Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
Discussions Within Pankhurst
Family Threaten to End
Their Leadership.
DAUGHTERS DISAGREE
ON FUTURE METHODS
"Sufrajitsu" Is Latest Art Employ
ed to Defeat Election From
Public Places. 4
LONDON, February Is. ieI


Discussions within the Pankhurst fam
lly threaten TO end its leadership of the
militant suffragette army, according to
assertions by some of the younger men,
oers of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES formally
as the women's Social and Political
Union. 1t is said that the dissensions
are rife in the inner circles of the union.
and that the outcome may result in
Gripping the elaborate campaign which
the war cabinet OF the militant organi-
zation had planned for this year. at the
same time ending the sway which the
Pankhursts have exercised over the So
ciety since the Pethick-Lawrences were
forced out of its ranks last year.
1t has become an open secret that
Christabel Pankhurst is anxious to end
her long exile in France, for she knows
that her mother is not well enough TO
take UP the arduous duties of COM
mander-tn-chief and IL is even doubtful
If Mrs. Pankhurst is able to return from
Switzerland for several months. Christa-
bel knows that she can return to Eng
land as free woman only on condi
ton that she discards the extreme prin-
ciples of militancy of which she has
been chief exponent. She is said to be-
iieve now that such militancy has run
its course and that the future appeal
must be made on moral grounds.
Sylvia Feels Differently.
Sylvia Pankhurst, a later recruit to
the militant field, Is not yet ready to
abandon IL as a lost cause. and she is
particularly anxious to test her East
End peoples army In a parliamentary
demonstration. or in raids like those
she made last autumn on the prime min
listers house, on Downing street Hence
the friction with her sister. and what
promises to be a break in the autoc-
racy Of the society. Sylvia does not
believe that the government wal give
verge of revolution, and she believes
that she can start the revolt in the
East End. Other leaders share her be-
lief that revolution could be started
in the congested East End. but they
are not at all sure that once started IL
could be controlled in favor of votes
for women. They prefer their own
elaborate schemes for making the lives
not objectins to violence. prefer to keep
its use within their own hands. The
failure of the Pankhursts to give the
forward command for this new plan OF
campaign has made several members Of
the war cabinet restless and the over
throw of the Pankhurst triumvirate
may be imminent.
In spite of the peaceful attitude of
the Woman's Social and Political Union
the destruction of property continues.
and the fear Is now expressed that the
organization has lost control of its more
desperate members. Among the latest
sufferers from the activities of fire.
brand type of militant is Mrs. Archi-
bald Mackirdy. who has been making
! severe attacks on Chrfstabel Pankhurst
In her paper Mackirdys Weekly. No
sooner was her intention Of attacking the
militant movement made known than
her house was burnt down. with, n loss
sions. Since the burning Mrs. Mackirdy
has received many threatening and
abusive letters, many of which she has
published In her paper. Mrs. Mackirdy
often expressed her sympathy for the
heroism and suffering of the militants.
"Suffrajitsu" the Latest.
The latest development Of suffragette
militancy is the art of "suffrajitsu."
Militants who are assigned to political
meetings and to get in a word for suf
frage are being coached in the new art,
| the chief feature of which is ability to
Irvine arms and legs around a chair or
pillar in such way that 1t would
men to pry the disturbers loose. The
system worked well on its recent trial
at a meeting addressed by John Burns
IN streatham until the head Of the local
government board ordered the stewards
to remove the chairs well their
occupants from the hail.
The labor party which. in spite of its
advocacy of equal suffrage. is being at
tackled because of its alliance with the
liberal government, has hit upon a
novel plan to meet this latest move of
the suffragettes. Husky woman sew
ards are being employed to deal with
the interrupters and as one labor leader
explained, the plan is a distinct success
because on account of subtle point
of militant psychology. the sense OF
martrydom is less comforting wnen one
is elected by a member of ones own
sex At recent demonstration the
militants cried despairingly: why
don't you send your men to put us outr'