WOMEN'S SOCIAL AND POLITICAL UNION.

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Deputation to the House of Commons, Tuesday, June 29th. A leaflet for a deputation to the Prime Minister of eight women, led by Emmeline Pankhurst. Asquith refused to admit the women, and the police officers guarding the entrance to the House of Commons refused to take him a message. Violent scenes ensued, resulting in the arrests of more than 100 women. It was the largest demonstration to date.Emmeline Pankhurst wrote to Asquith several days in advance to inform him of the suffragettes' intention to attend the House of Commons to present their demand for the vote. The WSPU publicized the deputation and held a large meeting on the eve of the deputation to rally support. The result was a heavy presence of both police and supporters in Parliament Square on the 29 June. The event began peacefully, but tensions grew as news of Asquith's refusal to meet with the deputation and the police's obstruction spread. Male and female supporters entered into physical altercations with the police, and several WSPU members threw stones to break windows in the House of Commons. The Votes For Women newspaper described the incident as "The Battle of Westminster" and published the names of all women who were arrested at the scene. Two of those imprisoned were Ada Wright and Sarah Carwin, who became some of the movement's earliest hunger-strikers.Provenance: from the collection of the suffrage historian Elizabeth Crawford.

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