The Washington herald., 1914-06-14
FEAR MILITANT
METHODS HERE
Pennsylvania Leader Says
Ants Are Not Deceived
7 by Tactics.
cITES A ECW NcTnCNTc
CITES A FEW INCIDENTS
Declares Suffrasists Are Trying to
Hide Their Radical Relations with
Eastman and Feminists.
By MRS. SIMEON H. aUILFoRD,

Association Opposed to Woman. Suffrage.
Conservative American suffragists, real
king that public opinion. horrified by
the campaign of criminal outrages by
| suffragettes in England, is viewing with
serious suspicion the growing aggression
fof the syotes for women" movement in
this country, are now trying to disengage
their cause" In the United States from
the, medley Of militancy, feminism and
socialism Of which 1t is an integral part
While the general public is being great
| ly benefited by the information the fac
tions Of suffragists are indulging about
each other. there is no lack Of popular
insight as to the basic meaning and cause
Of these present efforts TO minimize the
existence OF militancy in America
Suffragists of ordinary intelligence in
the United States see that militancy in
England is creating an ever-growing dis
gust with the agitation for the ballot IN
that country. and that soon measures
must be employed by the government
there to put drastic stop to these IA
natical plots and lawless outbreaks.
"What shall We Do Nextr"
There is no militancy in the United
States-that is. they have not burned
any churches or thrashed any govern
ment officials-yet But consider this.
from the Suffragist of May 9: GO
I'VE have organized the people Of the
United States In one great, last. peace
full demonstration in behalf of this reform
ITO the electorate. Gentlemen OF the Con-
gress. It must be plain to you that We
shall not be satisfied with anything ex-
cept an immediate response from you.
II you do not give that response, you
cannot expect US to cease our efforts.
What shall We have to do next?"
Oh no. American suffragists are law
abiding and orderly; they would not
hatchet a picture or a policeman for all
the world. and the conservatives publicly
condemn the attitude of militants in
America who threaten Congressman with
letters. leaving a vivid impression of what
they shall have to do next" IL their
last peaceful demonstration fails.
But what about this dispatch June 3.
from London:
1.-TWO hundred and ten united American
societies. seeking woman suffrage, today
cabled the militant's headquarters here
tho assurance of their whole hearted
support" On June 10th news cablegrams
stated that high wages are being paid
to women engaged in the work OF burn
ing buildings and fighting policemen
What can 'whole-hearted support
mean but financial support, especially
when wages are mentioned. Now, may
We ask, are these ''210 American societies
seeking woman suffrage" helping to pay
the militants' wages?
Several weeks ago. it was announced
that the Congressional Union. the organ-
ization which the conservatives claim Is
led by a women trained in the ranks
of English militants'' was about to break
away altogether from the parent Ameri-
can association. 1t was accused of i'm
porting militant methods" and We note
by the open letter to Congressman that
the militant attitude is no mere supposi-
ton.
With an assumption Of virtue, the na-
tional association now feigns to be
shocked at the militant Congressional
Union-but is afraid to repudiate. 1t. One
Of the conservatives recently said. This
threatening attitude Is the very last to
take with American men with any hope
of success'-which shows a marked dis
regard for the moral question, and the
consideration Of mere political expediency
But. on the other hand, the Congressional
Union is strong and well financed; two
recent statements being made by suf-
fragists that II had, respectively. 81. 900
and $4,000 for this years campaign. One
conservative confesses that Its leaders
are of sufficient influence to cause
divided allegiance-a serious matter
which concerns financial support In
other words, the apologists for the ma
tional association, ip view of the present
unpopularity of miiitancy. would free
their organization from censure for the
unions acts. Yet the national assoca-
ton has not even officially denounced
militancy abroad-all they are willing to
say is that militancy is not necessary
in America, leaving one to infer that II
expedient here, they would use it.
In spite of denials by conservatives
that the Congressional Union represents
the majority of opinion of American suf-
fragists, they are now planning a meet
ing where the leaders Of both factions
will get together under auspices of the
executive secretary of the Congressional
Union, which, as Mrs. Ida Hustled Har-
per says. '.is led by two young women
whose only claim to distinction is that
they studied under Mrs. Pankhurst and
served a term in an English prison"
To the outside observer. it seems that
the criticism by the National Association
of the Congressional Union for advocat-
ing militancy is warranted by no facts
inapplicable to the former organization
as well.
The "Pankhurst trained militant
leader of the union is a well educated
American girl of proved executive and
organizing ability. Why must the con-
servative element have a scapegoat in
HcT, Wnlle tne NdliOudl AbSoCldtiOH IT,
self. represented by its own official an
nouncement, is furthering revolutions and
mothering feminism and socialism?
1t will be remembered that the So
cialism and /. W.. w. defender, Max
Eastman. on his last visit to Philadel-
phia, told the conservative suffragists
in one of their own private drawing
rooms wholesome truths as to the un-
Importance of the ballot ETC. and
preached ultra Socialistic' doctrines to
them. Now, what are the wholesome
truths that Max Eastman expounds In
his self-styled revolutionary pubiica-
tion," The Masses? Well. for one thing,
it ought to be of interest to the Christian
ladies who entertained him in Philadel-
phia to read the poem he publishes in
the current issue, entitled. Gods Blum
der" In which the lines occur:
dump marked church and . hole marked
home"
And a doll called 'mother'' that boxed your Jaws
And a bubble wealth of shivering foam,
And the precious toys called Codes" and "Laws.'
Also:
stooping God stumbled and almost swore-
He almost let out 4 iprins damn.
Hear too what this revolutionary has
TO say Of the soldiers and sailors of the
United States, the kind Of men for whom
Philadelphia held the largest funeral and
the greatest military mass in its history
several weeks ago: Hundreds Of degen-
crate adventurers in blood from all the
Sums and vice camps Of the earth
putting them beyond the law in uniforms
OF the national army
Now what significance have Eastmaa's
personal views on the woman suffrage