IRRESPONSIBLE SUFFRAGETTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15433, 20 April 1912, Page 5

IRRESPONSIBLE SUFFRAGETTES.

WINDOW-SMASHING CAMPAIGN. HOSTILE PUBLIC OPINION. (I'i'.om Oub Utrx Contu.ero.\t)EST.l LONDON, March 9. The militant eottiuii uf the Votes for Women |xuly liae shot its bolt, and tlio suffrage cause, so f;ir as the present Parliament is concerned, is in grave, peril. This weekend bands of women, old and jj.niiij:, havo systematically raided tho West End, engaged in ail extensive window.6iiiashing campaign; there Ikw btson atttemptcd arson at the Ucnoral Post Ollice, tho regulations of Holloway Prison liave been set at nought, and the British Museum, the Itoynl Academy,' Hampton Court Palace, and other places which contain priceless works of axt have had to be dosed tem]x>rarily to the public Jt is asao-tad that the police found on one of tho wotnon arrested a letter suggesting still more violent methods than window-breaking,, and this is horno out by Mrs Pankhunst's declaration before tho magistrate: "If you send mo to prison I shall go further." The crowds this time were very hostile. t> the women, and it is dillicult to find any person supporting tho Jaw-breakers outside the ranks of tho followers of the Pankhursts and tho J/vwrcnocß. The Times declared : " None of its previous follies has been so thoroughly calculated to discredit Hie suffragist cause," and continued : "The law of conspiracy is, as everyone knows, a delicate and complex affair j but oommoitsenso will havo it tliat a simultaneous assault on three or four miles of shop-fronts was not dne to a spanUuicous and inesistiblu impulse in tho breasts of unconnected females who knew nothing of ono another's state of mind.'' No> ono was prepared for tho wholesale smashing* on Friday night and Saturday morning, .when tho windows of the dnvpere, jeweUors, shipping offices, post ollicos, eating-houses, and other inoffensive; traders suffered alike from the onslaught with hammers and stones. On Monday a (jucstion as to the possible prosecution of tho loaders was asked in Parliament, and tho Primo .Minister replied that tho matter was engaging the attention of the law officers. The sequel earno tho next night, when_ the police raided the olliees of tho Women's Social and Political Union in Clements Inn and arrested tho loaders on a charge of conspiracy and inciting, others to commit damage

THE WINDOW-SMASHERS. Tho raids on shops on Friday were made practically simultaneously, and began about 6 p.m. ladies walked unostentatiously along tho adewnlta of Oxford street, Ikmd 6treet, Piccadilly, Oockf'pur street, and the Strand, suddenly turned witJi fury on tho plate-glass windows of drapery, millinery, and jewellery establishments. Purchasers and shop assistants rushed out io tho sound of splintering glass, find hurried blowing of police whistles. Women were found to be ]Kifising rapidly from shop front to shop front hacking and hammering the plateglass, and with excited cxclamtions adding to the clamour and din that was almost ovcrpoworing in its intensity. Hundreds of policemen began to arrive in ras)K>nsc to the insistent whistling of their comrades, who wero outnumbered and powerless at the start. In their helplessness they appealed to all and sundry for assistance, and the women were pursued by crowds of. indignant spectators. Tho straightforward attack having failed before superior numbem, the women resorted to artifice to effect their purpose. Many walked calmly along with hammers and stones conceded in their muffs till, finding some windows which otill remained intact, they produced their weapons and svighl to remedy tho omicfikm of their predecessors. Others drove up openly in cabs, .Hightcd with the air of potential purchasers, and oven as the obsequious shopwalkers were m the midet of their stately address of welcome, proceeded to astonish those unoffending liersonages by a ferocious attack on their expensively dressed windows.

Needless to ray, something approaching panic set in among Uic nusiness nouses of tho West End, anil blinds were drawn and windows barricaded. Tho affair was over in half an hour, but tho police officer*) were kept busy till far in tho night dealing with excited ciilprila and angry ox postulating owners and managers of the wrecked promises. About 150 arrcste wero made.

Mrs Pankhtirst herself broke tho windows of No. 10 Dowling street, and the following table shows where tho bulk of tho damago was done:— Windows Estimated broken, cost. Strand 22 £345 Cocksptir street ... 7 370 Hnymarket ... 5 105 Piccadilly 35 945 Bond street ... 21 480 Oxford street ... 31 840 Regent street ... 39 1040 Next morning other militants turned their attention to High street, Kensington, and Kniglitsbridgc. THE OFFICIAL EXCUSE. Tho reason for the women's action was given by Miss Christabel Pankhtirst, who said: "It is a protest against the Government's refusing to legislato in regard to tho question of women suffrage. Tho fact that the miners arc ening to got legislation because they have made, themselves a nuisance is a direct incitement to women to endeavour to obtain a similar privilege. Wo aro persuaded that tho Government will not do anything till they are forced. As they do not yield to tho justice of cur demand wo have been practically forced into adopting those, tactics."

MRS PANKHURST'S THREAT. Most of the Suffratrottcs who had been out on bail for the night arrived ! n taxicabs at How street in the morning provided with large bundles, and evidently worn prepared for a long absence from home. Mrs Pankhiirst addressed tho court, remarking that Mr Hobhouse, in Bristol, had said tho women had not proved their desire for the vote because they had done nothing of the kind that characterised tho men's agitation which led to the burning of Nottingham Castle and tho pulling down of Hyde Park railings. The Government as a whole, had provided them during the last few days with evidenco that the most stupid people could understand that where the women had failed so far was in not doing enough to bring pressure on the Government. " What we have done," she said, " is a mere flea-bite as compared with what the miners of this country are doine._ They aro paralysing the whole of tho life of the community. If it is not enough, if you send me to prison I shall go further. I shall go just as far as is necessary to show the Government that women are going to get representation." Mr Curtis Harnett, addressing accused, said there was no question of their having gone out deliberately to break the law. Mrs Pankhurst: Till we get the power to make the law, we shall break the law.

Mr Bennett: You havo resorted to methods which cannot he allowed to continue in any c'vilised country. This pronouncement was greeted with loud applause. A sentence of two months was passed, and there was another round of applause. Turning to the crowd at the rear of the court. Mrs Pankhurst warmly retorted with some indistinct reference about tho Government. " WE WILL TERRORISE THE LOT OF YOU." " In a great issue like votes for women, money and property count for noihing." These were the closing words of .Miss Christabel Pankhurst's weekly oration at the Pavilion Music Hall this'week before lallini' upon her militant comrades to renew the attack upon the windows of private tradesmen and others. But it was a speech that was assailed al every point by opponents in the dress circlo 'and in various parts of tho hall, and the tactics of the opponents, who appeared to be well organised, so exasperated one militant ladv that she struck one of the obstructors in the face. " If it is necessary," said Miss Rank-' hurst, ",wn shall not hesitate to bum a palace, and in doing so we shall be but following in the footsteps of the wise men who have preceded us. If Friday's methods are not strong enough we will terrorise the whole lot of you." she dedared, amid iotid groans and cheers.