Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-11-02
.SUFFRACIST WRITES
OF PRISON CONDITIONS
Say They Suffer Hardships At Dis
trict Jail.
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
Certain Privileges And Comforts Abso-
lutely Denied Them, 1t Is
Asserted
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

The following is from an "Informa-
ticn Bulletin OF the National Wo-
mans Party:
Alice Paul, Rose Winslow, Lucy
Burns and the other suffragists held
in the Washington Jail at Occoquan.
Va. seventeen in all, absolutely cut
of from the outside world They are
said to be in solitary confinement, de-
priyed Of books and writing materials,
refused clean clothing, warm under
wear, even toothbrushes and night
gowns; friends may not visit them
they cannot send or receive letters
and no food is allowed them except
the coarse prison fare. There is a
store in the Jail, where other pris-
oners may buy milk chocolate. nuts
and other food to exc out the prison
meals. The suffragists are not per-
mitted to have money sent them for
this purpose.
Miss Mary Winsor, of Haverford.
Pa. succeeded in smuggling out a let
ter to her mother, in which she de-
scribes the condition in the jail She
writes:
The District Jail,
Washington, d. c.
Dearest Mother:
Here / am in solitary confinement,
in cell so small that can touch
both sides with my finger tips. It
has no furniture but a small wash
bowl and spigot, small chair without
q back, and an iron bed hung from
the wall on chains; on this is laid
thin straw mattress; so now | re-
sembIe Marjorie Daw. The cell is not
very clean and ] have just killed IL
he'd bugs with hairpin, which makes
q splendid weapon to pursue them.
We are in solitary, which means
that no one can leave her cell at all,
but is locked in here day and night.
apparently we are not to have any
ehysical exercise whatsoever, a right
which is not refused even to murder
ers. This is done by order of the
Commissioners Of the District of Col
umbia, | don't know by what law these
gentlemen are given unlimited power
to tamper with my health. We can't
find out what legal rights prisoners
have, as they Will not let us see a
lawyer. However, with all its dis
advantages, we prefer the jail to
Occoquan, as the officials here seem
mere like human beings and show
some kindness toward us. There are
seventeen suffragists here, including
Alice Paul Our cells are side by
side and we are as gay as larks.
Sometimes we while away the time
with sweet music on the prisoners
harp" i. e., a comb with tissue paper
over it. Sometimes we sing in chorus.
We expect to be free Saturday, No
vember 3. 1t seems rather a long
time. as we have not been permitted
to receive any letters or papers since
Saturday, Oct. 49, All this is a pun
ishment because we refused to work
and asked to be treated as political
prisoners. We stated our position in
letter to the District of Columbia
Commissioners. The right of peace
ful petition is guaranteed by the Con-
stitution of the United States. And
peaceful picketing is legal in the Dis
trict of Columbia by the Clayton act.
We were, therefore, strictly within
our rights in holding banners before
the White House TO remind the Presi-
dent OF his promises, and therefore,
entitled to receive the treatment ac-
corded polictical prisoners which
would innclude our own clothes, books,
papers. writing materials and visitors
and friends. OF course, there are
many precedents for this: Parnell in
Kilmainham Jail and Tolstoi we're
better treated by the British and Rus
sian Governments, respectively. than
are American women by our own
government. But we hope for better
things for future political prisoners,
if not for ourselves.
When Congress assemblies / hope to
see the woman suffrage measure 60
through sailing.