Page 86 - All About History - Issue 12-14

The militant battle for women’s rights

prison governors denied any wrongdoing as vehemently as the
Hunger suffragettes accused them of it. Emmeline Pankhurst herself
was arrested twice in 1908. In February, she led 13 suffragettes
strikes to the House of Commons to defy the Tumultuous Petitions
Act. She knew she would be arrested and her fragile health
declined rapidly once inside. However, her determination was
Hunger strikes began in 1909,
when Marion Wallace Dunlop limitless. She was summoned to the Bow Street police station
refused to eat after she was in October after publishing a pamphlet urging suffragettes
not treated as a political to ‘Rush the House Of Commons!’ Rather than going straight
prisoner. She was released 91 there, she told the police that she would be busy until six
hours later, but the practice of o’clock the next day. When she and Flora Drummond took
forcible feeding began soon taxis to the Bow Street station, a Liberal MP sent a lavish
after. The first case took place
in September 1909 and quickly dinner from the Savoy Hotel to the station for the pair.
became common practice.
The suffragettes protested this Political prisoners?
savage treatment and arrests, This civility was a rare exception, though. 1909 would see a
but forcible feeding continued. radical change in the battleground as both sides refused to
The sanitary conditions of give any quarter. In July, a group of suffragettes threw stones
the equipment used and the
marked differences between the at the windows of the Home Office, the Privy Council and
treatment of wealthy and poor the Treasury. Arrested on 24 June for defacing the House of
suffragettes was controversial. Commons, where she used a rubber stamp to print an excerpt
The government initiated a cat- from the Bill of Rights, Marion Wallace Dunlop was sent to
and-mouse law in 1913, which prison. When her request to be treated as a political prisoner
freed hunger-strike prisoners was denied, Dunlop began a hunger strike and, after 91 hours
whose health was in danger, but without food, it was decided she should be released for her
brought them back to complete
their sentences once they were own safety. On 13 August, Edward VII’s private secretary sent a
deemed healthy enough. The Images such as this accompanied note to Prime Minister Asquith. “His Majesty would be glad to
practice continued until the vivid personal accounts of forcible know why the existing methods which must obviously exist
outbreak of WWI. feeding from the suffragettes for dealing with prisoners who refuse nourishment, should not
be adopted.” Forcible feeding had effectively been ordered.

what were the most Militant activities?

Glass smashing Arson Hatchet throwing
In July 1909, suffragettes threw stones at the windows Beginning with Emily Wilding Davison setting fire to Prime Minister Herbert Asquith’s visit to Dublin in July 1912
of 10 Downing Street to express their rage at the arrests a pillar-box in December 1911, unsanctioned by the would be an eventful one. Mary Leigh (who had thrown
following the rush on the House of Commons. By October, Pankhursts, arson would go on to be one of the most stones at 10 Downing Street), Gladys Evans, Jennie Baines
with the first forcible feedings taking place, organised striking methods of militant protest. Following Davison’s and Mabel Capper were found guilty of “having committed
window-smashing raids had begun. These displays fulfilled death in 1913, arson attacks were carried out all over the serious outrages”, which included throwing a hatchet at
the early militant aims of bringing attention to their cause country. Suffragettes such as Lillian Lenton would target Asquith’s carriage and attempting to set fire to the Theatre
and to ensure a swift arrest. They also brought disapproval empty buildings and warehouses, determined that no lives Royal where he was due to speak. Evans and Leigh were
from more peacefully minded campaigners who felt this be put at risk but that the situation would become utterly sentenced to hard labour, which drew an outraged reaction
was vandalism and would do more harm than good. impossible for the government. from the WSPU. The condemned were defiant.

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