South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-22
PICKETS CONTINUE
T0PARADE BEFORE
BRITISH EMBASSY
Political Picketing in Wash
ington Again Comes In
TO Prominence.

WASHINGTON. April 2I-Politi-
cal picketing. often OF the peaceful
sort. and more often with militant
compartments, s. running epidem-
lc In Washington again and the
thousands OF tourists who make the
national capital their Mecca all
year round again see bands OF wO-
men slowly parading about the
streets bearing banners with a wide
variety OF inscriptions.
Seemingly. every cause which
wishes 20 impress its demands. argu-
ments or protest on the powers that
be" ultimately adopt the picketing
system which was first introduced
On the capital by a branch Of the
woman sunragists about 10 years
ago. The latest to adopt the method
are women espouslng the cause OF
Irish freedo ON and there have di-
Sected their protests against the
British embassy. Their campaign
Gas caused somewhat OF furry be-
rause Il IS not without its interna-
hional aspects.
international Aspect.
The British embassy, for instance,
IS foreign territory. whether the
sidewalk in front Of q Is American
herritOry. no one has essayed 10 de-
eide. Moreover. there IS a federal
Jaw which penalties any person who
assaults a diplomatic representa-
Five OF a friendly power Whether
fhe picketing OF the embassy Is an
annoyance 20 the British diplomats.
bnd whether an annoyance is an as
Bault within the technical meaning
iDf tho law is an additional question.
Then there IS involved the Ques-
Zion OF preserving the public peace.
FOR disturbances often grow out of
the picketing. Often, some woman
apasserby, expresses her disagreement
with the banners the pickets bear
by ripping them TO bits and the ped
.estrian and the picket have a scrim-
image. with sometimes regular old
fashioned hair pulling. The police
patrol clangs up. both parties 20 the
quarrel are hustled off TO the station
house Relief pickets Immediately
arrive. The police court gets an
mother case.
Interesting Study.
The personnel OF the picketing
korces furnishes an interesting study
sn human nature. They are women
apparently from all walks OF life.
ffany bear evidences Of breeding,
education and social position.
Others are women who appear to
be OF the opposite types. Every
picketing campaign brings out new
charges that many pickets are
''hired" for the work by others who
are willing 20 provide substitutes
and do not wish 10 picket in the
streets IN all sorts OF weather.
The suffrage pickets who made
a record for getting arrested, jam
ming the police court docket and fl
nally having a hunger strike, pat
termed after their British sisters,
were composed apparently Of wo-
men OF all classes. Many whose
names are nationally known did
picket duty. spent nights in a police
station cell and finally did time in
the work house Some Of them, If
the truth were known. were freed
by husbands who disapproved of
their actions. There was more than
one case OF a husband promising the
authorities he would undertake the
responsibility OF making his wife
''be good, and more cases OF stormy
scenes at the workhouse when the
husband arrived to take the wife
home over her protests.
Personal Picketing.
with the adoption by congress Of
the resolution for the woman suff-
rage amendment TO the constitution.
the suffragists laid off. but they had
fired an example in a local assOCia-
aion OF negroes who were demanding
the dismissal of a man OF their race
from the local school administration.
SO the negro women In emulation
ptcketed the st<eets surrounding the
school administration buildings bear
ing banners Their picketing. how
ever, was intermittent, and the neg
~ nh Objected
still holds his job.
British humor all but broke up
ahe picketing OF the British embassy,
with its possibilities of disagreeable
incidents OF an international flavor.
when on the first day. the embassy
officials sent out and invited the pic
lxets in TO afternoon tea. II probab-
ly was a temptation. for a cold raw
wind was sweeping the city. but the
leaders pulled stern faces and de-
Vlined the invitation.
The en- bassy is on Connecticut az.
sn the heart OF the downtown
business and residence district not
Tar from Dupont circle. The neigh
horhood might be compared 10 Fifth
av.. in New York In the fifties
Many Watch Proceedings
Thousands Of shoppers, tourists
and government clerks and officials
on their way to Office pass by and
Tor days there was always a small
srowd watching the picket and hop
ing for a scrimmage. The old and
deserted Austrian embassy. once the
scene OF social Eaieties IN the pros
porous days OF the Hapsburgs stands
grim. silent and dusty just across
the street Nobody knows who owns
St. now. Il IS a highly valuable piece
81 property gone begging. Not far