The Washington herald., 1917-08-17
POLICE SEIZE
'sUFF' BANNERS
Bluecoats Take Kaiser Viii
son" Flags from Members
Of Woman's S Party.

Rioting and disorderly scenes around
the White House and the suffragist
headquarters continued yesterday. re-
sulting in five arrests. the destruction
OF fifty-three banners. most of which
were forcibly taken from the pickets
BY the police. and rough handling for
The majority Of the silent sentipels.
Police procedure in dealing with the
pickets was changed yesterday. and
instead of permitting the mob to de-
stroy the banners with offensive word
ing. the police forcibly made the ban
neF-bearers release their Kaiser
flags. They permitted picketing with
the conventional suffrage colors.
The women resisted violently every
attempt to take the Kaiser Wilson
banners. The result was that three
and sometimes four police officers
were necessary to hold the struggling
6 pickets while others took the banners
from their waists and other parts of
their clothing in which they had been
concealed
"Sufr" Is Attacked,
This treatment was as gentle as the
police could make 1t, but bruised and
twisted arms and strained tendons
were the rule at Cameron House last
night. according to the "suff'' leaders
Miss Elizabeth Smith, of the Dis
trict. was the most seriously injured.
Her banner was torn from her hand
and she claims that a man, Harry NJ
Martin. OF 1904 N street northwest,
struck her with his fist in the chest
As she fell to the sidewalk, Felix NJ.
Morley, a reporter, who witnessed the
trouble, hit her assailant a violent
oiow in the mouth. Both men were ar
rested and released on So collateral.
About p. m. the pickets decided to
re-enforce their banner-bearers by a
squadron OF suffrage standards. The
hrst six that left Cameron House were
pulled from the sticks and destroyed
Later Miss Lucy Burns led another
contingent Of eleven pickets and sue
ceeded in getting her squadron in
front Of the White House.
Barred Zone Declared.
The police declared a barred zone
on the sidewalk in front of the Ex-
ecutiVe Mansion and for more than
thirty minutes the 'suffs." with their
twenty banners, held full sway. with
thousands of spectators lining the
sidewalk. During the height of the
trouble President Wilson passed out
OF the west gate in the White House
machine.
The most serious demonstration of
the day occurred when the pickets
attempted to return to Cameron House
With their banners shortly after s p.
M They reached the center Of Mad
i5on place before the first banner fell.
during the general melee that fol-
lowed one OF the women was knocked
down and was assisted to Cameron
Rouse in fainting condition by
tN'o army officers. Another picket
Claims she was assaulted and that
when Lieut. Arthur Pindell. of the
Pl1ttsourg camp. and Lieut.. Larsen OF
the Reserve Corps, residing at the
l. NJ {. A, went to her rescue, Pin
dell was arrested by the police.
The pickets have 200 banners and
viii continue their demonstrations, ac-
cordiBs to an announcement made last
night. To date 200 banners valued
ut IS each has been destroyed by
the foes of the militants.
Darius Prather, of 1HO l street north
wcst. and Elmer Hicks. baker. were
also arrested for disorderly conduct.
the new banners which the police
seized yesterday were inscribed:
"A President is a duly elected rep
rescntative
For 100000 women Wilson is not
4 President.
"a Kaiser Is an aUtocratic ruler.
FOR eOcoe.coO women Wilson is a
kcise="
Mrs. Beimont's Statement.
Mrs. o. II. P. Belmont. of New York,
te!egraphed the WOman's Party head
quarters yesterday. saying in part:
Il have just received a telegram
stating the following facts: A mob
Of sailors, clerks. and hoodlums at
tackled the picket5 yesterday and
Tuesday. Our silent, dignifed wom-
On were knocked down and injured.
Forty-nine banners. which were pri-
V-;e property. the display of which
had not been suppressed by authority,
were totally destroyed. Five thousand
people blocked the streets.
1t Is grieyous TO hear that sailors
wearing the uniform of our nation,
supposed at this very moment to be
preparing for the fight for democracy,
ind nothing better to do than to
knock down women likewise seeking
democracy. The only solution of these
civil difficulties is the passage of the
Federal amendment The President
can accomplish this when he desires"