The Virginia Enterprise

PROMINENT PEOPLE WILL STIR SUFFRAGETTES

Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the world-famed leader of the English suffragettes, who have made life miserable for Premier Asquith and members of parliament in their fight for votes for women, is in this country to stir up her American cousins. When she arrived in New York on the Caronia she was greeted by enthusiastic women and promised them that she would make her visit lively. She began in staid old Boston, speaking on the meaning of the woman's movement in England and the reasons for the militant methods of the English suffragettes as resulting from the existing conditions of English politics.

An English statesman, himself not of suffragist sympathies, has said that the methods of the suffragists were the only ones which could be used with any effect; that, although he hoped never to be attacked by them, yet if he were trying to gain the object these would be the methods he or any other statesman would be forced to use as having been shown by time and precedent to be the only effective ones.

Mrs. Pankhurst is the founder and honorable secretary of the National Woman's Social and Political union in England. This is the big militant organization among the English suffragists. It was organized by Mrs. Pankhurst, together with her daughter, Christabel, in 1903.

To secure for women the parliamentary vote as it is or may be granted to men; to use the power thus obtained to establish equality of rights and opportunities between the sexes, and to promote the social and industrial well-being of the community."

This object is to be accomplished by six methods:

1. Action entirely independent of all political parties.

2. Opposition to whatever government is in power until such time as the franchise is granted.

3. Participation in party elections in opposition to the governmental candidate and independent of all other candidates.

4. Vigorous agitation upon lines justified by the position of outlawry to which women are at present condemned.

5. The organizing of women all over the country to enable them to give adequate expression to their desire for political freedom.

6. Education of public opinion by all the usual methods, such as public meetings, demonstrations, debates, distribution of literature, newspaper correspondence and deputations to public representatives.

It is said that there is no woman in England to-day who is so hated and feared by the politicians or who is regarded with such intense enthusiasm and devotion by so many women as is Mrs. Pankhurst. Literally thousands of women are ready to rush to do her slightest bidding. Hundreds have already gone to prison and not a few would be willing to lay down their lives. Mrs. Pankhurst is certainly one of the most remarkable personalities of modern times.

She was born in Manchester, England, on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastile, her father being a great radical politician, and her grandfather having narrowly escaped with his life at the great franchise riots at Peterloo in 1819. She was educated in Paris and there met the daughter of Henri Rochefort and became an ardent republican.

She has been arrested several times and is now under bond to appear in a London court this month.