South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-20
Thousands of Women in the
Tenement District Fall In
to Line, Led by Sweet
Marie" Cans.
/ WOMEN HOLDING BABIES
AL0FT PLEAD FOR BREAD
Demands For Mayor Mitchell
Bring Mounted Policemen
InStead-Leader is Put
Under Arrest.
IuterlatI00aI News Service

international News Service
NEW YORK. Feb 30. - out OF
the ghetto and the east side tene-
ments. there swarmed today hum
drcds of women screaming we are
starved-we want breadr
They swooped down upon the city
hail where riotng and scenes Of dis
order followed.
Thousands OF women of the tene-
ment district fell into the line, led
by Sweet Marie Cans. In a long
line they came, old women, hobbling
and stumbHng. shawl-wrappcd heads
and young mothers. holding aloft
pale and wan babes. Their screams
reft the air as traffic officers at
tempted 20 break up the parade of
protest.
Their numbers had dwindled by
the time they reached the city hall
and began cries OF hungry Plain
tive walls from crying babies and
the shrieks OF enraEed wOmen-like
AN echo OF the peasant revolutions
of Europe-all added 20 the intense
excitement
Call For Mayor Mitchell.
Demands for Mayor Mitchell faiI-
ed 20 bring out the chief executive.
but instead there came mounted -po-
Iicemen.
Within "a few minutes after the
vanguard arrived and assailed the
doors of the city hail more than
5000 excited men and women filled
city Hall park. a second call for re-
serve police went I'm. Down Park
Row there came hundreds OF eager
spectators lured on bv the first riot
scenes New York has seen for many
day. Business men from tho
financial districts and employees from
Offices and shops nearby AN added ro
the throng which jammed in upon
the city hall Then there came the
long line of stragglers.
a line of police was formed about
the city han and stormed by the
screening women. many of them
holding babies aloft and crying OUT
you see tbem-they are starving
We want bread,'
Women Are Driven Back.
Orders went out from police
headquarters for the dispersal 81 the
mob and traffic officers alouE the
Iiue of march drove the women sti1
on the way. back 20 the tenement
houses.
Lieut. william kennel. the may
or'- aide. finally appeared at the
doors of the city halL The sight OF
the uniformed aide was the signal
for a new outburst from the mob.
FINALLY IL quoted sun GENTLY for
Kennel 10 announce the mayor would
receive delegation Of four OF the
women There were immediate cries
for -NarIe Marie. Sweet Marie
a little woman made her way 1p
the e.r. han steps. and there were
loud cheers Tor Marie Sweet
Marie Cans was the first delegate
20 the mayor. She chose for her
associate Mrs Eda Harris presl-
dent Of the Mother Vigilance League
( Of the east side; Mrs Tmle j.. Plosly,
and Mrs Annie WALKER both lead
ers BOO the tenement districts
once in the corridors or the city
hall the delegation folnu they had
been deceived. Mayor Nitcnel was
not boz h.a office and 10 Was an-
nounced he might not Do ln all da5.
Yelling starts Anew.
Pushing QUE to the city hall steps.
Marie Cans told the crowd they had
been betrayed and haranguinE her
followers. she succeeded in sttrt.rs
anew the srreechlng and yenlUs.
suddenly She was seized ir0m bee
hind bg four husky policemen and