New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-21
WOMEN'S PLEA TO WILSON
OPENS DOOR TO MILITANT
CIamor of American SuffragistS
a Factor in Decision to Ad-
nit Mrs. PankhurSt.
PROMISES TO BE GOOD
President Holds There Is Ele-
ment of Doubt Whether Acts
Involve Moral Turpitude
or Political Offence.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Oct. 20.-Pressure brought
10 bear upon the Secretary Of Labor by
the President resulted to-day In an order
admitting Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the
British militant suffragette, to the United
States over the decision OF the board OF
special inquiry, which ordered her de-
ported.
II was recognized here that politics
played An important part in the appeal
because of the clamor Of American bI1ra-
gists for the admission OF Mrs. Pankhurst.
There seems TO be no question that the
rising power OF woman suffrage through
out the country was a material factor In
Secretary Wilson's approval Of the de-
clsion Of the Commissioner of Immlgra-
ton. Anthony Caminetti.
Under the terms OF the order Mrs.
Pankhurst is admitted to this country
on her own recognizance. with the under
standing that she will depart from the
United States "a soon as she has filled
her lecture engagements. Assurances
were given by the attorneys representing
her that she had engaged return passage
on the Majestic, TO sail November II.
Her counsel also assured Commissioner
Caminetti that she would not engage In
miltancy during her stay in this country
Commissioner Caminetti supplemented
his original order in the case tonight
with the following statement:
There is nothing in the record or he
fore me to indicate that the British gov
eminent desires that Mrs Pankhurst
shall be returned to England and tire
evidence OF record indicates that while
she was placed under a sentence Of three
years penal servitude, she has served
only small part OF the sentence, and
apparently no effort has been made TO
compel her TO serve the balance; but. as
matter Of fact. marked leniency has
been shown toward the applicant by the
English authorities Shall this govern
men. deny even temporary asylum when
by SO doing less consideration would lie
shown Mrs. Pankhurst than England has
displayed?
Mrs. Pankhurst states. and counsel
throughout the case have asserted, that
she is coming here only for a short visit
for the specific purpose OF fulfilling en-
fragments 10 deliver lectures, that all
that is desired IS that she may be allowed
10 carry cut these engagements.
Upon carefully considering the entire
record and all Of the circumstances Of
tn case. / conclude that the best dispo-
siuon tU make OF the matter will be to
m, h. nF oil ~ n n
cerqed and admit Mrs Pankhurst on her
owl recOgrizance. 10 depart from the
country ~ the termination OF her engage
me1ts and so recommend"
In his memorandum to the Secretary
the Commissioner described the case In
hand as follows:
Alien Is a native Of Manchester, Eng
land. aged fifty-one; travelling alone; Is
a widow. with three children in Europe ,
paid her own passage: has no occupa-
ton: has been In the United States twice
before, once In the autumn OF 1909. and
again from October 1871. TO January. 1912;
going TO friend, Mrs o. II. p. Belmont.
Madison avenue New York City: has
5000. The board excluded alien. by
unanimous vote. az person who has
been convicted OF q lclOnN, OF OtnsI
crime or msdemeanor, which, in the
opinion Of the board. involves moral
turpitude.
Secretary Wilson said that he and the
President had discussed the question
briefly.
We agreed" he said. that Mrs Pank-
hurst should be admitted on her own
recognizance. Being admitted on her
own recognizance. Of course, II she vio-
ates any OF our laws We have two RENE
dies our courts may pass on her acts
or We may deport her There being the
element Of doubt as to whether moral
turpitude or political offence was involved,
we decided that we have sufficient safe
guards and that there can be no harm
in admitting her"
At the headquarters OF the National
Woman Suffrage Association the news
was received joyously, but all the officers
said they expected nothing else. Sup
porters OF the suffrage movement in Con-
grcss received the announcement without
making formal statements