THE SUFFRAGETTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 85, 5 December 1912, Page 5

THE SUFFRAGETTES.

THE FRANCHISE BILL

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(United Press Association.) Loudon, December 4

Mr.' Lloyd George, replying to the Welsh women’s suffrage demonstration, said that the amendment of the Franchise Bill was less propitious than a year ago, owing to the militants antagonising public opinion.

“MY DAUGHTER AND I." THE PANKHURST’S DICTATORSHIP. NO MURDER COMING. (Wellington ‘Poft’ London Correspondent.) London, 18th October. The cleavage in the Women’s Social and Political Union has been endowed with the importance of a political crisis. It is announced in ‘Votes for Women’ in the following official statement, signed by the four leaders: “Crave Statement by the Leaders. “At the first reunion of the leaders after the enforced holiday, Mrs. Pankhurst and Miss Christabel Pankhurst outlined n new militant policy, whica Mr and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence found themselves altogether unable to rop prove. Mrs. Pankhurst and Miss Christabel Pankhurst indicated that they were not prepared to modify then intentions, and recommended that Mr and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence should resume control of the paper, ‘Votes for Women,’ and should leave the Women’s Social and Political Union. Rather than make schism in the ranks of the union, Mr. and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence consented to take this course, hi these circumstances, hi. and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence will not In present at the meeting at the Royal Albert Hall on 17th October.

‘ ‘Emmeline Pankhurst “Christabel Pankhurst “Emmeline Pethick Lawrence “F. W. Pethick Lawrence.” My Daughter and I.” Mrs. .Pankhurst, in an interview, said; “The difference is as to the nature of the militant methods to be adopted in future. The method upon w.iich my daughter and I have agreed i$ a logical development of what has gone before.” “More violent?” • “Yes, if vou like to put it in that way,” replied Mrs. Pankhurst. “More militant, stronger. We have been grossly betrayed by the Government, and tfiat warrants militancy. It is oui only weapon, as we do not possess tiial of votes. Alarmist rumours are afloat to the effect that we intend to make attacks upon human life. To that we give an absolute and uncompromising denial. The only limit set is that human life shall be" respected. The policy of destroying human life is left to the Unionist Party and to the combatants in the Near East. We accept the responsibility for all that we intend to do. ...

“I do not foresee any split in the ranks. I know of no rival organisation that is to he set up. All that has happened is a change in the officers of the Women’s Social and Political Union. I succeed Mrs. Pethick Lawrence as ftfeasurer of the union, and all the fighting funds remain with ns.” Mrs. Pankhurst added the interesting fact That, although her daughter is now in Paris, she has bjeeh back in England since the warrant was out against her,. She--Mas uot-oonscioiis of auv attempt made to arrest her.

The Sender's Statement. By arrangement, Mrs. Pethick Lawrence spoke for herself and' her lamband. .think absolutely alike on the question,” she said. “It is a very simple story. Up to March, when the leaders cf the movement were arrested we were always together, and we evolved every detail cf the campaign in common. After our forcible feeding in prison we all felt the absolute need of a. holiday. Mrs. Pankhurst joined her daughter in France; my husband and I went to Canada. Naturally wo were always thinking about the movement, and we developed our own plans for its future.

“Not until the four of us met again a few days ago was it discovered that our views as- to the immediate militant policy had been moving in somewhat different directions. Don’t ask me to define the differences; that is a ‘Cabinet secret.’ “Mrs. Pankhurst felt that any difference of opinion would be disastrous at tiie present stage of the crisis. Therefore, she asked us to leave the union. My husband and I gave earnest consideration to the appeal, and we decided that, as we had joined the movement with the sole idea of strengthening it, we would run no risk of weakening it by causing a division in the camp. “We had this consolation, that whereas the movement was penniless when we joined it, it is now rich and prosperous and strong. It is housed in excellent premises, and has a reserve fund of between £IO,OOO and £II,OOO, which 1 have handed over as treasurer to Mrs. Pankhurst.”

“Are you going to start another organisation P” “We have no intention of dong that at present.” “Then, why the two newspapers, apparently in rivalry?”

“We think there is room for an independent paper, as ‘Votes for Women’ now is, to urge the necessity of militant methods.| We are simply a voice. We staked our lives and our fortunes for the cause, and we are prepared to do the same still—that is all!” “I Incite You to Rebellion!” At the great meeting in the Albert Hall last night, Mrs. Pankhurst made her first appearance since the split, and £3OOO was colected (the two previous Albert Hall meetings realised

£10,000). “We must fight as never before, and give no quarter to the enemy,’ ’telegraphed Christahe] from Paris. Mrs. Pankhurst, who presided, paid a warm tribute to the “incalculable services” of Mr. and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence, whose names were loudly cheered.

“It is through property,” she continued, “that we shall attack the enemy, and what sacrifices or injury to property accrues will not he onr fault, hut that of the Government. 1 Incite this meeting to rebellion. Those of you who want to go to the House of Commons and refuse to he sent away, do so. Those who will face party mobs at Cabinet Ministers’ meetings, do so. Those who can break windows, break them. Those of yon who can still further attack the sacred idol of property, so as to make the Government realise that property is as greatly endangered as it was in the days of Chartists, do so.” (Loud cheers.).