The Washington herald., 1914-06-21
sI.5R.NO
Total

lOldl ..s..--....-...--.-.-s St.0tvsuuD
MilItancy. few seem 10 remember, has
been the feature Of but a small percent
age Of the years of Mrs. Psnkhurst's pub
lie career in the cause OF ballots for
women. and il has been the plan of at
tack OF a much smaller percentage of the
years through which her family have
struggled to put women on a 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 a stump.
Other relatives Of forgotten DAYS also
spurred Mrs. Pankhurst 10 her life work.
She married a London barrister, who was
throughout his career devoted to the
women's cause. Only many years after
his death did Mrs. Pankhurst and her
three daughters startle the world with
their appeal to force.
TrIcLed nv Statesmen.
II was the endless delays with which
the English government met them. the
wiles of constitutional subleties, the
trickery, the broken promises, the belief
that they might lose even with a clear
majority for them in the Houses of Par
Lament. which finally caused Mrs. Pank-
hurst to cry aloud. That is literally the
hurst and a few chosen followers start
ed interrupting meeting with questions.
While hecklinE the speakers at such
public meeting In 1896 Christabel Pank-
hurst and Annie Kenney. the latter
factory girl of a remarkable character.
were arrested.
In these days of wholesale arrests.
forCibIe feelings, ambulances. hatchets.
and irebrands. this statement does not
sound startling. But il shocked Eng
land at the time. Intelligent Englishmen
knew the Pankhurst family, their intel
ligence, refinement, and ability. The
brick seemed 10 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 CampbeIl-Bannerman premier
before Asquith. You will never win by
quiet means. You must poster and irri-
tate"
Got Gen. Booth's Advice.
To perfect the organization Of her mill
tant force, Mrs. Pankhurst sought and
obtained an interview with Gen. Bram-
well Booth. commander of the Salvation
Army. and invited his advice on the
ordering Of the great undertaking:
The general counselled Mrs. Pankhurst
to adopt a plan OF military organization
on lines largely similar to that OF the
army. At her request he wrote out such
explanation Of the system as seemed
adapted to her needs and advised her
that as commanding officer she must in
sist that her general orders should be
implicitly obeyed. Those who failed to
do so must leave.
With this idea in mind Mrs. Pankhurst
sent out circular announcing that the
union would be formed on military lines.
that the officers must be abeyed and the
officer supreme. Any who
objected to such a form of government
were asked to withdraw. A number did
among them Mrs. Despard and
Lady Cook Tennessee ClafinD. The
Women's Social and Political Union at
tempted nothing soldierly in costume,
though the colors-white, violet, and
green-are displayed in such a way on
the dress of every member that they have
almost attained the dignity OF a uniform
For almost eight years now the wom-
ems Social and Political Union has
fought. II was sometime before the
women could bring themselves to do any
great damage. Letter boxes were de-
stroyed by the process of pouring vitriol
into them or dropping lighted matches
the openings. Golf greens were
Annoyances OF all sorts were
practiced.
They Used the Torch.
AS time went on the extent of the out
RACES increased. Larger and finer struc-
tures were put to the torch. Mrs. Pank-
hurst was arrested Cabout ten times in
AID. and at each arrest the viLdictive-
ness OF her followers became deeper.
had
Hundreds who had been arrested and
subjected to torture, perhaps deserved.
N Jail wore proudly the insignia of their
on their breasts.
Then came the first martyr. Emily
Dawson. She hurled herself among the
yalloping horses in the Derby last year
,aught the bride of the Kings horse.
.hrew him. and was so badly trampled
BY the hoofs that she died a few days
ater.
Some of the followers were alienated
~ the growing violence of the campaign
In October, 1912, Mr.. and Mrs.
9ethick Lawrence, whose wealth had
yeen a great aid, left Mrs. Pankhurst
they parted friends and with perfect
'rankness on both sides. At this time
Hrs Pankhurst said:
ave have been grossly betrayed by
he government and that warrants
nilitancy. 1t is our only weapon. Alarm
st rumors are a1oat TO the effect that
We intend to make attacks upon human
ife. To that we give an absolute and
denial"
But six months later the methods of
British officialdom had caused her view
o change. Following her conviction in
Did Bailey and her sentence TO three
fears' penal servitude. Mrs. Pankhurst
aid CApril Il. 1879: Human life Is now
n peril. for we have resolved no longer
% respect ii, and trouble of all sorts
must be faced"
In her speech to the judge and jury.
he had furnished the motto for her SUI