The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-05-06
WORDS BARRED;
ACTIONS SPEAK
Wild Scene of Disorder in Trafalgar
Square-Many Battered Faces
Come From Clash With London
Police That is Near-RiOt.

Square-Many Battered Faces
Come From Clash With London
Police That is Near-RiOt.
London, May 5.-Wild scenes of
disorder occurred yesterday at the
demonstration in Trafalgar square
under the auspices of the free speech
defense committee. The police tried
to prevent speeches from the White
hall side of the plinth of the Nelson
column and only the Intervention
of James Kier Hardie, Socialist and
independent labor member of the
house of commons, who was chair
man OF the meeting, prevented a
serious riot.
AS 1t was the disorders many
times eliminating in fisticuffs be-
tween the crowd and the police con-
tinued for almost two hours.
BY the time the marching So
c1alist labor and other organiza-
tions with bands playing the Mar
sellaise reached Trafalgar square,
10000 persons had gathered there
and as many more in the surround
ing streets.
Permission to hold a meeting was
given at the last moment on the un-
derstanding that no suffragette
to secure permission to march as an
organization, the supporters of the
Women's Social and Political Union
marched with the lockers, their
colors flying preceded by huge
banner inscribed:
Where there's will, there's
way"
Flags of the Womens Social and
Political Union were hoisted on the
plinth from which they waved dur
ing the meeting.
Trouble began when Socialist
speakers started to address the
crowd from the Whitehall side of
the column. The promise had been
given that no speaking should take
place on this side because of inter
ference with traffic. A husky DO
lice sergeant, standing on the
plinth, hurled the speaker down on
the heads of the crowd below.
The crowd then rushed the plinth
and endeavored to replace the
speaker. 1t looked for time as If
their efforts, would prove success
full, but mounted police ruthlessly
rode down the rioters. James Kier
Hardie then interfered and the So
cialist speaker was allowed to re-
gain his place.
In moment a suffragette at
tempted to climb to the plinth. The
police below tried to pull her back
but sympathizers ON the platform
succeeded in dragging her up after
she had sacrificed same clothes left
in the hands OF police.
In retaliation policeman snatch
| ed suffragette banner from a girl
who was waving 1t from the back of
one of the sea lions. She struck
the policeman in the face and her
friends regained the banner, minus
the staff.
The struggle angered the crowd
and the disorder became 80 general
that Commissioner Wells, com
manding the mounted police. order
ed the Whitehall side cleared The
order was carried out SO roughly by
the horsemen that Commissioners
Wells, noting the temper of the
crowd, retired in favor of another
commissioner. AS he was leaving
Wells was showered with eggs and
oranges and other missiles.
| Fights between the police and
people then became general, the
chief results OF which were batter.
ed faces and minor injuries on bott
sides. Many rioters were arrested
but the crowds succeeded In rescu
ing most Of the prisoners. Their,
were large number of isolated en-
counters.
Requested to do so by the police
James Kier Hardie asked the GROVE
to disperse. which 1t reluctantly
did. Mrs. Despard and other suffra
gettes spoke without interference,
Any attempt to arrest the women
In the temper of the assemblage
probably would have resulted in
dangerous situation.
Addresses denouncing the govern
ment's alleged interference wit
the right OF free speech were mad
by several members of Parliamen
including Mr. Hardie, Josepl
Clement Wedgwood and JOSEPH
Martin, Liberals and Robert Gun
ingham-Graham. A letter from
George Tansbury, former Socialis
member of Parliament, who wa
bound over Saturday in the sum O
$4,000 TO keep the peace, wa
read, demanding free speech.