New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-01
Hunger Strike Is Won,
Saws Committee of 100

Mrs. Ethel Byrne's hunger STRIKE IS
won. according to the Committee o.
One Hundred which has supported her
in the fight TO amend the laws con
corning the dissemination OF birth con-
troll information.
ave will recommend that Mrs. Byrne
accept Governor Whitman's conditional
pardon if Justice Cropsey refuses TO
grant certificate of reasonable doubt, /.
said Mrs. Amos Pinchot, chairman OF
the Committee of One Hundred, last
night. "Of course, we would prefer TO
appeal Mrs. Byrne's case, so that her
sentence could be tested as to its con
stitutionality, but. whatever the result,
we have scored a great victory for the
cause. The Governors promise to APP
point q commission to investigate the
whole problem is just what we have
hoped and worked for
Burdette G.. Lewis issued the follow
ing statement after Iong-dIstance
conversation with Owen l.. Potter, par
don clerk:
"Mr. Potter told me he was in the
room and heard the Governor say: 1
am the Governor must uphold the
laws. ! will pardon Mrs. Byrne If she
will promise not to break the laws.
When the committee of women asked
him if he would appoint a commission
to study the question OF birth control
the Governor answered that he was
willing. He pointed out, however, that
such commission would be somewhat
unofficial and without power TO sub
pena witnesses.
Says Pardon Will Win
Il am strongly of the opinion that
Mrs. Byrne will gladly accept the con-
dition, for she has heretofore expressed
her willingness 70 pay fine of S5,OUO
and agree to give up this business, as
she called it. She has stated that she
did not know she was actually breaking
the law.
II will take the matter up with the
Corporation Counsel the first thing IN
the morning and then decide to whom
! will issue passes to see Mrs. Byrne.
After talking with Mr.. Potter it was
too late to do anything further to-
night
Mrs. Byrne NAV find the cost of jail
living high if she refuses to accept
Governor Whitman's conditional par,
don and continues TO run up a board
bill at Blackwell's Island.
May Charge for Board
Commissioner Lewis announced yes
terday that ne was considering charg-
ing Mrs. Bvrnc for her board. There
is a law which has not been enforced
which permits the Commissioner o.
Correction 10 charge prison board,
said Mr.. Lewis 81 think it would be
a wise thing for the city to enforce
this provision Of the law and charge
the board if the prisoner insists on
staying with us and especially persists
in lying in bed instead Of working like
other prisoners
Then the Commissioner pointed out
that he is allowed BY the state only
l1'a cents a day for each prisoners
food "Why, considering the four ply.
sicians who attend her, the day and
night nurses. the services Of the diet
kitchen and other things, Mrs. Byrne
is getting attention which would cost
her at least 500 elsewhere"
Mrs Margaret Sanger, Mrs. byrne =
sister. still insists that the reports
given out from the l.--..rtment OF Cor
rection with regard 20 Mrs. Byrne s
condition are untrue.
DR.. W. Travis Glib. consulting ply
stefan. announced that Mrs. Byrne ~
in better condition than she was on
the day of her arrival at the work
house. She was fed by tube at $3.50
a. m. milk. cream, sugar, coffee and a
small amount of stimulant. Later IN
the day, matted milk, chicken broth
and a stimulant were administered