CRIME CONSPIRATORS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1743, 7 May 1913, Page 7

CRIME CONSPIRATORS.

— •? "VIOLENT AND UNSCRUPULOUS." SUFFRAGETTES ON TRIAL. By TcleEranh- -Press Association— Copyrichi (Rec. May G, 11.15 p.m.) London, May G. The hearing of the conspiracy case in which seven women mid a man named Clayton, a consulting analyst, afo charged with conspiring with Mrs. Panklnirst and others to dainago property, was resumed. Mr. Bodkin. K.C., who appears for the Crown, described Mrs. Drummond as violent and unscrupulous. Tie said Miss Kenney had made inflammatory spcechcs, and that Clayton, in return for payment, had prostituted his knowledge of science for the furtherance of crime, producing what, tho Suffragette newspapers had called a "reign of terror." Documents showed that a man named Buckncr, of Hamburg, had written to Miss Kerr, one of the defendants, telling the latter how to terrorise audiences by the use of pow.dcr, causing violent sneezing and severe irritation of tho skin. Mr. Bodkin, K.C'.. counsel for the prosecution detailed the particulars of a scheme which had been submitted to Mrs. Drummond, costing twenty pounds, and by tho carrying out of which the dockyards had been fired, causing damage to the extent of JC'2O,OOO. Of the eight accused all were remanded and released on bail, with the exception of Mrs. Drummond and Miss Annie Kenney, who shouted out as they were taken away thr.t they would "hunger-strike." PRINTER BOUND OVER. (Eec, May 6, 11.15 p.m.) London, May 6. The publisher, Drew, who was arrested for printing "Tlio Suffragette," after its publication had been -prohibited, has apologised, and promised that ho will not print anything further for the Suffragettes. He was bound ,over in the sum of XISOO.

MORE ARRESTS. (Rec. May G, 11.15 p. 111.) London, May G. Nina Bovio, and Annie Munroe, leaders of the Women's Freedom League, have been arrested for conducting an open-air meeting in Hyde Park contrary to the by-law regulations. VOTES FOR WOMEN. BILL BEFORE THE COMMONS. (Rec. May G, 11.15 p.m.) London, May 6. In tho House of Commons, Mr. .Dickinson, Liberal member for St. l'ancras North, moved the second reading of tho Representation of Women Bill. Ho said it would bo a gross injustice to withhold tho vote from women owing to the criminal acts of a few. Tlio Bill should ho passed. It would not be operativo until a referendum of women showed that they desired tho vote. The debate was apathetic. Many of tho speakers emphasised that the outbursts of militancy had given tho Suffragetto movement a strong set-back. Mr. Arnold S. Ward, Unionist M.P. for West Herts, moved tlie rejection of the Bill. - ' ' Fourteen Suffragist supporters in the House of Commons havo circularised their colleagues that while they support tho second reading of Mr. Dickinson's Bill, they will vote against it on the third reading unless an- amendment is carried to bring tho measuri into lino with the original Conciliation Bill.

POUND IN TIME. London, May 5. A bomb containing sufficient nitroglycerine to wreck the building was found in a post officc. THE MILITANTS. CAPACITY FOE ORGANISATION. On Sunday there was n. remarkable scene in Ilyuo Park, wrote a, London correspondent on March 14. Thousands of men surged excitedly round a few militant Suffragettes. From a distance you might have thought the women were in extremo danger of being torn to pieces. Tho shouting indicated anger, and tho presence of a strong body of foot and mounted polico suggested that tho authorities took a serious view of tho position. As you got closer, however, and mingled with the shouting multitude you found them all very good-humoured. They were moved by no strong feeling, but were merely out for a little pastime. Perhaps tho majority hoped that something would happen. There would have been much cheering had rough hands been laid upon tho Suffragettes' van and their platform, destroyed. But everybody waited for tho other fellow to start, and beyond howling down Mre. Drummond and others who attempted to speak, nothing was done. Generally speaking, tho English ijablic is extraordinarily tolerant about the doings of these militant women. The Government is widely condemned for its clemency against those who are in prison. But it is easier to suggest repressive measures than to carry them into effect. Members of the Cabinet, aro astute enough to see that the utmost c-are must bo taken against allowing the Suffragettes to pose as martyrs. There is no doubt that, on the whole, militancy has paid. Hod it not been for the Tankhursts, Mr. and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence. Mr;. Drummond, and others who have encouraged or actualy engaged in wholesale ."K-snult and breakage, the movement in favour of women's votes would not bo w.hero it is in the United Kingdom today. With peaceful methods of advocacy, the vote would probably have been neglected for tho next JO years. There is no doubt that the great majority of British women are indifferent about the suffrage. Tho only wide exception to this is to be found - among the wives of the trades unionists. The Labour party is the only political party which has given the subject prominence. But without the militants Labour could have accomplished very little.

The militants are undoubtedly to be given the credit for advancing tho cause to wiiero it stood three months ago. Up to that time, their chief outrages had been directed against members of the Cabinet, anil to the interruption of the proceeding's of Parliament and public meetings. Their weakness was that they did not know when (o,ston. They did their cause a lot of hariii when they began to destroy the plato-glnss windows of tho West End shopkeepers, and when their madness advanced to the destruction of public property they alienated friends by the million. Until then they had appealed to the, sporting instincts of the nation, and so long as they eoiifuicd their hostilities to Mr. Asriuith and his colleagues. rlicy were assured in these days of bitter partisanship of the sympathy of nearly all Conservatives. They have now alienated their friends in all directions. Tho Houso of Commons has suddenly gone cold upon the subject, and it is very doubtful whether the opportunities promi-ed by Mr. Asquith for I lie granting of the vole during the present session will he of any valiie. It is not Surprising that political lenders who are constantly in danger of and whoso property is liable to destruction at any moment, should have their ardour about, women's rights .somewhat, damped. It' all the women in favour of the vole were militants there is no question that the movement would be shelved, for the time being at least.

T!ie liltlo body of militant: women have displayed an e:;trnordinar,v talent, for organisation. Take a meeting addressed by Mrs. i'ankhursl at Glasgow last nielli as an example. University students up-uard-of a hundred strong as-omhled nl the lurk of Ilie hall, determined In prevent Mrs. I\inkliiir-I Ironi speakinr.'. and confident the imtitinn v.- .15. rnlirek in Hi'ir linuU- Mr- Vv.ikhont vs? rniiliu«: tlio students crested htr with a,n ut>

roar. On the moment the students found themselves surrounded by n swarm of hostile male stewards, tnado up chiefly of stalwart working men. The struggle was desperate; the students fought strongly, btil were quickly overpowered, and most of them llirowu out. Blood flowed freely, ilael; eyes were general; and all flic while hundreds of women stood upon the seats, and screamed encouragement to tho stewards-. When order was restored, only a. handful of students remained, and they were completely tamed, and listened to the speeches like lambs. The militants had decisively beaten tlio cocksure undergraduates.