Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-05-06
Wild Disorder Attends Free Speech
Meeting in Trafalgar
Square.
FIGHT FOR TWO HOURS.
Angered by Police, Crowd Routs
Commissioner With Shower
Of Eggs.

+ u1SOlQGI UCCuIIeu J eStSINdy d. tllc
demonstration in Trafalgar square
under the auspices of the Free
Speech Defense committee. The po-
lice tried to prevent speeches from
the Whitehall side of the Nelson
column and only the Intervention of
James Kier Hardie, socialist and in
dependent labor member of the
house of commons, who was chair
man of the meeting prevented SER
ious riot.
AS it 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 social
with bands playing the "Marseil-
laise,' reached Trafalgar square,
10000 persons had gathered there,
and as many more were in the sur
rounding streets.
Permission to hold a meeting was
given at the last moment on the I'M
derstanding that no suffragettes be
allowed to speak. Unable to secure
permission to march as an organiza
ton, the supporters of the Women S
Social and Political union marched
with the lockers, their colors flying,
preceded by a huge banner inscrib-
ed: Where there's a will, there's
way" Flags of the Women's So
cial and Political union were hoist
ed on the plinth from which they
waved continuously during the
meeting.
Trouble began when a socialist
speaker started to address the crowd
from the Whitehall side of the COL
umn. The promise had been given
that no speaking should take place
on this side because of interference
with traffic. A husky police 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 speak
er. 1t looked for a time as if their
efforts would prove successful, but
mounted police ruthlessly rode
down the rioters. James Kier Hardie
then interviewed and the socialist
speaker was allowed to regain his
place.
In moment 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 some clothes left
in the hands of the police.
In retaliation a police snatched a
suffragette banner from a girl who
was waving it from the back Of one
of the Landseer 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 so general
that Commissioner Wells, command
ing the mounted police, ordered the
Whitehall side cleared.
The order was carried out so
roughly by the horsemen that Com
missioner Wells, noting the temper
of the crowd, retired in favor of an
other commissioner. AS he was
leaving Wells was showered with
eggs and oranges and other mis-
siles.
Fights between the police and the
people then became general, the
chief results Of which were battered
faces and minor injuries on both
sides. Many rioters were arrested,
but the crowds. succeeded in rescu-
ing most of the prisoners.
Requested to do SO by the police,
James Kier Hardie asked the crowd
to dispense, which they did reluct-
antly. Mrs. Despard and other suf-
fragettes spoke without interference
in spite of the interdict. Any at
tempt to arrest the women, in the
temper of the assemblage, probably
would have resulted in a dangerous
situation.
Addresses denouncing the govern
ment's alleged interference with the
right of free speech were made BY
several members Of parliament. A
letter from George Lansbury, form
er socialist member of parliament
and now a militant leader in the
suffrage cause, who was bound ov-
er Saturday in the sum of $4,000 to