Against Society

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 13 June 1914, Page 5

Against Society

HOME SECRETARY ACCUSES RICH women: OF AIDING AND ABETTING SUFFRAGETTES. MARTYRDOM AT SO MUCH WEEKLY A SHOCKING INDICTMENT. By Cable—Pros - Association—Copy right Received 12, 10.25 p.m. London, June 12. At the moment that Mr. McKenna was explaining the Government's policy in the House of Commons regarding militancy, an explosion occurred in the Abbey. A piece of the top of the Coronation ohair was blown off, and the stone carved screen behind was slightly damaged. This Scottish Coronation stone was injured. , The bomb appeared to have been well made of thin nickel-plated metal, loaded with iron bits, and was fired by a fuse. In the excitement, the police temporarily detained two inoffensive Danish ladies. It is supposed that some member of a large party of sight-seers lagged behind and deposited the bomb. A woman's boa and guidebook in a bag were found near, the House of Com- I moss. !

lord Robert Cecil and others described . the Ctrt-and-Mouse Act as a failure. Vi Mr. McKenna, in reply, justified the p Act, saying the number of crimes had ' diminished, although the seriousness of the offences had increased. The authorities were in possession of sufficient evidence to proceed against subscribers to the Women's Union, ■ and intended to bring a test civil action for damages, while criminal proceedings would also be instituted against sinister figures with money-bags who cared; more for the organisation than the cause. He declared that rich women in the background selected dupes from epileptics and semi-deranged women, urging them to martyrdom at b wage of 30s and 40s * week. The subscribers were mainly rich women who were using their wealth ftgainst feociety, paying these unfortunates to undergo the horrors of starvation while they themselves lived in luxury.

If the supplies were cut off the last would soon be heard of the Pankhursts, but he would never adopt a policy of "Let them die!" He thought deportation impracticable, and appealed to Press to give less, publicity to the militants'operations. .TTjAVOR OF UNHEALTHY DEPRAVITY. Received 12, 12.10 pan. London, June 12. The Daily Telegraph says that Mr. McKenna's statement was the most shocking in our time, showing a flavor of unhealthy depravity in recent militancy. lie Times says Mr. McKenna is more conscious of the difficulties of the probklem than resourceful in grappling with The pitiful tale of Laura Gray throws a lurid light on the demoralisation of weak-minded girls systematically practised by the women's organisation. CROWD RESENT HER IRREVERENCE " WHY DON'T iOU DIE?" SUFFRAGETTES ATTACKED BY A MOB. London, June 11. Prior to a procession, Sylvia Pankhurst hefil a semi-religious service at her East End residence. Passages of ScriptUTe were read from an open window, and Miss Pankhurst offered a prayer for the cat-and-mouse prisoners. The crowd outside resented her irreverence, and the protest was renewed when Miss Pankhurst prayed for Divine strength to carry out her purpose. She concluded, "I may die." A man in the crowd retorted, "Why don't you?" A mob of several hundreds attacked two parties of suffragettes at the Agricultural Show at Portsmouth, throwing bricks and other missiles. The police rescued them. Elsewhere in Portsmouth the crowd broke up a meeting, and the police had considerable difficulty in rescuing the speakers.

EXPLOSION IN WESTMINSTER < ABBEY. < UNDER THE CORONATION CHAIR. London, June 11. i An explosion occurred at 5.30 in Westminster Abbey under the Coronation chair in Edward the Confessor's chapel, and the chair was badly chipped. Otherwise the damage was slight. The police arc now in possession of tb° Abbey, and are prosecuting rigorous enquiries. Two women have been detained. Two explosions were heard in the House* of Commons, and a considerable distance down Victoria street a bomb was found deposited in a tag, which is now in the possession of the police. STARVING SUFFRAGETTES TO DEATH DOES NOT APPEAL TO HOME SECRETARY. London, June 11. In the House of Commons, Mr. McKenna said he would not consent to & poKcji of letting suffragettes die. He hoped' to take civil and eriminal proi epedingi agaipst Ro<ji, who subsidised mWtfiifa- Insurance companies are