The Washington herald., 1917-08-09
ESCAPES !
"SUFF' PICKETS
Diplomat Foils Woman Suf-
! frage Advocates at the
White House Gates.


the militant suffragettes played hide
and seek yesterday, while, several
thousand spectators watched their
efforts to find Elihu Root. head Of
the recent mission to Russia.
After two-and-one-half hours OF
trying to locate the entrance at
which the former Secretary of State
would appear. the pickets folded their
tents and retired to Cameron House,
foiied but not discouraged.
3sunss Had Message.
The ''suffs" had a message to the
Russian envoy that had been care
fully painted on a five-foot wooden
and canvas banner. It was more
subdued IN sentiment than the first
Russian banner. but was equally di-
rect on the questions on liberty and
human rights.
Its wording was as follows:
''To Envoy Root:
You say that America must throw
its manhood to the support OF liberty.
Whose liberty?
This nation 10 not free. 10000, 900
women are denied by the President
OF the United States the right to rep
resentation in their own government.
"Tell the President that he cannot
hght against liberty at home. while he
tells US to fight for liberty abroad.
Tell him to make America safe
for democracy before he asks the
mothers of America to throw their
sons to the support of democracy In
Europe.
ASK him how he can refuse liberty
to American citizens when he IN fore
ing millions of American boys out of
their country TO die for liberty"
Shortly after $50 p. m, Miss Lucy
Ewing, Of Chicago. and Miss Mary
Winsor. Of Philadelphia, appeared at
the west gate of the Pennsylvania
avenue entrance to the White House
grounds bearing the banner. They
were re-enforced by an escort, con-
sisting of Miss Iris Calderhead, Mrs.
Abby Scott Baker. Miss Anne Martin,
Miss Katherine Morey and other suf-
fragetts leaders.
They had been standing there less
than ten minutes, when much to their
chagrin, they saw Ambassador Root
and other members OF the Russian
mission crossing the White House
grounds. They had crossed from the
State Department building and entered
the grounds OF the Executive Man.
sion from the entrance adjoining the
executive Offices.
There was a hasty conference and
five minutes later Mrs. Baker and
Miss Calderhead appeared with the
conventional yellow and purple colors
OF the suffragettes and took up their
stand at the west gate. The Russian
banner-bearers were sent to the east
gate.
Waited Two Hours.
For more than two hours they stood
there without molestation. All the
time they were surrounded by a crowd
which numbered several hundred
and at one time blocked traffic on
that side Of Pennsylvania aveune.
At one time crowds became 80 dense
that the plain clothes men and the
squad of police who were present were
| obliged to push the crowds back.
Meanwhile the "suffs" were picket
ing all sides of the White House, en-
deavoring to determine by which en-
trance the diplomat would leave. The
banners were fianked on either side
by at least a score of woman from
Cameron House and Il was evident
that they expected trouble.
When the State, War and Navy
building emptied its crowd of en-
ployes into Pennsylvania avenue, the
suffragettes were surrounded by such a
dense throng that the police were
obliged to drive them back. At no
time did the police attempt to stop
the picketing although each one OF
the plain clothes men carefully copied
the inscription On the banner.
About $50 p. m. after the big
gray automobile In which other men,
bers of the mission had arrived, dis
appeared through the west gate OF
the White House. the suffragettes
realized they had been foiled. Late
last night they were still trying to
learn whether he had departed by
the entrance In which he was first
sighted or by the entrance on Exc
cutive avenue, opposite the Treasury
Department.
There will be no further atteVpt to
display the second Russian banner.
but the customary picketing will be
resumed today.