Some historical and global examples of tax resistance →
women’s suffrage movements →
British women’s suffrage movement →
Florence Gardiner Hamilton
I recently discovered on Google News Archives a treasure trove of information
about tax resistance in the British women’s suffrage movement, in the form of
what looks like the complete run of The Vote, the
newspaper of the Women’s Freedom League.
I’ve found upwards of 175 different mentions of tax resistance in this
archive, and I hope to share them here over the next year, assuming I can keep
up the pace. They tell the story of a tax resistance campaign that had many
facets, met multiple challenges, used a variety of techniques, and can take
at least some of the credit for a successful campaign for women’s suffrage.
I was not present when she took her stand as a Tax Resister from Chestnut
Cottage, Wendover, but was told by a countryman that “if ever there was a
rebellion in the quiet village of Bucks it was that day”! How
reminiscent of those four women who backed John Hampden and resisted the ship
money! Their names were writ in letters of ribboned gold tied upon a wreath
and placed by their spiritual descendants (Mrs. Hamilton and others) on the
great Hampden’s statue in Aylesbury market-place in our day and generation.
For some reason, Google News Archives lists The Vote
mistakenly as “The Globe,” so it can be more difficult to find than it should
be.
We are accustomed to the story of the ass teaching the ancients wisdom; the modern version seems to be that the cow is on the side of the tax-resisters.
The story of what happened while Miss [Edith Kate] Lelacheur was attending a sale of a dog cart at Reading for the non-payment of the agricultural land tax on one of her farms might be deemed a practical joke on the part of the revenue authorities, but for the fact that the cow took the matter entirely into her own hands and flouted the bailiffs.
In the absence of Miss Lelacheur, a cow was seized for non-payment of other taxes; inquiry elicited the fact that “twice the bailiffs took the cow away and got it three miles or so along the road, but that then it bolted back.”
Finally they gave it up, and left Miss Lelacheur the distraining order — and the cow.
We wonder whether in due time Suffragists will have reason to worship the cow — taking a different point of view from the Hindus.
Meanwhile, we congratulate Miss Lelacheur on her tax resistance and on the noble support of her cow.
Later: We hear that force majeure has prevailed; the cow is to be sold — to a tax-resister, we hope!
Also from the same issue:
Tax Resistance.
Under the auspices of the Tax Resistance League and the Women’s Freedom League a protest meeting was held at Great Marlow on , on the occasion of the sale of plate and jewellery belonging to Mrs. [Mary] Sargent Florence, the well-known artist, and to Miss Hayes, daughter of Admiral Hayes.
Their property had been seized for the non-payment of Imperial taxes, and through the courtesy of the tax-collector every facility was afforded to the protesters to explain their action.
A quiet little group — a large crowd for Marlow — listened attentively to Mrs. Florence, Mrs. [Emily] Juson Kerr, Miss [Margaret] Kineton Parkes, and Miss [Alison] Neilans.
Mrs. Sargent Florence had been distrained upon more than once, and intends to continue her passive protest until women have the vote.
At the County Court, Woodbridge, Dr. Elizabeth Knight was charged with keeping a dog without a license and refusing to take out a license for her dog cart; Mrs. H[ortense].
Lane was charged also with refusing to pay the license for her trap.
Dr. Knight said she believed taxation and representation should go together; and Mrs. Lane, who was unable to attend, wrote to the Bench saying she refused to pay taxes as a protest against women’s political disability.
Mr. Eton White, the presiding magistrate, said his duty was to administer the law as it stood; therefore Dr. Knight was fined £2 10s. and costs, and Mrs. Lane £1 10s. and costs.
A protest meeting was afterwards held on Market Hill.
Mrs. [Lila] Pratt, hon. secretary of the Women’s Freedom League, Ipswich branch, presided, and an interesting crowd listened appreciatively to the speech of Mrs. [Emma] Sproson who explained the reason why women should adopt the policy of tax resistance and urged upon all women to make the position of the Government intolerable and untenable unless it conceded to women their common human right.
Silver belonging to Miss [Dorinda] Neligan, of Croydon, and Mrs. [Florence Gardiner] Hamilton, of Wendover, was sold for non-payment of taxes on , and vigorous protests made.
At Wendover, in the John Hampden County, an Anti-suffragist from London made a speech.
On , the last item on the catalogue of Messrs.
Whiteley’s weekly sale in Westbourne-grove was household silver seized in distraint for King’s taxes from Miss Gertrude Eaton, of Kensington.
Miss Eaton is a lady very well known in the musical world and interested in social reforms, and hon. secretary of the Prison Reform Committee.
Miss Eaton said a few dignified words of protest in the auction room, and Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Saunderson explained to the large crowd of bidders the reason why tax-paying women, believing as they do that taxation without representation is tyranny, feel that they cannot, by remaining inactive, any longer subscribe to it.
A procession then formed up and a protest meeting was held at Bradley’s-corner, where speeches were made from a carriage by Mrs. Cobden Saunderson, Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes, Mrs. Florence Hamilton, Mrs. Clarkson Swann, and Miss Gertrude Eaton.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
At the offices of the collector of Government taxes, Westborough, on a silver cream jug and sugar basin were sold.
These were the property of Dr. Marion McKenzie, who had refused payment of taxes to support her claim on behalf of women’s suffrage.
A party of suffragettes marched to the collector’s office, which proved far too small to accommodate them all.
Mr. Parnell said he regretted personally having the duty to perform.
He believed that ultimately the women would get the vote.
They had the municipal vote and he maintained that women who paid rates and taxes should be allowed to vote.
(Applause.)
But that was his own personal view.
He would have been delighted not to have had that process, but he had endeavoured to keep the costs down.
Dr. Marion McKenzie thanked Mr. Parnell for the courtesy shown them.
A protest meeting was afterwards held on St. Nicholas Cliff.
A very successful tour has been made by our Caravan in Bucks., under the charge of Miss Muriel Matters and Miss Violet Tillard.
Meetings were held in Great Missenden, Wendover, Aylesbury, Chesham, and Stoke Mandeville.
During the office will be open to receive letters and telephone messages for a couple of hours each morning.
