ORGANISING A CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 5

ORGANISING A CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE.

"MILITANCY A MORAL DUTY." The,following letter was sent by Mrs. Pankhurst to tho members of tho Women's Social and Political Union:— Dear Friend,— Tho Prime Minister has announced that in the week beginning January 20 the Women's Amendments to tho Manhood Suffrage Bill will be discussed and voted upon. This means that within a few short daya tho fato of theso amendments will bo finally decided. . The W.S.P.U. has from tho firs declined to call any truco'on the strength of tho Prime Minister's so-called pledge, hnd has refused to depend upon t the amendments in question, becanse the' Government havo not accepted tho responsibility of getting them carricd. There are, however, some Suffragists—and there may bo some even in tho ranks of the W.S.P.U.—who liopo aaginst liopo that in spito of the Government's intrigues an unofficial amendment may be carried. Feeling as they do, these Suffragists aro tempted to hold their hands as far as militancy is concerned, until, after tho fate of tho amendments is known. But cvei'y member of tho W.S.P.U. recognises that tho defeat of the amendments will'make militancy more a moral duty and more a political necessity than it has ever boon before. Wo must prepare beforehand to deal with that situation!

There are degrees of militancy. Some women nro able to go further than others in militant action, and each woman is tiro judgo of her own duty so far as that is conccrned. To bo militant in pome way or other is, however, a moral obligation. It is a duty which every woman will owo to hor own conscience, and sclf-respect, to other women who aro less fortunate than she is herself, and to all those who are to como after her.

If . any woman refrains from militant protest against tho injury done by tho Government and tho llouso of Commons to women and to tho race, she will share tho responsibility for tho crime. Submission uncter such- circumstances will bo itself a crime. \ I know that the defeat of tho amendments will prove to'thousands of women that to rely only on peaceful, patient methods is to court failure, and that militancy is inevitable. Wo must, as I havo said, prepare to moot tho crisis before it arises. Will you therefore tell me (by letter, if it is not possiblo to do so by word of mouth), that you aro ready to take your share in manifesting in a 'practical manner your indignation at the betrayal of our cause?— Yours sincerely, (Signed) E. PANKHURST. Women's Social and Political Union:

Lincoln's Inn llouso, Kingsway, W.C, January 10, 1913.