The Washington herald., 1917-09-26
ASK DIPLOMATS
TO FREE SUFFS
Friends of Jailed Russian
Pickets Ask Embassy
for Aid.

appeals We're drawn I'D last nigbt
ASKING Tor the freeing of Miss Nina
oanaradin and Miss Anne Gwinter.
suHragettes undergoing sentence al
UccoQuan for picketing the White
muse which will be presented TODAY
70 the Russian Embassy here. Both
me pickets are native Russians, and
.heir friends are seeking redress for
.neir alleged improper treatment at
,he workhouse by petitioning the din
iomatic agents of Russia in Wash
ington.
Text of Letter.
In letter forwarded TO Commis-
sioner Brownlow regarding the treat.
neht or the suffragette prisoners at
occoquan workhouse. Miss Buelah
Anldon passes the lie direct to Stunt
Whitaker, P'
MISS Amidon says that Mrs. Fred
erick Kendall. of Buffalo, is confined
IN punishment cell on a bread-and-
water diet for insolence"
supt. Whitaker says he knows
nothing about It.
The letter follows:
went to Occoquan workhouse YES
terday TO see Miss Margaret Fother-
ihgnam In regard to charges brought
against her by the Buffalo school
BOARD. l was also allowed to talk to
Miss Lucy Branham and Miss Nina
Samaritan, who were in the reception
room with members of their respec-
tive families.
AS result Of trying to live on the
regular prison fare. they are suffer
ing from undernourishment. They
ma worms and flies in the corn bread
and In the cereal. The meat is SO
tough as to be almost unedible, and
mas several times been tainted. The
vegetables are badly cooked, scorched,
or half raw. Even of the coarse food
provided. they are not allowed por-
IONS large enough to satisfy hunger.
Inc last five suffragists sent .own
10 Occoquan have been taken out Of
the sewing room and put at lard
manual labor. Since Friday. when
counsel was forbidden to visit them,
they nave been painting and scrub
ping the negro dormitories for eight
hours day. Mrs. Frederick Kendall,
OF Bunalo. who is an elderly lady.
weakened by mi-starvation, could
not perform the task of scrubbing
assigned her. She went to the officer
in charge and said:
Mrs. Marks, l cannot do this. Let
me have some lighter work.
She was put in the punishment cell,
in solitary confinement on bread and
water for 'insolence' She was still
there late last evening.
Three women, Mrs. Annie Arniel,
or Wilmington. Del; Miss Anna
Gwenter, of Baltimore, and Miss Mary
WtnSnr n JJaparfnrI l. h.
hospital, i'll from too little food.
THE latest work given the suffrag-
lists was to scrape the old paint from
the negro toilet. They were given no
protection against contagion, although
the workhouse officers never touch the
bedding without gloves.
Letters written you before this from
friends OF the suffragists, setting forth
regrettable conditions. have not re-
ceived from you even the courtesy of
an acknowledgment.
"BUELAH AMIDON.
Copies OF the letter have been sent
to the President, to Mrs George S.
Wilson. Representative Baer, Repre-
sentative Rankin. and the representa-
tives in Congress of the fifteen pris-
oners in Occoquan.
Four more militants. arrested Mon
day for blocking traffic" In front OF
the White House. were given the sem
tence Of thirty days in the work
house. or So" yesterday by Judge
Mullowney in the Police Court. Ask
ed whether they would make any ar
gument in their own defense, all re-
peated a statement which had been
prepared beforehand, as follows:
Twenty thousand of our women are
denied justice. We stood at the gates
of the White House peacefully petit
tioning for justice. We caused no dis
turbanCs; we broke no law; We we're
arrested. Our arrest was unjust and
illegal. We demand our freedom.
But whatever you do TO us. We shall
continue to ask for political liberty
until it is granted" They will join
the company of fifteen pickets already
at Occoquan.
Historic Cameron House will cease
to be headquarters Of the National
Woman's Party on October Is. and
the militants are busy searching for
new location when the lease expires.
This property will be bought by the
Cosmos Club when vacated by the
SUITS.
Mrs. Frederick Willard Randall, of
is reported to be in serious
condition of weakness, due TO being
placed on "bread-and-water" diet by
The superintendent 1t is alleged
that after being forced to scrub
ioors in the negro dormitory. when In
IN undernourished state of health, be-
cause she could not eat prison food. !
md on asking the matron, Mrs. Marx !
or lighter work, she was immediate
v forced into solitary confinement.