New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-15

as | think it has become evident to
others in this community, that you
court these sentences in the hope that
YOU NAV be regarded by the whole
country as martyrs to the cause. Iall
to appreciate the martyrdom.
The thirty-one were then sentenced,
each 20 pay the same fine, or, failing TO
do so. to serve the various terms OF
Imprisonment which, in the opinion OF
the court, were their just due. IL took
a long time. The whole proceeding
lasted from 11:25 until 2:30 in the al
ternoon. There was more delay IN
starting for the District Jail, the get
away. in vans and automobiles, beng
made about $3.50.
Transferred to 0ccOquan
Then an odd thing in the execution
of criminal law happened-at least, IT
would be odd in almost any place but
the District Of Columbia. The women
were sentenced to imprisonment in the
District Jail. When, according to my
information, they had time to be Sc
curely locked in their cells, ! motored
out to the rough hewn red stone build
ing 70 pay them a call, If that were
possible by the grace Of Warden link
ham. But when | arrived there, as the
early evening shadows were falling, the
deputy warden-Warden Zinkham was
away-told me that the prisoners were
not there. and added:
"And they won't be here, either"
what has become of them? ?" | in
quired. "Have they been Kidnapped"
With a fairly good imitation OF
Frank keenan, stage whisper, the dep
uty warden replied:
They've been transferred, by order
Of the commissioners"
What commissioner"
THE commissioners of the District,
who have full power 10 do such things.
They have been transferred TO the 0c-
coquan workhouse, which is about
twenty-six miles over in Virginia. IL
takes about an hour to get there BY
the Southern Railway, and think the
last train tonight has gone"
This was a cheerful as we'll as a re-
markable piece of information, and
liked back TO the headquarters of the
National Woman's party as fast as
Washington taxicab can hike of a
Wednesday. ! was the first to carry
the message 10 Garcia" Mrs. Bokel.
the director of the press bureau, and
some of her assistants grabbed tele-
phones and kept them busy until they
found that the news | brought them
was substantially correct. Only one
cog had slipped. Miss Hilda Blumborg
had been dropped off at the jail and
the rest had been carried into Virginia
Later Commissioner Gardiner explained
that there was no room in the Jail for
so many women prisoners and that was
why all but one had been sent to the
workhouse. He did not explain why
Miss Blumborg had drawn the jail
where Miss Alice Paul, president of the
National Woman's party, is trying 20
negotiate a hunger strike in strong
opposition to the Jail authorities
stead of the workhouse.
Ii had been arranged that Mrs
Brannan should, on arriving at the
Jail with her comrades. tell Warden
Zinkham few things which might or
might not aid his digestion. All war
dens look alike TO the fighting daugh-
ter Of the late fighting editor Of the
Sun" Charles A. Dana. anG so she
made her report to the warden of 0c-
coquan. W. H. Whitaker. Here is
what Mrs. Brannan said:
1--WE expect to be treated as political
offenders. Political offenders are those
who come in conflict with the law from
political motives or as the result of
political agitation. The privileges usu-
ally accorded political offenders. and
which We all demand. are the right to
buy food for ourselves outside the
prison. to wear our own clothes, to
have books. papers, writing materials
and facilities for study, to receive visi-
tors of our own choosing every day
within the business hours Of the inst
tuition, TO see counsel, to consult ply
stefan of our own choosing when neces-
sary, to have exercise in the omen air
every day and 10 have an adequate sup
ply OF fresh air within the prison
building. freedom from prison labor.
the privileges of receiving and writing
letters without restriction as to num-
Der, subjected TO the inspection III de-
sired) OF the prison authorities.
Picketing Filled Treasury
You are empowered to give us these
rights. because the orly laws of this
jail are the laws you make. Congress
conferred upon the Supreme Court Of
the District the power to make the
rules for any penal institutions. The
court has never made any rules. The
only rules that exist are the rules that /
YOU have made. Therefore IT is within .