The Washington herald., 1913-10-21
MRS. PANKHURST And CAMINETTI
give THEIR VERSIONS OF THE CASE
Commissioner Of immigration Makes Public His Findings
After Setting English Militant Free Decision Really
Made by President Wilson In Record Of Secret
Hearing Is Story of British Leader 5 Activities

Commissioner of Immigration Caminetti
made public last night his reasons for
having reversed the Ellis Island special
board OF inquiry. and admitted Mrs. EN-
neline Pankhurst, the militant suffragist,
10 this country. The commissioner also
made public for the first time a summary
of Mrs. Pankhurst's testimony before the
Ellis Island authorities.
Although Commissioner or immigration
Caminetu promulgated tile order revers-
ing the findings of the Ellis Island Off
cials, it was in reality made by President
Wilson. The President and Secretary of
Labor Wilson held a long conference,
going over the details of the case, and
their decision was telephoned to Com
missioner Caminetti.
Under the decision admitting Mrs.
Fankhurst on her own recognizance, she
may be deported at any time IL she
should cause trouble. There was doubt
in the minds of the President, Secretary
Wilson, and Commissioner Caminetti as
to whether the crime Tor which Mrs.
Pankhurst had been convicted in Eng
land involved moral tuTpitude, or was
really political in character. II was this
doubt which influenced them to admit
her.
Findings OF Caminetti.
The settling OF the case has been a
of petitions and protests had poured in
Cpon the White House and Department
OF Labor since Mrs Pankhurst was held
mp. In fact, the case was as near to
heing a real hornets nest as anything
that the administration had encountered
thus far.
Commissioner CaminettRs findings in
he case were as follows:
There is nothing in the record before
IL D.Fe eN-E.
nent desires that Mrs. Pankhurst shall
ne returned 10 England; and the evil
ience of record indicates that while she
vas placed under a sentence Of three
years penal servitude, she has served
unly a small part of the sentence, and
apparently no effort has been made TO
compel her to serve the balance. AS
matter of fact marked leniency has been
shown toward the applicant by the Eng
lish authorities. Shall this government
deny even temporary asylum. when by
so doing less consideration will be shown
TO Mrs. Pankhurst than England has
displayed?
Mrs. Pankhurst states, and counsel
throughout the case have asserted, that
she is coming here only for a short visit,
for the specific purpose Of fulfilling en-
Gagements to deliver lectures; that all
that is desired is that she may be al
lowed to carry out these engagements.
May sfIn BE Deported.
Upon carefully considering the entire
record and all of the circumstances of
the case / conclude that the best dis
position to make of the matter will be
10 accept the assurances of all parties
concerned and admit Mrs. Fankhurst on
her own recogniZance, to depart from the
country at the termination of her en-
gagements. and l so recommend"
Commissioner Caminettis recommenda-
ton. with his summary OF the testimony
in the case, was sent to the Secretary of
Labor, as his superior officer, and was
indorsed by him. That ends the matter,
unless Mrs Pankhurst should do some
thing which would compel the Federal
authorities to move for her deportation.
The record of the secret testimony taken
before the board of inquiry at Ellis Is
land shows that Mrs. Pankhurst gave her
age as fifty-one years, widow, with
three children living in Europe. She was
going to visit her friend. Mrs. o. Fl. p.
Belmont. Madison Avenue. New York
City" and had 5000.
Testimony of Militant.
Mrs Pankhurst's testimony before the
special board was substantially as fol-
lows the quotations used being her own
words:
She has been in prison eight times;
has been convicted five times; was con-
victed first about six years ago for vio-
Iation of a police regulation in con-
nection with an attempt she was making
to present a petition to Parliament, the
specific charge being "obstructing the
police in the performance of their duty
quite common charge in England" Mrs.
Pankhurst asserts that the second con-
Viction occurred about five years ago
and was for exactly the same thing
attempting TO present a petition. and
also for a speech made in Trafalgar