The Detroit times., 1917-01-27
FOrcibly F e d +, Birth
Control Advocate
Very Weak
MARTYR, SAYS
MRS. SANGER
Sister, In Statement,
Says Woman Is Dy-
ing For Freedom

NEW YORK, Jan. 27.-Mrs. Ethel
Byrne, hunger striking in protest
against conviction for disseminating
birth control literature and advice,
was forcibly fed early today in the
hospital at Blackwell's Island work
house. She had gone more than
FIVE full days without food and wa
ter and was reported 10 have col.
lapsed shortly after midnight.
Bulletins late last night indicated
that Mrs. Byrne's condition was rap
idly becoming critical. She was ex-
tremely weak. Al o'clock this
morning she app: rently lapsed into
unconsciousness and physicians hur-
riedly summoned inserted tube into
her throat end forced liquid concen-
trated food into h 'r stomach. She
was then put to bed.
Reports from Blackwell's Island
carly today said her condition was
hs good as could be expected and
denied that the patient had offered
any resistance TO the forcible feed.
ing
Up 10 The time OF being forcibly
fed, Mrs. Byrne had been without
food or water for I02 hours Altho
very weak yesterday. her general
condition appeared good and her de-
termination to continue the hunger
strike was innexible.
Mrs. Byrne is hunger striking be-
cause she has been denied the in
herent right 10 test the constitution
iJity OF that law" Mrs. Marearet
Sanger. her sister and codefendant
i'll the birth control cases. declared
today IN statement.
To the People in the United states
who would like TO know why my
sister was convicted and why she has
gone on a hunger strike:
She has gone on strike. refusing all
food. all drink and work because she
was thrust into prison by court
which denied her tho inherent right
20 test the constitutionality OF law
" hitch Is the most outrageous piece OF
l,Eislation ], on the statute books today.
I mean the law forbidding the dis
semination Of birth control informa-
tior.
Tho archaic law. which has been an.
tested on the statute books since 1871.
causes the death OF more than s.bH0
working mothers In New York every
year.
These unfortunate women no TO
their graves unnoticed and their
ngonies and deaths unknown. Mrs.
Byrne feels that ono more death laid
at the door of the government OF this
state ~ OF little consequence as life
But ~ such should be- her lot and II
her strike should end in her death as
we'll N may, IL shall at least be known
that she died because OF this same
law.
Women OF the state of New York
and 81 tho nation. To let MIRA Byrne
die will he tho beginning Of the end
OF your freedom for another genera.
tlon.
Already the hand Of tyranny hs,
throttled our every effort TO obtain
justice With you rests tho power TO
vCice your feelings.
Isirth control Is practically "a new
subject in the United states
Birth control ~ not an attack on
the birth rate as such. IL Is a aclen-
tirchiiy just and humane effort 20
pre- cnt the birth 81 more children
thHn PARENTS can endow with strong
bndies. sound minds and q fair chpncc
in the battle Of life Nothing more.
The women OF wealth can and have
obtained this know ledge and put IL
into practice have been relieved -
ovsrburdened maternity and are free
e. experience the JOY Of life which
only welcome childhood and voluntary
motherhood can bring.