New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
Jealous of Governments Capitu-
lation to Miners, Women Start
a Menace to Trade
Movement.

fOre tney were dDle 10 IlldSleT tHtN loi'c
and restrain them the streets were COW
cred with shattered plate glass that once
had been the show windows of stores.
1t was window breaking expedition
solely, and a thoroughly organized one.
Hundreds of windows i'm many of the
most famous shops of the world and in
several OF the government offices and
clubs were wrecked. The damage done
will aggregate many thousands Of
pounds sterling. The losses. however.
will not all fall upon the shopkeepers, as
many OF the show windows, especially
the costly ones, were covered by in
surance against breakage
One hundred and fifty women were
dragged to the police stations by police
or excited and indignant merchants
Many others. however. escaped All
those arrested were released during the
course of the evening on bail. coupled
with promises that they would refrain
from further activities in window wreck
ing
Trafalgar Square the Centre.
Some OF the shopkeepers who saw tho
storm coming were able 10 close their
shutters and barrlcade their shop doors
against the infuriated suffragettes. The
trouble centred about Trafalgar Square
where the big steamship companies have
their passenger offices. the windows
OF several of which were shattered. and
ranged eastward along the Strand and
westward TO Regent street, Piccadilly
and oxford street. where are situated
the fashionable Jewelry and drygoods
houses.
Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst tho veteran
Of many a suffragette battle. struck the
first blow. In an automobile. accom-
panied by a Mrs. Marshall and a Mrs
Tukes, she drove up 10 the Prcmier's
residence. No. 10 Downing street. at q
o'clock this evening. The three women
quickly jumped out OF the machine and
drew out stones concealed in their muffs
simultaneously three missiles sped
through the air. followed Instantly by
still another one. and four windows
crashed in before the police. who arc
women. The trio were. Of course ar
rested. but even while being led to the
station house they managed 10 heave
missiles through the windows Of the
Colonial Office.
Pandemonium broke out in the shop-
ping district at the same time. Taxicab.
were the favortc vehicles Of approach
used by the suffragettes. and large num-
bers OF innocent looking women were
helped out Of them by porters stationed
In front of stores. There was no hesita-
tion on the part Jf the women once they
! had reached the ground and the porters
were so bewildered at seeing supposed
customers produce bricks or hammers
and at hearing show windows crashing
that a majority of the offenders we're
able to lose themselves in the crowds be-
fore the guardians Of the shops could
collect their senses Those Of the women
who did not use taxlcabs merely walked
along the street cracking or smashing
windows with hammers, while crowds
followed them cheering or hooting
Polio, Were Powerless.
The police we're wholly unable 10 deal
with such wholesale and widespread
outbreak and at least nine-tenths of the
window attacking army did their execu-
tion unmolested. The air was filled with
sounds Of police whistles yells, the
slammng d'wn Of blinds and the shrieks
of frightened female shoppers, these
being punduatcd now and then with
cries of Votes for Women" Whenever
n plate ghss was shattered there the
| crowd sur;ed. and the employees Of the
shop were rushed to the street 10 pro-
tect the show window from being looted.
| Not even the establishments of under
| takers wge spared by the angry suffra-
| gettes.
So Systematically and quickly was the
| work of obstruction accomplished that ii
was well ended before the police reserves
could be called out. Hundreds Of extra
policemen are on duty tonight protect
ing the damaged buildings. while thou
sands Of sghtseers are tramping the
streets 10 view the havoc wrought.
| The mffragette leaders declare that il
Is their purpose TO continue their cam
naign OF window breaking until, like the
| coal miners, they force the government
t. take up their claims for suffrage in
order To protect business interests.
Altogether one hundred and fifty suf-
| fr,eettes were arrested, among them
| many prominent leaders in the move
ment. Roughly speaking, between
dozen and a score OF shops each I'm the
Strand. Piccadlly. Bond street and Re-
gent street and half dozen each in
Oxford street, Cockspur street and the
usvmarket had their windows smashed.
Tetroit. March miss Sylvia Pankhurst.
daughter of Mrs. Emmene Pankhurst.
leader of the British votes for women"
rios expressed no surprise to-day when
| sbe heard Of the outbreak in London.
Mss Pankhurst. who Is In Michigan on
sna,king tour. said she had been expecting
| for several days u hear that such move
ue,t had been sarted. All details Of the
window smashing campaign had been care
| fully IIanned, sic said, and the work OF
! to-day was to le continued until the de-
mands Of the suTragettes were granted.