New-York tribune., 1912-03-13
MAY Be DYING FOR CAUSE
Sylvia PankhurSt Fears COndI-
tions in Holloway Jail.
"lF A LIFE WERE LOST
Youngest Suffragette," Here on
a Visit, Says All Opposition
Would Be Swept Away.

N'cAHNi' anu tNNit tliilf Stlt VI Iioilp-
way Jail. where her mother. Mrs. Emme-
line Pankhurst. leader of the London suf-
fragettes. is doing penarce for window
smashing. she looked as II there was a
lump in her throat.
Even as We sit here talking" Miss Pank-
hurst said. looking out into the rain from
the library at the home of Miss Alice
Lewison. at No. 43 Fifth avenue, where she
H. visiting some dreadful tragedy may be
taking place in Holloway jail. We know
that the suffragettes are put in damp, un-
heated underground cells. and that they
are being subjected to forcible feeding.
which, physicians are agreed. is extremely
dangerous. 1t has been used Of late upon
ordinary criminals in the jails and two men
have died These women are delicate, II is
quite possible
Would the suffragrettes be-er-gad--er
approve stammered a reporter. and
Miss Pankhurst turned upon him tlercely.
Wants Her Mother to Live.
do you think want my mother TO die?''
We'll, er-of course not-but somebody
"Or do you think I want my friends to
dic-my friends that are just like sisters to
me- as we've been working together in this
cause?"
And how do they themselves feel? II
has been stated that the women were pre-
pared to give their lives
THE individual women yes. may feel tina
they are willing to die for the cause. but
you can't expect their friends TO be glad.
answered the youngest suffragette. 'o'
course, IL life were lost ii would simply
sweep away all the opposition; the public
would be so furious the government could
not stand against them. Besides, ever
three or four lives are nothing compared
to the thousands, even millions. OF womer
who are being sacrificed to the presen
system. That's why we are hghtlng'
What do you think Of Lady warwick
statement that women will not gain tn
ballot for fifty years."
II do not care to discuss Lady Warwick
She is not serious politician. Anybod!
who has seen ker--oh. what does she know
Of life, anyway
Lady. Warwick to the contrary, therefore
the youngest suffragette." who Is phy
sician's daughter, said that the womei
would win their victory lin this session
Parliament" The word male ls 10 p
eliminated from the manhood suffrage pll
and votes given TO all women, not merei!
the favored few. The government, MIS-
pankhurst said. would find il could n
longer resist the appeals OF the surra
gettes
=
"Then the window smashing has not In
tured your cause?"
Don't YOU think that man whos
windows have been smashed Is gong U
insist on having this kind OF thing stop
He knows there is only one way, and heI
force the government TO yield TO us. W
know what we're doing. We're not noon
gans. not roughs, and this KIND OF thiii
is not easy for us to do. were naturaii
Ilaw.abiding, self-respecting citizens'
wbom the community should be proud
Americans ought to trust us 10 KNOW
what's best for the cause. why 90 peopi
always criticise who don't know anythih
about the situation and have never peei
on the ground?
.ya,re only doing what men have AWAY
done and taking mems advice. we pa
,Io,tIv tried peaceful measures for loni
,;r,a without effect Then Balfour told u
to kick up row. and We nave Canip
heII-Bannerman told us to make hui
sarce of ourselves and we'd get what w
wanted That's what we're trying 10 no.
"Tbe reason we suddenly took to breaKih
tho windows Of private property Is Una
that IS more OF a nuisance. Wheh We a'
,ackad government property the loss cam
an, y, the taxes. 1t didn't hurt the gov
eminent any and didn't hurt the peopl
much because, being borne by everybody
only a little OF the burden fell on any on
class Now we're aiming at the big insur
ance companies.
After Moneyed Interests.
eft isn't the little shopkeepers we're anx
ions 10 hurt (they don't suffer, anyway. 10
they're all insured); it's the big moneye'
interests that must be behind the govern
,,ort or they couldn't have withstood pub
,ic opinion so long We want the insuranc
companies on our side now. The shopkeep
org are there already. Even when thei
windows are broken they tell us to keel
right on!''
Now, Miss Pankhurst," interrupted
edostv person, what We really want 4
know IS where your sister is"
sylvia's dimples peeped out OF her ros!
English cheeks.
"Sbe is directing the campaign" she said
demurely.
'.Is she coming to New York;
"Why should she travel so far ava!
from the scene OF the campaign she Is di
recting? New York is four or five days dis
tance."
'Do you know where she is yourself?'
Really. you don't expect me to disclos'
state secrets. I'll tell you this. though. Sh'
pnnHc AND PUBLICATIONS.