The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-12
REAPING THE WH1RLW1ND.

The militant s~uffragettes Of Eng
iand, having sown the wind, are reap.
ing the whirlwind. which is natural
pleasant. So long as the advocates Of
equal suffrage confined themselves to
the use Of the same methods that are
used by rational beings to further their
cause. they were treated with respect.
They had meetings in halls or out
doors free from interference. and were
freely accorded liberty to spread their
doctines from the platform, through
the press. or as they pleased. People
listened to them; some were con-
lie hostility against the movement was
shown. and there was no more inter.
ference with their meetings than with
any other meetings held for any other
lawful purpose. But the progress
made was lot rapid enough to suit
. some Of the partisans. and there be-
a a campaign of violence which
could have but one result. 1t is hay
ing that result now The riff-raff OF
the streets who cheered on those who
were engaged in fantastic and GRIM
inal antics SO long as the disorder
amused them. have grown weary of
the fNrce. and will have no more of
1t. Jeers now take the place of cheers.
n women who a short time ago
were making stink spots of the mail
boxes are now assailed With rotten
eggs when they attempted to speak in
public. The d%isorderly crowd that was
with them for a time is now against
them, and the same police who were
kept than busy in the effort to
protect persons and property from in
sane and destructive attacks are now
busy trying to protect the perpetrators
of these outrages from the anger Of
the crowds who have wearied Of their
amusement. And some o" the very
women who are still engaged in the
destruction Of property hystcrically
demand the protection of the govern
ment whose authority they nave de-
fed. Could anything more absurd be
imagined?
There can be no doubt that the dis
order In Washington on the 3rd was
due in no small measure to the antics
Of the London women. The suffrage
campaign in this country has been an
orderly one. though there have been
recommendations for the use Of ex.
IRENE measures. which. fortunately,
We're not needed. But the unfavora-
BILE impression created on this side by
the proceedings across the water at
tached in some degree to the perfect
~ peaceful n lawful movement at
home. The crowd is seldom discriln-
mating. 1t is not given to the making
of fine distinctions. A cause is con.
demned often because Of the excuses
Of a few of its advocates. Let a com.
pany Of women parade in any city of
the United States in the interest of
votes for women and no matter how
orderly they may be. the thoughts of
a large number of the spectators will
turn inevitably to the throwing of
bricks. the smashing of windows and
the burning of buildings. because these
things have accompanied the agitation
in another part of the world.
All this does not excuse those per.
sons who interfered with the Wash
ington parade, O the failure of the
authorities to prevent interference.
But 1t points to the inexorable fac,
that one of the surest ways to kill off
a movement n bring it into disre.
pute is to associate it in the public
mind with violence and a general dis.
regard for law and order and decency
Next year the people of North Da.
kota will vote on the granting of the
franchise to ONE Many splendid
women are enlisted in the cause OF
securing for themselves and their sis.
tiers the right to vote. They can dc
"a, - -. ~ go, ---- =