The Detroit times., 1912-03-06
by RUBY M. zAHN.

That England Is the home oil the
brave and the land OF the free - "A
statement which should be followed
with large interrogation points. II the
treatment. accorded the English SUI
fragettes, seeking for the protection
OF the ballot, is any criterion OF It's
bravery or dts freedom.
II We wish TO have a fair under
standing of the suffrage situation In
England, Ii il necessary to become
acquainted with facts which nave
been carefully excluded from almost
all OF the American papers by their
correspondents. Also with the con-
ditfons which have led TO what ,s
termed "the shocking behavior or the
English suffragettes, by some hon
est and wellintentioned Americans,
who neither understand the justice OF
the cause or the spirit OF herolsm
which enables delicately nur.ufed
women, highly educated and refined
women to face the horrors OF a LON
don prison, to be treated as criminals
OF the lowest type, for the sake or
eventually obtaining justice for the
thousands OF half-starved working
women and children unable TO hep
themselves. IL would be interesting
to know how many OF the men aud
women who are so liberal with their
scathing criticism of the English sui
fragettes, would be willing TO sacri-
Zee themselves in the smallest dc
gree for their own so-called prin-
ciples.
One might suppose that going TO prs.
on, being kicked, mauled, trampled
upon in the streets, arms bent back
until the bones crack. arms twisted,
throats seized and the head bent back
until the neck is almost broken. WIFI
countless other tortures practiced
upon them by the hoodlums and
toughs employed for that purpose by
Premier Asquith-that all this vas
a sort OF holiday jaunt. al might seem
10 anyone OF ordinary intelligence,
with any capacity whatever Tor
thought. that there must be some
deep underlying principle involved In
this desperate endeavor OF Engiish
women TO obtain the ballot combined
with a mighty heroism equal TO tnat
OF the martyrs Of old, who suffered
or died for their religion. 1hcse
heroic and noble Englishwomen ac-
/, CIsed by bfgoted or ignorant anti
suffragists OF unwomanly or disorder
ly conduct, regard their efforts as
their highest duty, and consecrate
themselves with long deep and pray
erful resolve TO sacrifice themselves
III necessary to obtain that they ne-
lleve TO be the only means OF chang
ing the condition OF slavery, often
worse than death, OF thousands or
women In England. The knowledge
of the sufferings OF. and the injust,ces
hnt. nh az /
their hearts that they are ready 10
face the horrors. the brutalities, or
the prison. which they know awaits
them. for the sake OF eventually free
ing their sisters from cruelty, vice
aud want. We do not hear OF these
things BY cable, but when anything so
precious as property IS damaged,
tremendous hue and cry is raised, ior
in America as in England, property -
much more valuable than human I've.
Up to the present time the only
sdamage done In England was TO the
suffragists themselves. many OF whom
through the unspeakable brutalltles
of the police, have been injured lot
life. Two women died ,ast year from
injuries received when the women
marched In bands of 10 10 the parla-
ment building TO present their peu-
ton to Premier Asqufth. The mcSt
unavoidable brutalities were prdc-
ticed on these women who were
Kicked and used as footballs by the
police and roughs. in such manner
that London arose and protested,
More than 100 witnesses testified 10
these outrages, and members oil par
lament demanded an investigator,
hint Mr.. Churchill under Mr.. Asqullls
direction, refused 1t.
Because OF this. the nephew OF the
postmast general of England, pup
ffcfy norsewnipped ChurChtft tue
women in these demonstrations were
dlgnified. seIf-controlled determined
and purposeful, but they were always
The defenders. not the aggressCrs,
asking simply for the privilege OF
presenting their petition 10 Mr.. As-
duith Had any premier or any mn
isteF held back measure desired W
an equally large number OF men, the
offending person would certainly have
bean pelted with brickbats or worse.
liut these women. peaceable and per
fectly law-abiding, were arrested aud
sent TO prison for daring TO ever ask
Tor what they had right TO, -When
In prison and refusing the food given
TO criminals were forcibly FED, ahu
in several cases brought 10 deaths
dor. No violence has been too great
' 70 be meted out TO any woman ask
ing for voice in her country's wei
fare.
Mrs. Pankhurst herself was knocked
down, kicked and left unconscious on
The street. Miss Pankhurst and three
friends who happened to come upon
an open-air meeting OF cabinet mia.
ister were pounced upon by several
Englishmen like a pack OF wolves,
and even before their automobile
stopped, tho machine was smashed
the tires cut, and the girls dragged
from the machine, pelted with cods
accompanied by coarse and insulting
language Had II not been that they
were rescued. the girls would prob
ably have been seriously injured. But
no arrests we're made, and II was not
cabled to the United States. No re-
marathon has ever been made TO tue
women who have been the victims OF
Injustice, false arrests and unmCn-
tionable brutalities both in prison and
out. They face solid conspiracy OF
the government, the press, and the DO
~ t. IIaxulrfna Uhn the