New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-19

had heen his futile efforts AT forcible feed
,r which were barbaric in their cruelty.
Mr. Smith called on the Home Secretary
n resign from the Cabinet as ne was
homeless failure" AMI the present serious
state Of fairs could he ended only by
strong men.
Sees Danger Of Lynch Law.
lord Robert Cecil. another Unionist
member. foresaw the possibility OF lynch
law II the fanatical women were allowed
70 continue their tactics He advocated
the deportation OF the militant suf-
frsrettes for an indefinite period
Reginald McKenna. the Home Secre-
,arv. who defended himself with cOnsid-
srabe warmth. characterized the criti-
cisms as unfair and not frank. out OF
sxty-two women who had been SEN
fenced to Jail since January !. he said.
Ugh, had been released before the COM
rlstion OF their sentences. All of these
women had been let go because they re-
fused to eat food All OF them were suf-
fering from complaints which prevented
attempts at forcihle feeding. the Home
Secretary said and he added that many
Of the militants We're actuated nv a de-
termination 10 make martyrs Of them
selves being ready 10 starve to death
for the cause
MrMcKenn8 said he had 10 face this fact
daily. and by bitter experience ne knew
these cases could be dealt with only in
t'vidually and by exercising patience.
The Home Secretary added that the
only alternatives under the existing law
were 70 let the women die or let them
ont he refused TO let them out. and he
wished DE- could deport them, but it was
doubtful whether Parliament would
grant him the power 10 DO SO.
send them 10 Ireland. interjected a
ay Hibenan voice.
". McKenna added that he intended to
ssk for an increase of powers to enable
him to allow the women out on license.
a condition Of which would be the making
| ot periodical reports TO the police. with
liability 10 further Incarceration il the
same were found 10 be necessary. He
believed tDis method would prove ef-
,ective
Nh McKenua told how one woman IN
prison sponged herself all over with hot
water and remained uncovered all night
IN the hope of catching her dee IN Of cold.
Others pretended TO take their food. hut
s1ueptitiOusly starved themselves. so as
10 become exhausted and die in prison.
Some had voluntarily self-tortured them
selves by thirst. refusing 10 touch milk or
water They were actuated. he said by
me fanatica determination not merely 10
bring the law into contempt but to mar
Vrize themselves so that their heroic
example" might act as "A stimulus to
others engaged in the cause. Humanity
ne concluded. slowly but surely would
'ndeavor 10 break down the movement.
Plan to kidnap Home Secretary.
Sir Arthur Markham. Bart, VINO is a
LIBERAL and normally a supporter Of the
soyernment, remarked that there was q
! conspiracy on foot among the militant
\ sfragettcs TO kduap Nome Secretary
Nckenna lie hoped the fOrcble feeding
awaiting the Home Secretary would give
him the backbone he lacked at present.
The militant Sunragette Union to-day
issued copy Of a letter received by Mrs
Emmeline Pankhurst from her daughter.
sylvia, now In Holloway Prison. 1t was
N the following terms:
Dearest Mother: ! am fighting fight
ins fighting have four. five or six
mattresses every day. IS We'll as two
doctors. ] am fed through the stomach
1Oe twice a dav. They pry open my
mouth with a steel gag, pressing it in
Nhere there is a gap in my teeth. I re-
Isl all the time Ny gums are always
osedins. ! am afraid they may be saying
nat We do not resist. vet my shoulders are
''ulsed by the struggling while they hold
ne tube in my throat used TO feel |
MOULD 20 mad AZ first and be pretty near
H. as think they feared. but / have got
VT That and my digestion is the thing
most likely to suffer now. SYLVIA"
protests Against Forcble Feeding.
W a big public meeting here to-nie mt
j ,'Vhs protests were registered against the
u''lDe feeding Of Imprisoned suffragettes.
4 pshop OF Lincoln. who presided. de-
"eu mat the suffrage movement was a
"'n' demonstration Of moral force
against brute force.
''"hston Forbes-R Robertson. the actor
MANAGER asserted that forcible feeding
.'u not be permitted i'm America.
george Bernard Shaw. the writer, said
vas Illegal. but that Reginald McKenna,