The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-04-14
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Suffragettes and Anarchy

To the Editor of the Age Herald:
was surprised to find in the leading
editorial of Saturdays issue of the Age
Herald, the following expression:
Mrs. Pankhurst and her coworkers
may be lawbreakers-the are certainly
revolutionary-but they are not criminals
In the ordinary sense of the word. They
want the ballot, and they seem to think
that 1t can be obtained by acts of vio-
lence. They may misiudge the situation.
They may be guilty of poor politics. but
they are not guilty as mere criminals .
As we understand by this that the Age
Herald teaches that any group of per-
sons who want anything in the way of
legislation, and seem to think that it
may be obtained by acts of violence
and commit such acts of the worst and
most destructive kind, on the largest
scale which they compass, and with
utter Indifference as to whom they injure
OF destroy, cease to be criminals and con-
spirators and are merely Revolutionary,
and "coworkers'
According to this view is the man who
wants anothers purse and thinks he
can get it by acts of violence" not q
criminal lin the ordinary sense of the
word?' Or, if this deduction from the
doctrine is too comprehensive, does it
merely apply to those things which can
only be obtained by legislation? Then
are the dynamiters who wanted to
''unionize Los Angeles not criminals
because they Thought it could be done
by violence?''
Would the prohibtionists of Birming-
ham not be criminals if, believing that
the legislation they want could be OBJ
tanned in that way, they should begin to
destroy the city, not only the saloons and
public buildings, but private property in
Guiding that of their friends?
~. A.
ties who want free whisky, If they should
take similar course? Or does your
theory apply only to one thing: the bal
lot? If so restricted, then would the
Chinese, the Japs, the recently immi-
grated aliens from Europe and the young
men under age, If each should start
similar campaign of destruction and in
timidation be not criminals, but merely
ievolutionists, co-workers?
The teaching of the editorial is suf-
ficient basis for the rankest anarchy
that has ever been taught In this coun-
try 1t only needs the practical applica-
ton of the principles which you lay down
by implication at least-that as these Of
Tenders are not criminals, but o,fy guilty
OF 'misjudging the situation" and of
poor politics which are rot offenses
against the law; they cannot justly be
punished by penal sentences. This CON
cession to violence will bring about the
end of government by law and delibera-
ton, and introduce government by dyna-
mite, arson, murder and terror and in
vite every element which has something
to accomplish in law making, and adj
herents enough to make an extensive
campaign of destruction possible, to adopt
that successful method
There are thousands of men ready to
vote. "for votes for women" that is, for
American women who have not shown
themselves unfit to govern by law by
trying to overthrow law by Violence who
would be greatly grieved If such utter
ances as that above quoted should en-
courage our women to adopt Militant
methods, and would feel compelled there
by to withdraw their support from a
cause whose leaders had utterly lost their
sanity and sense of justice.
S. d. PALMER