June 16, 1906 (Saturday)

SUFFRAGISTS CREATE A ROW: A group of suffragists tried to break up a meeting in Northampton, England, yesterday that featured a speech by Herbert Asquith, chancellor of the exchequer. Just wen he began to speak, three women, Misses Kenny and Billington and Mrs. Rawood, stood and started screaming. When stewards rushed to quiet them, Miss Billington pulled a short whip from under her cloak and swung it wildly at a man's head and shoulders. (a Washington Post headline said she was "fighting like a tigress." The trio waved flags with the inscription "Votes for Women" (right). After the three were taken out of the hall someone referred to only as "Mrs. Pankhurst," presumably Emmeline, "came to the front of the women's gallery and started making demands." She was drowned out by shouts of "Throw her out." Asquith made his speech, but the news report neglects to say what he said.

GANS AND LEWIS EXCHANGE BLOWS: Maybe the suffragists could have used some help from someone like Joe Gans (left). But the boxing star was busy in Philadelphia yesterday, in a match with Harry Lewis. The two fought at the National Athletic Club. The news report says, "There was lots of action in every round, with both men exhibiting far more cleverness in getting away from blows than in delivering them." The six-rounder ended in a draw. The article added, "Although Gans put up a fast fight, he was a little bit slower than he usually is." Hope he's not getting ill or something.

SCHOOL vs. CIRCUS: Remember the dispute between the mayor and school board in Haverhill, Mass.? Well, Massachusetts Supreme Court Judge Hammond suggested on June 14 that Haverhill close its schools as the mayor wants. The mayor figured he had the authority. And, heck, the circus is in town. The school board didn't listen. The schools were open on June 15. And guess what? They were empty. Where were the kids? At the circus, or nearly 3,000 of them, anyway. Not surprisingly, "occasionally small groups of them were heard cheering the Mayor."