WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2232, 2 July 1908, Page 3

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE.

AN ASSAULT ON PARLIAMENT.

INTENSE EXCITEMENT- AMONG WOMEN.

“WE WOMEN MUST IVIN.”

United Press Association. Coptright (Received July 1, 10.3 p.m.)

.LONDON, July 1. The Women’s Social and Political Union Convention at Caxton Hall deputed Miss Pankliurst and twelve others to carry a resolution to the House of Commons. The police escorted them to the entrance of the Ho,use, where ,an inspector stated that the Sergearit-at-Arms forbade the deputation to enter as Mr." Asquith declined t 0 receive them, suggesting that they present a written ■tateinent. This was reported to the Caxton Hall Convention, which forthwith prepared to invade the House of Commons.

There was a huge uproar from the crowd .which gathered in Parliament Square for • two, hours' and watched the progress'of the assault upon the House.

• The demonstrators appeared in ile’iiclied, parties, and the police promptly excluded them from the Square. Twenty-eight were arrested alter a ew ' serious scuffles.

Another party" in- a boat addressed the occupants of Parliament House assembled on the terrace.

'Later two women in a taxi-cab, armed with bags of stones, were arrested for smashing" the windows of Mr. Asquith’s house. : Owing.: to the street proceedings the Convention became excited.

Replying to Lady Groves’ expostulatorv remark that it was notoriously illegal to. walk in processions to the House of ' Convmons, Alias Pankliurst exclaimed: “Yes; John Burns discovered that one sometimes must be a law-breaker before being a lawmaker. AVe have only one black sheep in the flock. AA r o women are going to win. Let it be before some tragedy, before some injury to one of these women, has blotted the page.”