The Washington times., 1920-06-02
P|CKETS BURN
BRITISH FLAG
Women Irish Sympathizers
Stage Demonstration at
Treasury Building.

Accompanied by the cheers OF more
than 800 passersby. the British Union
Jack was burned to a crisp in front
OF the Treasury Building. on Pennsyl-
vapia avenue at Fifteenth street, Just
before noon today. The nag was set
anre by members OF the American
Picket Association. who patrolled
Pennsylvania avenue in front of the
Treasury Department with banners
denouncing English despotism In Ire
land and calling on America to come
to the aid OF the Irish people.
Despite the fact that the burning
took place in the financial section OF
the city on a sidewalk of Washing
toms busiest thoroughfare. the pick
cts carried out their task without
police interference. Several messages
were sent to Police Headquarters de-
claring a violation OF a municipal
ordinance was being committed, but
the police did not put in an appear
ance until ten minutes after the flag
WAS burned
Onlookers Cheer Picketers.
The women. who burned the Union
Jack set the first match to II at 1l:15
o'clock. After they had paraded down
Pennsylvania avenue from the direc-
tion of the White House. they stopped
in front of the Treasury and formed
a semi circle. While Miss Mary
Keena. OF Newark. N. J., held tho
banner in the air.. Miss Kathleen
Savage, of Everett. Mass, spriniled
oil on II and Miss Helen OBr.eu, or
Boston, applied the ] hted match
Then the pickets ga hered around
while their photos vrre taken by
newspaper photograp ers. The flag
was burning for mo: than hfteen
minutes and the pickle, we're cheered
by the onlookers. Or big saiion
chief machlnists' mae on one OF
Uncle Sans warships yelled out OF
the crowd. "If they vLnt me 10, III
go over and burn " England Tor
them" Several soldiers and sailors
in the crowd also vol ed their SYM
pathy with the pickles.
When the flag had been burned and
the pickets continued their marching.
Detectives Mullen, Thompson and
Emory from Police Headquarters ar
rived on the scene but declined TO
arrest the pickets on the grouno that
the flag was burned when they ar
rived on the scene. Shortly after
ward Sergt. Whitstaff and sduad or
policemen also arrived, but no ar
rests were made. Tho pickets then
discontinued their marching and re-
turned to their headQus rters' at The
Lafayette Hotel.
Two Had Been Arrcsted.
Besides Misses O'Brien, Savage and
Keena, the pickets were: Miss Mary
Serrick, Maiden, Mass.: Miss Mary NJ.
Duffy, Newark, N. j., and Miss Maura
and Misc
quinn are now under bond to await
the action of the District grand jury
following their arrest recently for
picketing the British embassy.
Miss O'Brien is the third of that
name to be connected with activities
here in the cause of Irish freedom.
Miss Kathleen O'Brien, of Phiiadel-
phia, and Miss Katherine O'Brian, Of
ST. Louis, were arrested with Misses
Keena and Quinn for picketing the
British embassy.
fore the Treasury, following two
demonstrations in the Capitol yester-
day, when women hecklers interrupt
ed proceedings in the Senate and the
House of Representatives with cries
for the recognition OF the Irish re-
public, is revival of the tactics
which resulted in the arrest Of eleven
women before the British embassy
early in April.
Banners Attack England.
The banners carried by the women
who picketed the Treasury building
after burning the British flag were in
scribed:
Congress; You need not enact tax
laws to pay the soldiers bonus. Call
the loans on Englandw
Secretary Houston: England pays
bonus to her soldiers fighting Ireland
and India. Call the loans on England
now and pay our boys!'
England: Hands on Our Oil
Wells"
ENGLAND seeks Americas friend
ship. Keep your eye on oilr'
Money loaned by the United States
keeps Ireland in subjugation.-