Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-02-14
Militant Suffragettes in Riot
English Women, Betrayed" by Premier Become Trouble
some Political Factor in England

Militaney among suffragettes in
London has again assumed alarming
aspect. Led to believe that the prime
minister s cabinet would present the
suffrage amendment before parlia-
ment, militancy has been singularly
quiet for some time past. On Janu-
AIRY 27 Premier Asquith announced
that, although he desired to fulfill
his promise to the women in the pre-
sentation of this bill, the knowledge
that it would have no chance of pas
sage forbade such course. Mrs. EN-
cline Pankhurst, leader of the mill
tant faction of the suffrage move
ment, declared at once that the with
drawal of the bill was the result of
conspiracy of which Premier AS
quith had actual and positive knowl
edge. "The answer to this treach-
cry" said Mrs. Pankhurst, "is mill
tancy."
So, the windowsmashing campaign
is on again in earnest. Women and
their sympathizers throng about the
fashionable streets and pay as little
respect to the costly plate glass fronts
of high-priced jewelry stores as to the
four-paned side-lights of the less pre-
tentious. Mail-boxes have again come
into prominence as the special OBJ.
jects of attack, the militants drop
ping acids into them with disastrous
effects upon mail matter. Street
speeches serve constantly to stir up
the flames of discomfort and to widen
the breach between contending fac
tions of the suffrage movement. For
those who favor quiet campaign
through an awakening of public senti-
ment give no sympathy to the mill
tants. Attempts have been made to
forcibly enter the house of commons,
an action that called into requisition
extra guards of police and resulted in
several arrests. 1t is said that Chris
label Pankhurst, said to be the brains
of the movement, is in London direct
ing the movement from some secret
place.
For decades the women of England
have been fighting for equality of
suffrage with the men. Their cause
has gained steadily during recent
suffrage with the men. Their cause has
gained steadily during recent years.
From 1886 until 1912 every suffrage
bill presented has passed the House
of Commons until last year. In near
ly every instance the majority has
been substantial. Last year the ma
jority against it though slight, re-
vealed the truth about the suffrage
movement, according to those opposed
to militancy. The militant movement
began in 1905. From that year it has
been carried on with varying degrees
of ferocity, finding a climax last year
in window-smashing and mail-box-
tampering campaigns that far eclipsed
all other efforts of the kind in behalf
Of the suffrage movement. This cam
paign had its effect upon the House
members, for they refused to support
the bill they had willingly endorsed
in previous years. As result of these
violent measures a number of the
/ leaders were arrested and three of
them were sentenced to nine months
terms in prison.
In support of the militant move
ment it is pointed out that every
movement for rights in the past has
been accompanied by similar tactics.
The American colonists gained free
dom from taxation without represen-
tation by means of demonstrations
such as these. Universal suffrage for
men was gained in England by the
use of the torch and the bullet. The
suffragists who have adopted militant
tactics declare they will use rocks
only so long as they are effective in
bringing about the end they seek,
this declaration bearing the ominous