Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-25
ARREST FOUR
Sufragettes Inva d e
House Steps
Disturbers Apparently Happy
but Complain Small Crowd"

Washington, June 24.-Much to their
delight four militant suffragettes man
aged to get themselves arrested Satur-
day for violation of police regulation
dealing with unlawful assemblage and
creating a disturbance. Two of them
We're arrested on the steps of the House
of Representatives where they display
ed banner bearing the inscription ac-
cusing President Wilson and Elihu
Root of deceiving Russia. which caus-
ed a crowd at the White House on
Thursday to become incensed and tear
the banner into bits. The other two ar
rests were made in front of the White
House.
Miss Mabel Vernon of Nevada, for
merry of Delaware, and Miss Virginia
Arnold, who gave a Washington adj
dress, bore the Russian banner up the
steps of the House of Representatives,
lust as Ambassador Bahkmetieff and
the others Of the Russian mission
alighted there from their motor cars to
appear in the chamber of the House.
Several policemen were on the lookout
and arrested the women. They We're
released on their personal bonds to ap-
pear when wanted.
complain OF oman cio~u
The women arrested at the White
House were Mrs. Lawrence Lewis.
prominent in Philadelphia society, and
Miss Gladys Greiner of Baltimore. the
daughter of an official of the Baltimore
& Ohio railroad. who is now in Russia
as member of the railroad committee
from the United States headed by john
f. Stevens. They were also released on
the promise to appear in court on notice
There was nothing spectacular about
the arrests. a fact extremely dlsappoint-
ing to one of them who complained
that there was hardly any cro"o at
all"
Mrs. Lewis and Miss Grenier managed
to get their banner to the west front gaze
of the White House without being detect
ed by the many policemen on duty there.
When they unfurled it policeman told
them it could not be displayed. "Why
noto" asked Mrs. Lewis. We've been
displaying it for months" Just at this
moment Mrs. Keys. A police matron' ap-
reared accompanied by several police
men. The matron demanded that the
banner be surrendered and when the "o-
men hes;tated she flashed her badge. the
suffragists surrendered the banner al
orce hut not too soon for Mrs. Keys
She commandeered a passing automo-
lille little affair, and took her prisoners
n the notice station. The machine was
overcrowded and Mrs. Lewis made the
ride sitting in the n,atron's lap. Ihe
banner borne by Mrs. Lewis and Miss
Gronie- to the White House bore this IN
scripticn: mfr. President: You say we
are interested in the United States, po-
,iticallv speaking, only in human liber-
ty.'"
Ru-,crs Of Trouble
The arrests were made by II. w. Car
risen q Oklahoma, special officer OF the
Cap:.,l :cree, wko awaited the ARRIVAL OF
the s,ffraeists Eunors had reached the
Can>ol Authorities thai when the Rus
sian commission arrived fer its visit to
the House 1t would be greeted by the
banner recently displayed near the White
House.
Misses Vernon and Arnold objected to
delivering the banner to tie arresting po-
licemen. They said 1t cost w ana was
nniyate property. However, 1t was taken
in charge, pending decision as TO wha'
PROCEEDINGS, If any, shall be ordered.
There is a federal statute forbidding
tho DISPLAY of any placard, banner or
advertisement on the Capitol GROUNDS
without permission of the authorities,
and making such unauthorized exhiol-
tion a misdemeanor Chief NJ. B. Lou
than said today that before the sur
frasists return to his Office on Monday
he will consult with House leaders re-
garding the placing of a charge against
Miss Vernon and Miss Arnold. 1t is
not generally believed the two young
women will be prosecuted, in the event
thew agree not to repeat the offence.
Although there was a fair sized
crowd about the Capitol building, less
than a dozen persons saw the unfurl-
ing of the banner which was seized
BY the police Immediately. There was
no demonstration and the suffraglsts
submitted tamely to their arrest.
Joseph J. Sinnott, doorkeeper of the
House. feared an attempt to display
the suffrage banner in the House
chamber during the address of the head
Of the Russian mission, Prof. Bakhme-
tieff The doorkeeper stationed assist
ants in all of the galleries with instruc-
lions to prevent any woman from drop
ping a banner over the railing, as was
done few months ago when Presi-
dent Wilson addressed Congress-.