Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-22
SUFFRAGE BANNERS
CRITICIZING WILSON
ARE TORN TO BITS
Angry Crowd TrampIeS Stand
ards Haunted at White
House Charging "WiISon and
Root Are DeCeiving Russia"

WASHINGTON, June 2O-Incensed at
suffrage pickets who Haunted denuncia-
tory banners before the White House
gates as the Russian commission en-
tered to greet President Wilson today,
an angry mob of 800 men and women,
mostly government clerks out on lunch
hour-charged the women and tore the
banners TO shredS
president Wilson and Envoy Root are
deceiving Russia" was the accusation
printed in black type on suffrage ban
ner ten feet high displayed at two Of
fetal entrances to the White House
when the Russian mission called on the
president.
The incident was called to the atten-
ton Of the department of justice shortly
after it occurred and an investigation
was started at once to determine
whether there was anything reasonable
in the first line of the women's placard
which accused President Wilson and
Root Of deceiving Russia.
The banner displayed today was the
most direct accusation leveled at the
president by the suffrage pickets of the
national woman's party. who for nearly
200 days have stood guard at the White
House gates.
AMERICA NOT DEMOCRACY"
us win a world war so that democracies
may survive We, the women of Amer
lea, tell you that America is not a dem
ocracy," continued the legend on the
banner. Twenty million American
women are denied the right to vote.
President Wilson is the chief opponent
of their national acknowledgements.
Help us make this nation really free.
Tell our government that it must liber-
ate it's people before 1t can claim free
Russia as an ally"
Miss Lucy Burns, New York. and Mrs.
Lawrence Lewis. Philadelphia. carried
the banners. Both cured in the ban
ner dropping episode when the presi-
dent addressed congress at the begin
ming of the last session.
Shortly after the women went on du-
ty at 10 o'clock this morning crowds be-
gan to gather before them jeering. Aug
mented by government clerks who
swarmed out of nearby buildings at
lunch the crowds temper began to rise.
The women banner holders were ex-
tremely belligerent. They answered
taunt for taunt and jibe for jibe from
the crowd.
The police guards at the White House
gates with whom the Yuffragist pickets
have been on very friendly terms since
they started their guard mount" were
grimly silent and made no move to
check the crowd when led by several
men it advanced suddenly toward the
pickets.
BANNER TORN TO sHREDs.
Several men then jerked down the ban
ners, tore them to shreds and trampled
the remnants under foot.
Washington, where even mere rioting
is always rare. got news of the episode
quickly. Government and office clerks
for blocks around rushed to the scene.
Police from the White House grabbed
several ringleaders in the crowd but
the sergeant in charge ordered their re-
lease and himself ripped down the last
tatterS of the banner.
The women carrying the banner were
unframed.
The police took the frame on which
the legend was mounted into the White
House grounds.
Both women maintained their compo-
sure throughout the incident and walked
leisurely away to their headquarters.
A man who said he Is Walter s. Tim
mis-, an architect of New York, said he
pulled down the banner.
Later two more banners were rushed
to the White House gates They were
not denunciatory. After these banners
appeared, Major Pullman, superinten-
dent Of police, conferred with Secretary
Tumulty, but no change in the police
attitude toward pickets was decided on.
Miss Alice Paul, National Womans
party chairman, declared the govern
ment was responsible for the disturb
ance because it denied Justice" The
lack of democracy at home might weak
en- the democracy fight 5000 miles
away, she said. and the government
which could change conditions "in the
twinkling of an eye'-would be to
blame.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait today
called "unethicaI' the placing of the de-
banners at the White House
gates.