THE LIVELY SUFFRAGISTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 9

THE LIVELY SUFFRAGISTS

MRS. PANKHURST IN AMERICA. c. rs " .l >al, khurst, tho famous militant oufrragist leader, had ail eventful dav on. the Saturday she readied New York. Sho arrived on tho iTrcnch steamer.La Provence iii the morning, was challenged bv the immigration inspector at quarantine, and by noon she was on Ellis Island, tho immigration station in New } ork Harbour, detained as an undesirable alien and under order of deportation. By a singular coincidence, Mrs. Pankhurst occupied tho same quarters at the immigration station which accommodated Miss Mario Lloyd and ex-President Castro. True to her _ principles, the British i-'iiffragist at lirst declared a hunger strike, saying that she would eat nothing until the 'Washington authorities, to whom she had appealed, decided her case. Afterwards, however, tho immigration officers, fearful lest somo unfortunate event might happen, promised Mrs. Pankhurst that sho would be given her liberty on bail, which was oflercd by Mrs. Belmont, the American Suffragist leader, and on this promiso being given Mrs. Pankhurst consented to take her food, much to tho relief of the immigration officials. If the inspectors were ready for the militant leader on the arrival of tho French finer, sho was no less ready for them, and when tho inspector who boarded tho vessel at quarantino sought her out and asked her questions Mrs. Pankhurst was calm, collected, and logical. "Havo you ever been imprisoned in England?" asked tho inspector. "Yes, many times," replied Mrs. Pankhurst; "but not for felony, only misdemeanour —for political offences which 1 understand cannot cxcludo mo from this country." "But you aro a fugitive from justice, arc you not?" persisted tho inspector. "No," sho replied. "I nm not a fugitive. W 7 hen I went to Franco I left England quite openly, and no attempt was made to stop.lllo. 1 was received in Franco without difficulty, as I certainly ought to bo in this country of liberty." 111 response to- further questions, Mrs. Pankhurst said that sho had come to tho States to Jay tho English causo beforo tho American wonion, not to preach militancy. "American women do not need this," sho said, "but wo in England do, whero wo aro fighting tho Government, not tho King." Tiio inspector informed her that she would bo detained and taken to Ellis Island.

Sirs. Pankhurst was admitted to the United States, principally, it is said, owing to "tho personal intervention of President Wilson. The White House had been deluged witli telegrams of protest against tho deportation of the English Suffragist leader, and tho President summoned Sir. Wilson, Secretary of Labour, to a conference, at which tlio whole case was thoroughly gone into. The President carefully went over a transcript of the official shorthand notes of the early proceedings before the Board of Inquiry at Ellis Island, a'nd it is believed that he was most influenced by the statement that tho British authorities made no attempt to stop Mrs. Panklinrst when she left England for France. He asked for proof of that statement, and then ordered the militant leader's admission, subject to her giving an undertaking that'sho would not preach or indulge in militancy in the United States. ' Tho •President himself made no statement, .but tho official announcement was made from tho White Honse, and there can be no doubt that Mr. Wilson judged the caso and rendered tho decision.