Tax Resistance League.
On , Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes
addressed a meeting of the members of the Fleet National Union on the
principles of tax resistance, and a ballot was taken in order to instruct
delegate how to vote at July Conference. On
, a drawing room meeting was given by
Mrs. [Louisa] Jopling Rowe in her large studio, and she herself presided.
Speeches were made by Mrs. [Caroline] Louis Fagan, Mrs. Kineton Parkes and Mr.
Laurence Housman, the latter dealing in a most interesting and exhaustive way
with the tax resistance movement from an historical point of view.
A very successful protest was made at Finchley on
in connection with the seizure of
property belonging to Miss [Sarah] Benett, late
hon. treasurer of the
W.F.L.
By courtesy of the auctioneer, Miss Bennet, was allowed to explain her reason
for resisting payment of taxes. A very successful open-air meeting was held
afterwards.
Another article in the same issue contained this note:
Emma Sproson
Mrs. [Edith] How Martyn announced that Mrs. [Emma] Sproson, a member of the
National Executive of the Women’s Freedom League, was serving a term of seven
days’ imprisonment in the third division for refusing to pay her dog license.
This was the third time Mrs. Sproson had suffered imprisonment in connection
with the militant suffrage agitation. The Women’s Freedom League had taken up
tax-resistance as a part of their propaganda three years ago. Mr. Keir Hardie
had stated in the House of Commons that twenty-five million pounds flowed
yearly into the coffers of the national exchequer as a result of the indirect
taxation of women. If that money could be withheld, or if all women who were
directly taxed would refuse to pay until they were enfranchised, they would
not long have to wait for their political emancipation. The speaker then
dealt with the political situation as regards the Women’s Bill.
Miss Andrews Released.
On , Miss Constance
Andrews — our honorary organizer for the East Anglian district — was arrested
and taken to Ipswich gaol, there to spend a week because she refused to pay
her dog tax. Here was a chance for the local branch, and they seized it. I
went down on , and we soon got all
the preliminary arrangements made for a welcome to Miss Andrews. The little
town has been buzzing with suffragettes and their doings. Everyone has been
talking of Miss Andrews and our preparations to receive her. Open-air
meetings, bill-distributing, the carrying of trimmed posters, pushing the
decorated coster’s barrow (covered with The Vote
and posters) through the town, — all have served to draw the attention of the
townsfolk to the fact that something unusual was astir. Our two meetings on
Cornhill were well attended, and the behaviour of the crowds was remarkably
good.
On morning a very large crowd — described in the local press as “an immense gathering” — collected outside
the prison to cheer Miss Andrews on her release. Mrs. [Charlotte] Despard — “the grand old lady of the Women’s movement,” to quote again from the
East Anglian Daily Times — drove up in an open
cab, with Mrs. [Isabel] Tippett and Mrs. Bastian. Shortly after her arrival
Miss Andrews was released, a photographer standing on a wall opposite the
prison gate being the first to give the news. The outer gate opened, and as
our ex-prisoner came out a lusty chorus of “hurrahs!” showed the sympathy of
the crowd. Mrs. Despard said a few words of welcome, and then we formed up in
a little procession behind the Ipswich “Dare to be Free” banner, and walked
to our rooms in Arcade-street, the cab with Miss Andrews in Mrs. Tippett’s
place bringing up the rear. The large crowd followed us all the way, and
enquiring heads were thrust through open windows all along the route.
On our arrival at the rooms, we found a dainty breakfast set out for us at
long tables, placed at right-angles to each other. Japanese table napkins,
floral decorations, placards on the walls, all were in the green, white and
gold. After breakfast Mrs. Hossack, from the chair, paid a warm tribute to
Miss Andrew’s work. Mrs. Despard, in her own inspiring way addressed the
gathering after the enthusiastic singing of “For she’s a jolly good fellow,”
and Miss Andrews gave us a vivid account of her life in prison. Among other
things, she said there were only four other women besides herself in prison.…
…Altogether we feel that Miss Andrews has done a great service to the local
work by her protest and imprisonment, and made possible a splendid week’s
work, which we hope will leave a lasting impression.
Marguerite A. Sidley.
