The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-20
WILSON'S PARDON ACCEPTED BY 16 WOMEN IN JAIL Suffrage Tickets Serve Only Two of Their Sixty-Day
 Sentence DEFIANT STATEMENT FROM HEADQUARTERS Leaders Declare R ase of Their Members V S$ Have No Effect on c z nued
 Demonstrs $ @sls
 csS

e"oAAAAA S oOii3 AO. MA teen women, e t to the workhouse fo cir part in the suffrage demonstration Saturday at the White House, accepted pardons from President Wilson to- day and were released after serving two days of their 60-day terms.
 The prisoners left the workhouse apparently without regret, despite their previous declarations that they desired to serve out their time with out appeal of clemency. These as sertions had led to an announcement by the department of justice pointing out that pardon need not be ac- cepted unless the prisoners desired it. When the time for departure came, however, the women's only protest was against the trials they under went during their detention.
 At headquarters of the woman's party the Is were received as mar tyrs, and at dinner given in their honor plans were made for continuing the White House picketing. of which Saturdays demonstration was part
 DEFIANT STATEMENT
 A defiant statement issued at the headquarters said the scampa 5gn to i'm press President Wilson and the country by parading before he White House. would go on without change. The President acted after the hus- bands of several of the prisoners had interceded and after he had been told that some of them had small children at home needing their care. Some of MT Wilson's friends declared this ele- ment undoubtedly had been the de- termining influence with him. Others suggested that he acted in the hope that pardons would minimize publicity, an avowed part of the women's cam paign. The suffragists insisted he had become convinced that the country was aroused over the workhouse sentences. Every party to the incident, how ever, was left to it's own speculations. Secretary Tumulty said issuance of the pardons would have to speak for itself, and all other officials in position to know the Presidents thoughts on the subject were silent
 TO RESUME PICKETING The Presidents action in no way laffects the general suffrage situation said the woman's party statement. The |only difference 1t makes, as we see IL. is that the women are out of jail That lis matter of little concern to us com pared With the concern we feel over the great vital issue for which we are fighting. Picketing will be resumed very soon and with utmost vigor.' No date has been set for the next demonstration, but it probably will be Saturday The suffragists leaders say they fully expect that teh next body of pickets will be arrested and sen fenced to the workouse.
 The department of justices state- ment settled point which had been warmly discussed at suffrage head quarters.
 'Tf the suffragists now serving 60- accept the pardon offered by President Wilson," it said, they will serve out their sentence. The government can not compel a prisoner under sentence to accept pardon
 Dudley Field Malone, collector of customs at New York, who has acted as counsel for the women, temporarily retired from the fight tonight, but it is understood he will be retained again if further arrests are made. Meantime he will continue z his efforts to per- suade the President to declare for a federal suffrage amendment.
 CLASH WITH MALONE
 A clash between MT. Malone and Su- perintendent Whitaker of the Occoquan workhouse, eniivened the departure of the prisoners tonight. The women were receiving their valuables at the office when Mr. Whitaker warned them that if they returned they would get no special consideration.
 "I've been very indulgent with you,'' he said. but I won't be again.
 MT. Malone replying heatedly, de- clared he certainly had not been ac- corded special privileges as council. For a moment it looked like a physical ens counter. but the incident closed with MT. Whitaker declaring that his origi- nal statement stood.
 All of the prisoners were in good health, but were uncomfortable from having been deprived of their toilet ar ticles, such as tooth brushes One said she had some difficulty in sleeping. and none of them had liked the food.