Source Database
Section 22: Anti-Suffrage Movement
(22.1) In her book Women’s Suffrage, Millicent Fawcett explained the formation of the Anti-Suffrage Union.
The first organised opposition by women to women’s suffrage in England dates from 1889, when a number of ladies led by Mrs. Ward appealed against the proposed extension of the Parliamentary suffrage to women… Women anti-suffragists formed themselves into a society in July 1908 under the leadership of Mrs. Ward, and a men’s society was shortly afterwards formed. These two societies were amalgamated in December 1910.
(22.2) An Anti-Suffrage Society was formed in East Grinstead in May 1911. A report of the meeting was published in the East Grinstead Observer on 27th May 1911.
There was a large attendance at a ‘At Home’ held at Hurst-on-Clays, East Grinstead, by kind permission of Lady Jeannie Lucinda Musgrave on Tuesday afternoon.
Mrs. Archibald Colquhoun of the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League… said that women had never possessed the right to vote for Members of Parliament in this country nor in any great country, and although the women’s vote had been granted in one or two smaller countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, no great empire have given women’s a voice in running the country. Women have not had the political experience that men had, and, on the whole, did not want the vote, and had little knowledge of, or interest in, politics. Politics would go on without the help of women, but the home wouldn’t (applause)… The speaker also stated that in a recent canvas by postcard, of the 200 odd women in East Grinstead, they found that 80 did not want the vote, 40 did want the vote and the remainder would not sufficiently interested in replying.
Lady Musgrave, President of the East Grinstead branch of the Anti-Suffragette League said she was strongly against the franchise being extended to women, for she did not think it would do any good whatsoever, and in sex interests, would do a lot of harm. She quoted the words of Lady Jersey: "Put not this additional burden upon us." Women were not equal to men in endurance or nervous energy, and she thought she might say, on the whole, in intellect.
(22.3) A meeting of the Anti-Suffrage Society was reported in the East Grinstead Observer on 3rd June 1911.
There was a large attendance – chiefly of ladies – at the Queen’s Hall on Friday afternoon, where there was a debate on Women’s Suffrage. Mr. Charles Everard presided. Mr. Maconochie spoke against the extension of the franchise to women.
Mr. Maconochie was opposed to suffrage because there were two many women to make it safe. There were 1,300,000 more women than men in the country, and he objected to the political voting power being placed in the hands of women.
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