The chronicle=news., 1914-06-26

hurst's public career in the cause OF
ballots for women; and 1t has been
the plan Of attack of a much small
er percentage Of the years through
which her family have struggled to
put women on political equality
with men.
Her father and mother were strong
suffrage advocates and workers for
many decades before the present
celebrated leader was old enough to
mount stump. other relatives OF
forgotten days also spurred Mrs.
Pankhurst to her life work. She
married a London barrister who was
throughout his career devoted to the
women's cause. Only many years af-
ter his death did Mrs. Pankhurst and
her three daughters startle the world
with their appeal to force. ...-..
IT was the endless delays with
which the English government met
them, the wiles of constitutional
subtleties, the trickery, the broken
promises, the belief that they might
lose even with a clear majority for
them in the House of Parliament,
which finally caused Mrs. Pankhurst
to cry aloud. That is literally the
first form militancy took. Mrs.
Pankhurst and few chosen follow
crs started interrupting meetings
with questions.
While heckling the speakers at
such a public meeting In 1905 Chris
label Pankhurst and Annie Kenny.
the latter a factory girl OF remark
able character, were arrested.
In these days OF wholesale arrests,
feelings. ambulanccs. hatch
cts and firebrands. this statement
does not sound startling. But 1t
shocked England at the time. Intel
ligent Englishmen knew the Pank-
hurst family. their intelligence. re-
finement and ability. The brick
seemed to take effect.
Mrs. Pankhurst then conceived her
militant plan. She resolved to press
her advantage. She said once that
she was helped to her decision by the
advice of Sir Henry 1.mpbell-Ban-
herman, premier before Asquith:
You will never win by quiet means.
You must pester and irritate.'
To perfect the organizaNp pn of her
militant force, Mrs. Penkhurst
sought and obtained an interview
with General Bramwell Booth. COM
mander OF the Salvation Army. and
invited his advice on the ordering
of the great undertaking.
The general counselled Mrs. Pank-
hurst to adopt a plan of military or
ganization on lines largely similar
to that of the army At her request
he wrote out such explanation of the
system as seemed ada to her
needs and advised her that as COM
mandins officer she must insist that
her general orders should be implic-
lily obeyed. Those who failed to
do so must leave.
With this idea In mind, Mrs. Pank-
hurst sent ou circular announcing
that the Union would be formed on
military lines, that the officers must
be obeyed and the commanding offic-
er supreme. Any who objected to
such a form of government were
asked to withdraw. A number did
withdraw. among them Mrs. Despard
and Lady Cook Tennessee Claflin {.
The Women's Social and Political
Union attempted nothing soldierly In
costume. though the colors-white,
violet and green-are displayed In
such way on the dress of every
member that they nave almost at
tained the dignity of Il uniform.
For almost eight years now the
Women's Social and Political Union
has fought. 1t was some time before
the women could bring themselves To
do any great damage. Letter boxes
were destroyed by the process OF
pouring vitrol into them or dropping
lighted matches through the open
ings. Golf greens were attacked.
Annoyanccs of all sorts were prac-
ticcd.
AS time went on the extent of the
outraScs Increased. Larger and fin
cr structures were put to the torch.
Mrs. Pankhurst was arrested tabout
ten times In all) and at each arrest
the vindictivencss of her followers
became deeper.
They had their medals of honor
Hundreds who had been arrested and
subjected to torture, perhaps de-
served. in Jail wore proudly the in
sienit of their suffering on their
breasts.
Then came the first martyr. En-
lily Dawson. She hurled herself
Ia.