers literally dragged
the women out of the fighting zone
and thus saved them from being tram
pied to death by the mob behind. It
was some time before the police sue
ceeded In clearing Downing street.
a litter OF millinery bits OF cos
tunes. handbags and torn banners
gave evidence OF the flerceness with
which the field had been contested