The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-27

! introduction the LuDe GOWN LILY
aesophagus merely unpleasant. Il
Mrs. Brynel not resist as reported
/ probably ng too weak-she was
4 undoubtedlJ by the latter method
and is proR little the worse Tor
/ the experie. Her general condi-
ton, howevled today to the grayest
anxiety am her friends and rela-
| ives.
Martyr, Not stubbornssS.
NEW YC, Jan. 27.--Mrs. Ethel
Byrue facadeath or insanity" In
her hungestrike at Blackwells is
land prisons a protest against state
laws againbirth control that cause
the death :ually Of 5000 working
mothers fnew York and q quarter
of million the nation. She IS
hunger strig because she has been
denied theherent right to test the
constitutio.ty of a law" Mrs. Mar
garet San, her sister and code
PENDANT ins birth control cases. de-
clared tod in q statement written
for the UId Press.
The statent follows:
[By Margaret Sanger.1
To the pie in the United States
who woulike to know why my s1s-
ter was cicted and why she has
gone on anger. strike:
She hasne on strike, refusing all
food, driIand work because she
was thruinto prison by . court
which der her the right to test the
constitutility OF law, which Is
the most trageous piece of leglsla-
ton on tltatute books today.
l meane law forbidding the dis
seminatiDf birth control informa-
ton.
This aaio law, which has been
INFESTED the statute books since
1878, eau the death Of more than
5000 wong mothers in New York
every yes
similalws in other states bring
the, annuLotal to the terrible figure
of mothedead through self-imposed
ignoranc,f nearly a quarter million.
These fortunate women go to
their ers unnoticed and their ag-
onies anleaths are unknown. Mrs.
Byrne fe that one more death !ste
at the ID OF the government of this
state is little consequence as a lie.
But itch should be her lot, and
II her ste should end in her death,
as well may, it shall at least be
known t she died because OF this
same la
Womeof the state of New York
and OF tnation: To let Mrs. Byrne
die will the beginning of the emo
Of YOUR sedom for another genera
ton.
Alreatthe hand Of tyranny has
throttletur every effort to obtain
justice. 18th you rests the power to
voice yc feelings.
Birth ntrol is practically a new
subject the United States.
Birth ntrol is not an attack on
the nitrate as such. 1t is scien-
tif,cally.st and humane effort tc
prevent.e birth of more children
than pats can endow with strong
bodies, md minds and fair chance
in the lie OF life. Nothing more.
Bfrth,rItrol is social principle
with a essage to womank1nd. es
peciaIlyo working women, alread!
entrapp as she is in the meshes Of
ignoran
This norance is the lot Of the
workinloman alone. 1t is the work
ing mai1is wife and his family that
presente problems of this genera
tion. women Of wealth can and
have oaned. this knowledge and put
IL into actice, have been relieved OF
OVERTURNED maternity and are free
to expence the joy Of life which
ONLY wome childhood and voluntary
mothelod can bring.
ndemn hunger Strike.
CHICO, Jan. 2T.-Chicago wo
len leers interviewed today by the
unitedress were practically unani
nous favor OF disseminating birth
controropaganda, but criticized Mrs
Byrneself imposed hunger strike
adopt English suffragist tactics In
protese against her incarceration
at Blswells island.
"wee rapidly approaching time
when will deal with some phase OF
the bl control problem" Mrs. Har
riet Yum, head Of the Northwestern
SeCLiSuI 5dlu. ~ 40 slS AiASh va
duty protect society as to conserve
cur ional resources. We raise
pedigd cattle and chickens. but we
neverorry about what kind of chill
dren brought into the world. A
few YRS ago we we're afraid to even
raent vice. Now we deal with 1t In
mar Of fact way and call it by its
righhme.
"Aor Mrs. Byrnes' tactics in start
ing sunger strike, that may be heI
meth of protesting. Others would
not such methods"
MI Jane Adams after refusing
to tsabout the San Francisco Mag
dalei" was equally positive that she
had thing to say about birth con
troll of Mrs. Byrne.
"Ibe able to discuss those ques
tionn few months, after I recover
rrorny present Illness" she said.
NJ Joseph Tilton Bowen. close as
soch and personal friend Of Miss
ADDS, strongly rebuked advisors OF
MrByrne for allowing the hunger
stri and resulting publicity.
I'm thoroughly out of sympathy
witMrs. Byrne's hunger strike an6
thesgusting publicity that Is sought
| by advisers she said. I'm really
in :ord with her views on birth con
trond believe scientific knowledge
alo such lines should be dissemin
atethrough reputable physicians oil
otis competent to teach it, but