Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-22
WOMAN LEADS MOB
IN ATTACK ON SUFF
PICKETS AT CAPITOL
Screaming Traitors Mrs, Dee
Richardson Heads ASSailantS
on Suffrage Guards at Two
White House Gates

WASHINGTON, June 21.-Screaming
traitors" an angry mob led by Mrs.
Dee Richardson attacked the suffrage
pickets at both the west and east gates
of the White House this afternoon, rip
ping down their yellow banners and
trampling them in the street.
Police reserves were called out to
ouell the rioting. in which several thou
sand men and a large number Of wom-
en- took part. Nearly 10000 persons
witnessed the rout of the suffrage
pickets.
Mrs. Richardson, leader Of the mob,
was taken to headquarters by Ponce
woman Farling. She was taken away
amid the applause and jeers or hunoreos'
No charge was placed against her.
Miss Hazel Hunkins, one of the
pickets, climbed upon the palings of the
White House fence. holding her flag
aloft in a vain endeavor to save II. Mrs
Richardson climbed up after her'
scratching and clawing, and, after a bit
ter struggle, wrenched the banner away
and tossed it to the bowling crowd.
These banners were the old ones ask
ing the president what he intended to
do for suffrage, which have been dis
played at the White House gates for
months.
Immediately after these flags were
ripped to bits q duplicate of the denun-
ciatory banner addressed to the Russian
commission was put up at the west gate.
The crowd made a rush forward ana
the sign went down instantly amid the
Swapping of it's wooden framework and
the wild cheering Of the mob Which
could be heard for blocks.
A big crowd had assembled shortly
after noon along the entire front OF the
White House to witness the erection or
the third banner addressed to the Rus
sian commission. 1t failed to appear at
the scheduled time. While the throng
was waiting, Mrs. Richardson suddenly
ran up to the yellow pennant held by
Miss Hunkins and spit on IL.
You are a dirty yellow traitor" she
shrieked.
Then she suddenly grasped the cloth.
ripped 1t from the Flagstaff, after. a.
fight, and threw 1t to the crowd, which
trampled it.
Another banner held by Mrs. R. D.
Heacox was similarly treated. Both
pickets were roughly handled by Mrs.
Richardson, and both began to cry.
MRS. RICHARDSON ACTIVE.
Mrs Richardson did virtually all the
work of tearing down four banners.
While several movie operators COM
Wandered a negros passing hack to-
screen the waving of banner fragments
by the crowd, four suffrage recruits
marched from their headquarters with
four new yellow banners.
These recruits were extremely belli-
gerent. The leader. a small woman,
saw several men with their backs to-
ward her, in her path. She deliberately
marched into one knocking him over.
Police Captain Hartley refused to let
the man take revenge on the woman's
banner. Another man demanded to know
If the women had a permit to parade.
"Pll show you" retorted Hartley, and
he hustled the man to the street.
Just before the second attack of the
day on the banners, Senator J. Hamil-
ton Lewis stopped to tell Miss Hunkins
he, was strong for woman suffrage,
but that he doesn't believe the women
should go at 1t just that way. Lewis
wore a noisy red. white and blue polka
dot shirt, white silk gloves and white
Palm Beath suit.
POLICE FACETIOUS.
Police inspectors wandering pleasant
" through the growing crowd saying,
please, gentlemen, move on. You'll IND
a recruiting station just block away.
After all. any one can pull down a
banner, but II takes a man to shoulder
a musket."
They were the essence OF polllehess
and good nature to the crowd, which
paid little attention to them, and they
were always looking out the window
when the banner ripping started.
Mrs. Richardson is a medium large
woman with fiery red hair. Her son
accompanied her. She said she was
born in Missouri and they'll have to-
show me that those women are real
patriots"
President Wilson was In his study
when the riot started, and during the
excitement went from his study to
| luncheon. The noise from the mob
outside was distinctly audible In the
white house.