Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-19
Premier CapituIates to
Suf Demands and Will
Receive Deputation.
MISS PANKHURST FREE
Sylvia Completes Her Eighth
Successful Hunger Strike
by Release From Jail.

London, England, June 19.-Premiei
Asquith has capitulated to the suffrag-
lists. He has consented to receive a
deputation of East End working wom-
en- in Downing street Saturday morn
ing.
Miss Sylvia Pankhurst's attempt to
carry out her threat of a hunger strike
at the entrance to the house of COM
mons until the premier yielded to the
demand that he li5ten to a delegation
of women was largely responsible for
the prime minister's dc cision. The ef--
forts of James Kier Hardie, the social
IL Independent member of parliament,
and George Lansbury, an ex-premier,
helped the militant leader to bring the
premier to his knees.
The victory is distinct one, be-
cause Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested
about a week ago for attempting to
lead a procession of East End women
to Westminster to demand the audi
ence which Mr.. Asquith now has prom
ised.
Miss Pankhurst Released.
Miss Pankhurst, weak and pale aft
er her eighth successive hunger strike,
left Holloway Jail last night. She
drove to Westminster Immediately in
a motor car with a woman chauffeur
and rebuffed Kier Hardie's efforts to
persuade her to go home. She was
sitting on the steps of the central en-
trance to parliament house, propped
up with cushions and supported in the
arms of friends, when Mr.. Lansbury
came out with the news that Premier
Asquith had surrendered.
When Miss Pankhurst emerged from
Jail on the arms of two at.
a motor car was waiting,
filed with cushions. Two nurses
took charge of her and propped her up.
A group of militants had gathered out.
side Westminster, and when the car
drove up swiftly they cried: Here's
Sylvia,'
A large force of police was on duty,
but, apparently under instructions.
hey made no objection when the auto
mobile entered the palace yard.
Confers With Kier Hardie.
Kier Hardie emerged from the
louse bareheaded and talked with Miss
oankhurst for three minutes Then,
With the chief of police, Mr. Hardie
made three Journeys between the
louse and the car, obviously acting as
! go-between in the negotiations. Syl-
ia talked with him in a weak whis-
Ter.
Seemingly the independent labor
MEMBERS efforts were a failure, for
fter the third conference Miss Nora
'mythe, who was Miss Pankhurst's
leutenant, announced to the bystand.
rs:
I'VE are going to the house of COM
mons to sit on the steps,"
Mr.. Hardie explained to the crowd
hat the militant leader had requested
omission to the house. The engine
gain started and the machine drew
p at the public entrance to the house
( commons. Women carefully arrang.
d the cushions on the steps and lifted
ylvia out, while the police showed
ack the spectators. Miss Pankhurst
unmolested for ten minutes.
Then Mr.. Lansbury appeared with
he news of Premier Asquith's deci-
ion.
The position on the steps was then
bandoned by Miss Pankhurst, who
-as carried to her car and driven
way. The chief liberal whip after
ard issued statement that Mr.. AS
uith gave his constant to an audiences
syeral hours before Miss Pankhurstl
aid her visit to the palace yard. The
tatement added that she had not BEEN
,rcibly fed during her last incarcera-
on because she was too weak. Thei
remier apparently acted to save her
ON death by starvation