The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-03
BRITISH TO STOP
FEEDING BY FORCE
Commons Pass Bill Aimed at
Hunger Strikes.
MRS pAnknURsT ON TRIAL


Of Measure to Release suffrasette
Prisoners Who Refuse to Eat In
Jail.
London, April Bin discussing a
bill to circumvent hunger strikes" by
suffragettes. Reginald McKenna, the
British home secretary. urged the
house OF commons not to attach too
much importance to the terrible
tales of suffering caused by forcible
feeding" After huch opposition the
bill passed second reading.
Publicity" said Mr.. McKenna. "is
the keynote Of the militant suffragette
propaganda Alternately the suffra-
settes shock the public by the yio-
lence of their outrages and attempt
to enlist sympathy by publishing tales
of their sufferings in prison. But these
prisoners have declared war against
society, and the government is respon-
sible for law and order"
Mr.. McKenna said that the proposed
law, which provides for the temporary
conditional discharge Of prisoners
whose detention Is undesirable on &C.
count Of i'll health, would give him q
power which would make forcible
feeding unnecessary.
The home secretary explained that
under the existing law only three
courses are open to those responsible
for prisoners who begin hunger
strike. They must be either released,
forcibly fed or food placed in their
cells and the prisoners allowed to die
II they do not take it.
AT the present time," said the home
secretary, I'VE have no power to re-
lease prisoners without renting their
sentences altogether If the new bill
Ia passed we can release on ticket OF
leave prisoners whose health is SUI
fering for want Of food"
James Keir Hardie, the Labor lead
er, moved the rejection of the bill, de-
claring that the government by break
ing its pledges to the women was it.
self responsible for the militant cam
paign.
Lord Robert Cecil, Unionist, opposed
the bill on the ground that it would
not get rid of forcible feeding. Asked
what his remedy would be. Lord Rob.
ert replied deportation, but when
questioned as to how he would pre-
vent the women from going on hun.
ger strikes during the voyage he gave
no explanation.
Sir Gilbert Parker supported the bill
because he wished the home secretary
to be given sufficient power to en-
force sentences against lawbreaking
suffragettes.
Mr.. Hardie's motion to reject the
bill was defeated by vote of 335 to
SO, and the second reading of the
measure was then carried, 296 to 43.
Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, from the
prisoners enclosure at the Old Bailey
court house. pleaded mot guilty" to
IL charge of having s.eounseled Ger
t&lr ps1sons whose uiGz1es are IN
knoNn to p1ace fel6nlouSly ard mall.
ciousIy certain gunpowder and other
explosive substances with intent
thereby to damage" David Lloyd
Georges country house at Walton
Heath
The suffragette leader, frail looking
and pale, found the courtroom crowd
ed with women wearing the suffregette
colors. She turned composedly to Sir
Charles Montague Lush, the Judge,
and announced Il will defend myself. F"
A table was assigned to her for her
papers.
Archibald H. Bodkin, counsel for
the treasury, followed the arguments
used during the preliminary hearing
in the police court. He said it was not
suggested that Mrs. Pankhurst was
present at the time the bomb waa
placed in Lloyd Georges house. but
the prosecution charged that she was
an accessory before the fact.