The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-23
Horrible Rawness" of Christa-
bells Writings Arouses So
ciety for Prevention of Vice
and Action May be Taken.
Greater Part of Articles Cannot
be Quoted in Newspaper
Nor Can Subjects be More
Than Eiinted at---Agitaion
Increases Sales.

NEW YORK, Oct. 22.--There wan
a prompt stirring up Of official activ-
lily, physical as well as mental, among
both public and semi-public officials
today, when complaints began to come
to the district attorneys office to the
police. to the offices of the society for
the suppression of vice and to the
chief magistrates office about the
writings of Miss Christabel Pankhurst
in the copies Of the militant's English
weekly publication, The Suffragette,
which Were sold by young girls to
anybody and everybody at the meet
ing, addressed by Mrs. Pankhurst on
Tuesday night.
Anthony Comstock lost on time in
hurrytng up to the criminal courts
building. where the head of the 500
ciety for the suppression of vice asked
to see District Attorney Whitman, per-
sonally. The district attorney and Mr..
Comstock were cioseted for some time.
CIoscted with Comstock.
At the end of about half an hour
Mr. Comstock hurried out. seemingly
bent on business. Mr.. whitman would
make no comment on the nature OF
his talk with Mr.. Comstock. but tho
vice society's head admitted that he
had gone to the district attorney on
business pertaining to the contents Of
THE Suffragette."
One county official. however, voiced
his sentiments freely, asking only
that unless official action has been
taken he would prefer not to be quoted
by name.
vile, absolutely vile" said the on
cial. why. even in the medical
books I've seen, these subjects are
at least. presented wivnout the hor-
rible rawness of this girls writings.
Think of a lot of young girls going
around peddling this stuff right out
in public to anyhody--to other young
girls. for instance-without him
drance. And even in a medical work l
saw recently the chapters devoted to
the subjects which Miss Pankhurst
writes of, with almost appalling blunt
ness. were. in the medical work. all
published in Latin. so that the ignor-
ant layman who might only find filth
in them. would be unable to read the
chapters"
The greater part of the articles by
Miss Pankhurst in 'i-tle Suffragette.
to which the attention OF Mr.. Whit
man, Commissioner waldo Magis-
trate McAdoo. and others was drawn
today, cannot he quoted in news
paper In fact even the subjects
treated Of can only be limited at In
some cases.
Sales Are Boosted.
The minute that those who had got
copies OF various numbers of The Suf-
fragette on sale at the Garden Tues
day night. began to tell their friends
of the nature of the contents of some
of the issues, business in the sale OF
complete sets of twelve numbers or
the paper began TO grow brisk at Mrs
o. II P. Belmont's political equality
association rooms.
BY late afternoon Miss Mackenzie
and several other women suffraEists,
aided by n man. were hundling up
sets of twelve copies SO fast that they
were selling sets which were incom-
plete, or which had duplicate num-
hers In the pile. Shortly before
o'clock tonight the young man as
sistant VINO was wrapping up the bum
bles of the Paper at a big table in.
the middle of room In the rear of
the quarters Of Mrs. Belmont's organ
izauon. was compelled to cali out that
there ARE only sets Of eleven left
now"
Did this particularly active sale of
the paper Begin the reporter asked
Miss Mackenzie, after II became pub
lie this afternoon that the authorities
were thinking of taking action against
the sale of The Suffragette?"
Miss Mackenzie answered. II believe
the sales did become brisker then. But
really, | don't think. that had any
thing to do with duickenins sales.
Probably the friends of those who
bought copies at Madison Square Gar
den last night have Just begun "a
learn about the paper this afternoon
Refuse tn Talk.
About the room were perhaps ono
WI al the p{1n6
up. Miss Mackenzie said that most
of these had been shipped from the
other side. ''by our paying a large sum
TO send them under bend" Mrs
Pankhurst had added to these all she
was able to bring along in her lug
gage.
whether or not our officials will
follow the action already taken by
England In confiscating and forbid
ding the sale Of the publications could
not be learned authoritatively tonight.
But no doubt was left in the minds
or those who sought official opinion
that various officers are hard at work
gathering data from The SuFragette
pages. and making other preparations
to see whether or not the facts war
rant legal interference Immediately.
Neither Mrs. Pankhurst. nor Mrs.
Belmont would consent to say any,
thing on the interest the authorities
are taking In Miss pankhurst's write
ings when interviews were sought with
them at Mrs Belmonts house fhiA
evening Both were resting" callers
were told. and, the messenger added
neither Mrs Pankhurst ror Mrs Bel
mont could be disturbed for the resi-
of the night
Try $4,000 Damage Suft Today.
The trial of the case Of Eugene Paul
Metxger against the Virginia Railway
and Power company for 5000 will ~;
begun in the Law and Equity court N.
day. Plaintiff who sues hy HIS mart
friend. Henry l. MetrEAr his. fath~4