There was evidence of disapproval of the militant tactics of the Women's Social and Political Union, at their meeting, at the London Pavilion, yesterday afternoon. A large part of the speech of Miss Christabel Pankhurst was inaudible, in consequence of interruption. Letters were read from Mrs. Pankhurst and others, Mrs. Pankhurst asking that it should be proved to the authorities that the supply of militant women was inexhaustible.
Mrs. Pethick Lawrence declared that the movement had become a revolution, for which the time was ripe, and any who tried to stop the movement did so at their peril. She regarded the holes in the windows as eloquent mouths. ("Shame on you!") They had asked for bread and been given stones, and stones came home to roost like chickens. Mrs. Pankhurst was not there because she had been sentenced to two months' imprisonment. ("It ought to have been two years!") Who incited the women to commit the damage to the windows? Mr. Hobhouse, who told them they had not gone so far as men had in the past. They must coerce the Government, as Mr. Asquith had stated the Government would coerce the coalowners, and the method they had adopted of attacking private property was the only way. They would do what was necessary to achieve the political emancipation of the women of this country. (Cheers.)
Dr. Ethel Smyth, in the course of her speech, remarked, "I do not know, and I do not care, whether we have done right or wrong," and it drew the retort, "That shows you ought not to have a vote."
Miss Pankhurst stated that militancy was the only method feared. They knew there was not the smallest intention to enfranchise the women this session, and they had got to carry the position by storm, "by fire and sword," she added, "if you will." If necessary they would adopt fire, the method of 1832 at Nottingham. If heavy sentences were going to be imposed, like those on Saturday, they might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. (Cheers.) Penal servitude might be the punishment, but not for nothing. (Cheers.) They would do their bit, even if it was burning down a palace. (Cheers.)
"Is your organisation," a man asked, "encouraging the use of revolvers tonight in Parliament-square?"
Miss Pankhurst: "No; I contradict that rumour."
"Do you approve of smashing innocent tradesmen's windows?"
Miss Pankhurst: "Yes; they are not innocent in this matter."
"How can you expect a tradesman to support 'Votes for Women' if you break his window?"
Miss Pankhurst: "They ought to have given us the vote long ago."
In conclusion, she stated that if window-breaking was regarded as contemptible, other methods they might have to try would not be so regarded. "If such methods," she added, "are not sufficient, we will terrorise the whole lot of you."
WOMEN'S DEFENCE.
INTERVIEW WITH MISS PANKHURST
At the offices of the Women's Social and Political Union yesterday, a representative of The Daily Telegraph had a conversation with Miss Pankhurst on the subject of the recent outrages. The leader of the militant Suffragists hotly defended window-smashing, refused to believe that the practice was incensing and alienating the public, and was ready to go to prison again in defence of her beliefs.
"We are smashing windows," she said, "to bring our agitation home to the public, and make them understand the meaning of our campaign as they have never understood it before. People who have had their windows broken are saying, 'Why smash our windows? We have done nothing!' Don't you see that we have a ground for quarrel with them for not doing something? They are electors, and therefore they ought to bestir themselves to get votes for women. Men have done worse things than smash windows in the past. They found window-smashing ineffectual, and during the Reform riots of 1832 they destroyed Nottingham Castle by fire."
"But you don't intend to burn down castles, do you?"
"When we see that men succeeded in getting the vote by these methods, is it wonderful that we should come to the conclusion that our peaceful methods are useless? Shopkeepers are saying. 'Something must be done!' What? You can't restrain women by imprisonment. The only way is to carry a Votes for Women Bill. Meanwhile, it is necessary to smash windows to show we are in deadly earnest. We are, symbolically speaking, letting in fresh air and light upon a grievance about which many people are ignorant."
RUMOURS DENIED.
"It is said that you are purchasing revolvers to use against the police?"
"That I entirely and utterly deny."
"And that you are going to destroy the priceless valuables at the British Museum and other places?"
Miss Pankhurst laughed. "That only shows, she said, "that panic reigns supreme. It only shows that the public are beginning to realise that we are in deadly earnest. Stone-throwing is a much better understood and more generally approved method of getting our rights than deputations to Parliament-square. We think that this matter must now be carried by storm. The Government won't listen to reason."
"So the smashing is to go on?"
"There can be no stopping until the vote is won."
"As to The Daily Telegraph leader," concluded Miss Pankhurst, "we are quite accustomed to that kind of strong language. As to your suggestion about strengthening the law, the law has no terrors for us. We are glad that you recognise that these methods cannot be allowed to go on; but they can only be stopped by 'strengthening the law' by giving votes to women. As to our unfitness for the vote, no people ever were thought fit for it who did not make themselves a terror to society."
.lcWith her mother in prison, Christabel Pankhurst was the leader of the suffragettes. She and Mrs Pethick Lawrence were regularly called upon to justify their law-breaking tactics. They did so forcefully, though Christabel denied rumours that they were thinking of arming themselves.
