The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-22
Her FIRST TALK
Mrs. Pankhurst Opens Her
Lecture Course in America
With an Address at Madison
Square Garden, n. Y.
AUDIENCE MOSTLY WOMEN
She Declares Violence Is a Ne
cessity in England.
The Only Way to Get British
Parliament to Act.

New York, Oct. 22-MrS. Emmeline
Pankhurst addressed in Madison
Square Garden her first American
mass meeting, explained why militant
methods for the cause of woman suf-
frage are followed in England, but not
in America, and defended the employ
ment of such methods. She criticised
the British government as the most
conservative on earth, and held it re-
sponsible, through failure to enact
legisla ton desired by women, for ad-
vocates resorting to violence to obtain
the ballot.
Only through dynamic means, she
declared, could English women hope to
secure laws dealing with white slavery,
i dustrial evils and other conditions
affecting women.
Provisions had been made for an
overflow meeting at Madison Square
Garden, but the big hall, with a seat
ing capacity of about 10000 persons.
was scarcely one-quarter filled.
Mrs. Pankhurst was introduced by
Charles Edward Russell, Socialist can
didate for mayor. The audience, the
ajority of them women, made a DEM
obstruction lasting two minutes when
the English militant leader tried to
speak Women stood on chairs and
frantically waved handkerchiefs and
yellow flags. Mrs. Pankhurst closed
her eyes and waited for the enthuSi-
asm to die away.
ton authorities Mrs. Pankhurst spoke
of with praise, declaring the work at
Ellis Island admirably done and the
immigrants cared for there far better
than are the poor, alien and native, in
Great Britain.
II have been accustomed to plead
ing my own cases in England she
said. Il wanted to go to Washington
and plead my own case there. 1 want
to thank those who pleaded for me
there and thank the American public.
I do not think the Washington author
tiles and 1 do not think President Will
son wants to be thanked. He would
say, did my duty I congratulate
the American people, who have officials
in high places who perform their duties
az they see them"
Violence a Necessity.
women tried persuasion and argu-
ment in England, peaceful means that
have been effective here" Mrs. Pank-
hurst said. These failing, violence be-
came necessary. Nothing was ever got
from an English parliament except
through violence" she said. THE ma
chinery of the British government is an
elaborate arrangement of how not to do
anything. Whatever social legislation
mas been secured has been due to 'wo-
mems civil war; and much of it was
granted to soften the spirit of the suf-
fra gettes.'
The old age pension law, she declar-
ed, was granted to save Winston Spen-
Ger Churchill his seat in the cabinet.
The names of Churchill, Asquith and
Lloyd George evoked kissing.
BY nature laW-abiding, hating vio-
lence and disorder, Mrs. Pankhurst said
she had from the beginning felt abSo-
lutely guiltless, for she believed there
was no other way to secure Women'S
rights. THE women who have drawn
the prizes in lfe's lucky bag are the
ones who are waging this war; she
said. THE women with good fathers,
good husbands, good brothers and who
are engaged in useful industries, they
are fighting for the women of all
classes"
Mrs. Pankhurst discussed equal suf-
frage and white slavery. White slavery
she characterized as more awful even
than negro slavery in it's worst form
slavery are slaves of every color and
they are all of one SEX She criticiz-
ed England's fogging act, providing
punishment for white slave agents.
why don't they go to the seat of
the evil?" she said. why don't they
punish the customers? With no de-
mand there will be no traffic. Give the
women the opportunity to frame the
legislation and there will be no white
slavery. The government of the coun-
try is the biggest white slave firm we
have got.''
Mrs. Pankhurst answered American
critics who have said she came on a
mOney-making mission. Benja min
Franklin went to France for aid for the
American revolution, she reminded. and
Irish law-breakerS came here to gather
money to carry on their campaign "and
Americans responded" she continued,
why should I not come to ask help?
What helps women in England will help
them all over the world