The Washington herald., 1914-07-19
SUFFRAGE trial
DRAMATIC Event
Lloyd-Ceorge Stumped When
Asked to Explain Meaning
of Rush"
THREE LEADERS JAILED
Christabel Pankhurst Proves Herself
Modern Portia in Con-
ducting Defense.
BY CLARA BEwIcK COLBY.

The trial Of Mrs. Pankhurst. Christa-
bel Pankhurst. and Mrs. Drummond for
sedition turned upon the meaning of the
word rush" in the handbills which had
| been distributed asking the public to
help the women "to rush the House OF
Commons" Miss Pankhurst was allow
ed to present the case for the accused,
as 1t was an examination in a Police
Court She is a graduated lawyer, but
under the laws OF England not allowed
admission to the bar. II is a fate that
the nation brought upon itself when
this talented young lady's gifts were
refused their legitimate sphere OF action
that she should have put her legal abil-
ity to the service OF the fight against
the government.
After Miss Pankhurst had made the
police officials testify that they had had
to walt until the women voluntarily re-
turned before they could make the arrest
she secured the adjournment for a week
When the case was reopened to the
astonishment Of everybody Mr.. Lloyd
George was the first witness called by
Christabel Only just in her twenties,
slender and rosy. the young woman put
the chancellor Of the exchequer through
an examination that made this trial one
Of the most dramatic in history. He
had to admit that he had taken his six
year-old daughter with him TO Trafalgar
Square to watch the scene. Did he not
think 1t was dangerous? Did a breach
Of the peace take place? Should not
their offense have rather been called
Unlawful Assembly," and many more
questions which would have put the Lib
eral leader into serious dilemmas II the
magistrate had not protected him by rul-
ing the questions out. At length she
quoted:
Sensation In Court.
II am sorry to say that II no instruc-
tions had ever been addressed in political
crises 10 the people Of this country eX-
cept to remember to hate violence, TO
love order. and TO exercise patience. the
liberties Of this country would never
have been attained"
Had Mr. LlOyd-George ever heard these
words spoken at Trafalgar Square by
women or by any Liberal statesman? He
could not recall ever having heard the
words. Then there was a sensation in
court when Miss Pankhurst said they
were the words OF William Ewart Glad
stone. Then she questioned the witness
about Mr.. Chamberlain's threat in 1854
to march 10000 men on London; and
about Mr.. Lloyd-George melting a crowd
to violence in the Welsh Graveyard case:
driving the witness at every point TO get
the protection OF the MAGISTRATE.
to be at the bottom of II all, what does
1t mean?" asked Christabel. AS the wit
ness could not define it, ChristabeI sug-
gested from Chambers Dictionary that
IL meant eager demand" Urgent
pressure of business was another mean
ing. II he were asked to help the suf-
fragettes make an eager demand to the
House OF Commons would he feel he was
called upon TO do an illegal act? Then
l. a., kg.N,
rush" is used which would interest
him. Ito rush bills through Parliament"
He smiled in spite of himself; but she
continued to push him until his appear
ance justified the comment OF Max Beer
hohm in the Saturday Review:-"His
Celtic fire burned very low; and the con-
trast between the buoyancy of the girl
and the depression OF the statesman was
almost painful"
Puts Fatal Question.
Before Mr. Lloyd-George could leave
the witness box Mrs. DrummOnd seized
the opportunity to ask him the inevitable
question as to when he was going TO give
women the vote.
The next witness was Miss Marie
Brackenbury who replied TO Miss Pank-
hurst's question that she had suffered
six weeks Imprisonment and the next
question was answered before the judge
could prevent It. and it brought out the
fact that the judge in sentencing her
had said that he was doing what he
had been told. You must not put that
question shouted the magistrate: hut
Miss Pankhurst said in the stir that the |
answer had created. the witness has
said yes upon oath"
Mr.. Herbert Gladstone, the Home Sec |
retary. was the next witness. Miss Pank- |
hurst began by endeavOring to fix upon |
him the responsibility for the treatment |
of the suffragette prisoners which he
had denied in the House OF Commons. |
Question after question she put only to
have II ruled out, but the very question
was a statement which made the minister
squirm. Then she asked him to give