The suffragettes were some awesome and well determined women for their time. Early 1900s newspapers are filled with their stories. Some papers spoke of the suffragettes as a nuisance. Other papers, such as The Day Book, were far more progressive and openly supported equal rights for women. That there are women today who are willing to give up the rights these women fought for is a sad statement of our times.
London Suffragettes Raise Cain
220 Jailed
London, Nov. 22. — The militant suffragettes waged actual war yesterday evening in their campaign for equal rights, and today 220 of them were in Bow street court to answer to charges of obstructing traffic, assaulting policemen and malicious destruction of property. All of them spent last night in jail.
Black eyes and scratched faces were numerous among the prisoners, and several said their bodies were masses of bruises. They charged the police were under orders to handle them as brutally as possible, short of inflicting serious injury, as discouragement.
Policemen also had a tale of woe to recite. A number of them were stabbed by hatpins. Some had their eyes blackened, their noses bruised or teeth knocked out by brass knuckles in women’s hands.
Miss Mary Oldham, the first woman arraigned this morning, defied the court to do its worst. She was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, with the option of a $17.50 fine. She chose the jail sentence, and the rest of the women are expected to do the same.
The leaders say they will do their utmost to create disorder in jail, as well as outside it. They will refuse to work, the prison attendants will be resisted, there will be hunger strikes, the prison furniture will be smashed, and other methods will be resorted to in an attempt to force the government to surrender.
Source: (1911, November 22). London Suffragettes Raise Cain. The Day Book, pgs. 6-7.
