The Sentinel=record., 1914-06-19
MISS PANkHURST ON THE JOB
Her Determination to Carry on Hun ger Strike on the Steps of House of Commons Causes the Prime Min. ster to Weaken.

isluoui June ls.-ffemler ASqulth has capitulated to the suffragetes. He has consented to receive a depu- tation of east end workingwomen in Downing street Saturday.
 Miss Sylvia Pankhurst's attempt to carry out her threat of hunger strike at the entrance to the house of commons unless the premier yield ed to the demand that he listen to a delegation of women was largely re- sponsible for the prime minister's de- cision.
 The victory is a distinctive one be- cause Miss PanlAhurst was arrested about a week ago for attempting to demand an audience with Mir. Asquith.
 Holloway jail opened it's doors to- night to release Miss Pankhurst, weak and pale after her eighth sue cessive hunger strike. The militant leader drove to Westminster and re. buffed Kier Hardie's efforts to per suade her to go home. She was sit ting on the steps of the central en- trance to parliament house, propped up with cushions and supported in the arms of friends when Mir. Lans- dury came out with the news that Premier Asquith had surrendered.
 The militants' plans were arranged effectively. When their leader emerged from Holloway jail on the arms of two attendants, a motor car was waiting, filled with cushions. Two nurses took charge of her and propped her up. A group of militants had gathered outside Westminster and when the car drove up they cried Heres Sylvia!"
 A large force of police was on duty but they made no objection when the automobile entered the palace yard under Big Ben. This is the members private entrance and always has been forbidden ground to the militants. Crowds began to assemble and the police were reinforced but they main tained an attitude of watchful wait. ing.
 MT. Kier Hardie emerged from the house bareheaded and talked with Miss Pankhurst. Then the chief of police, Mir. Hardie, made three jour neys between the house and the car obviously acting as a go-between in the negotiations. Sylvia talked to him in a weak whisper.
 Seemingly the independent labor members efforts were a failure. for after the third conference Miss Nora Smythe, Miss Pankhurst's lieutenant, announced to the bystanders:
 We are going to the house of com mons to sit on the steps,
 MT. Hardie explained to the crowd that the militant leaders had re- quested admission to the house. which was refused. The car started and drew up at the public entrance to the house of commons. Women carefully arranged the cushions on the steps and lifted Sylvia out while the police showed back the specta. tors. Miss Pankhurst remained un molested for ten minutes. Then Mir. i4ansbury appeared with the news of Premier Asquith's decision.
 The position on the steps then was abandoned by Miss Pankhurst. who was carried to her car and driven away. Several members witnessed her departure and the crowd gave a cheer. The chief liberal whip after ward issued statement to the news papers saying Mir. Asquith gave his consent to an audience several hours before Miss Pankhurst paid her visit to the palace yard. The statement added that she had not been fed forcibly during her last incarceration because she was too weak.
 The police raided the houses of three militants today in search of in eliminating papers. Miss Barbara Wylie announced this fact at a meet ing of the Women's Social and Politi- cal Union tonight.
 The residences UT Mrs. Manzel Mrs. Schutze and Mrs. I.oety were searched" said Miss Wylie, but the police retired as they came and found nothing"
 Sire continued:
 But does it not strike you that we are living in free country and yet