The Washington herald., 1918-08-07
SUFFS
ARRESTED BY
PARK POLICE
National Woman's Party
Makes Demonstration
Before White House.
AT LAFAYETTE STATUE
Taken on Charges Of Meet.
ing and Publicly Speak
ing Without Permits.

An attempted suffrage demonstra-
ton opposite the White House yester-
day afternoon was broken up by the
United States park police, which Is
under the command OF Col Clarence
Ridley. military aid to the President.
Former arrests of picketing suffragists
have all been made by the District
police.
Forty-eight arrests were made and
the women were taken to detective
headquarters in police patrols. As
soon as their names could be taken
and bail arranged all were released.
The hearing Is set for 9 O'Clock today
in Police Court, United States branch.
The charge on which the suffragists
were arrested was violation of the
'.fites and regulations for United
States parks and reservations" which
prohibit public meetings in govern
ment parks without permit. An addi-
tional charge of public speaking, in
violation of the park regulations. was
entered against two OF the women.
Nominal bail in the sum Of S was ac-
cepted in each case.
- States Represented.
The demonstration was planned un-
der the auspices OF the National Wo-
mans Party. Suffragists from all
parts of the limited States were in
vited to participate.
More than a hundred women, rep
resenting twenty-three' States and
the District of Columbia. carrying
banners and wearing the suffrage
colors-white. purple and old gold
marched from the National woman's
Party headquarters. in Jackson Place.
to the Lafayette Monument, in
Lafayette Park, directly in front of
the White House. A crowd of several
hundred psreons had gathered in ad-
vance. and this number was greatly
augmented as the marchers passed
along in front of the Executive Man
ion.
The banner bearers and scheduled
speakers mounted the base of the
monument, while the other paraders
took their stand on the grass plot
surrounding the monument
A large detachment Of police had
been thrown around the park and a
squad of a dozen or more stood at
attention near the monument. Mai.
Raymond W. Pullman. superintend-
ent Of police, made a personal tour
around the park in an automobile be-
fore tbe time set for the demonstra-
tion, stopping to confer with the cap
tains in charge.
Ny friends" began Mrs. Lawrence
Lewis. Of Philadelphia, II wish TO
tell you why this meeting was called
and is being held. America stands for
freedom and democracy -"
Two policemen grasped her by
either arm. Others in the suffrage
party were surrounded by the police,
and those who attempted to continue
the speaking were restrained by UNI
formed policemen. policewomen and
plain-clothesmen.
No Permits.
Have you permit to speak," one
Of the officers asked Mrs. Lewis.
NO." was her reply.
Then, you are under arrest"
Very we'll"
She wasescorted to the patrol
wagon.
More than half Of the women par
ticipating in the demonstration were
not molested. The police explain
ed this by saying that only those
who congregated around the monu-
ment were arrested. The others
kept moving. and for that reason
did not lay themselves liable to ar
rest. the police said.
With their colleagues under ar
rest. the half hundred who escaped
marched up and down the sidewalk
across from the White House, while
two more daring ones crossed over
to the White House side and
marched up and down.
Several OF the more ardent suffra-
gists refused calmly to surrender to
the police. Miss Mary Winsor, Hav-
erford. Pa. succeeded in freeing
herself and mounting the monument
base for a speech. three times. As
she was taken down the third time.
she chanted MY Country tits OF
Thee"
The Great Lafayette.
Another young suffragist who laugh
ed at the police, dashed up to the
shaft and cried:
Il stand at the foot Of the monu-
men TO the great Lafayette who
fought for American freedom. We
night today for the freedom Of Ameri-
can women"
At the head OF the procession Miss
Mary Gertrude Fendall;-of Baltimore,
carried banner. inscribed:
Mr.. President. how long must wom-
en- wait for liberty?"
Closely following were Miss Clara
Void, Of Portland, Greg, and Miss
Edna Purtell. Of Hartford, Conn,
carrying a banner thus inscribed:
We protest against the continued
acknowledgements Of American women,
for which the President of the United
States is responsible"
We condemn the President and his
party for allowing the obstruction of
suffrage in the Senate.s
We depiore the weakness of the
President In permitting the Senate to
iine itseif with the Prussian Rs.chstag
oy ,denyms democracy to the people"
I'VE demand that the President
and his party secure the passage