Some historical and global examples of tax resistance → women’s suffrage movements → British women’s suffrage movement → Miss Rose

From the 1 May 1914 issue of The Vote:

Women’s Tax Resistance League.

Dr. Jessie Murray’s Protest.

On April 22 there was a most interesting open air meeting in Upper-street, Islington, when Dr. Jessie Murray, of Endsleigh-street, Tavistock-square, protested against the seizure and public sale of her carriage clock, owing to her refusal to pay Imperial taxes. Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes and Mrs. Tyson also spoke, and gained the attention of a large crowd by whom the usual resolution was unanimously passed.

Tax Resistance in John Burns’ Borough.

On Friday evening, April 24, Mrs. Beaumont Thomas and Mrs. Sutcliffe had goods sold by public auction, because of their refusal to pay King’s taxes. The sale took place at Warren’s Auction Room, Battersea Rise, and afterwards a procession with banners flying wended its way to Mosbury-road, where a protest meeting was held and a big crowd assembled. Miss Beaumont took the chair, and Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson and Mrs. Kineton Parkes, of the Tax Resistance League, explained the reasons of tax resistance and answered the questions asked. At the conclusion of the speeches cheers were given for the speakers, and a resolution was carried:

“That this meeting is of opinion that women taxpayers are justified in refusing to pay all Imperial taxes till they have the same control over the national expenditure as male taxpayers possess.”

In the Country.

On April 22, goods belonging to Miss Rose were sold at Frinton-on-Sea, owing to her refusal to pay Imperial taxes.

I’ll finish off this year-long series of this-day-in-The Vote tax resistance history posts with a bit from the 25 April 1913 issue. You can find a chronological index to the entire series at this link.

Come and protest against the official robbery of married women carried on by the Government for their own benefit. Earl Russell and Mr. [Israel] Zangwill will speak on the subject at the Caxton Hall on April 28 at 8 p.m. The meeting is organised by the Women’s Tax Resistance League.

Also in the same issue:

Distraint on a Duchess.

Distraint was levied, on April 21, upon the property of [Mary Russell] the Duchess of Bedford in non-payment of Imperial taxes due in respect of the Prince’s Skating Rink, and a silver cup was taken to satisfy the claim. The Duchess has instructed the Women’s Tax Resistance League to point out that this is quite out of order, because as a married woman she is not liable to taxation, and therefore neither assessment nor demand note should have been served upon her, but upon the Duke of Bedford. She, however, allowed the authorities to proceed in this perfectly irregular manner because she wished to use their mistake as an opportunity of making her protest against the treatment of Woman Suffrage by the present Government in the practical way of refusing to pay taxes until women are enfranchised. Her comment is: “Obviously it is not my business to point out the law to those whose duty it should be to understand it.”

Also in the same issue:

Women’s Tax Resistance League…

A quantity of silver, the property of Miss Rhoda Anstey, Principal of the Anstey Physical Training College, Erdington, Warwickshire, was sold on April 14, by public auction, under distraint for King’s taxes. The sale and protest meeting took place in the gymnasium of the college, and the speakers at the meeting were Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes and Miss Dorothy Evans; Miss Leonora Tyson presided.

On the same day goods, the property of Dr. [Francis] Ede and Dr. [Amy] Sheppard, of Upper Berkeley-street, Portman-square, W., were sold by public auction at 26, Lisson-grove, W.; Dr. Ede made a protest against the sale in the auction rooms. The speakers at the protest meeting which was held after the sale were Miss Amy Hicks, M.A., Dr. Ede, and Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson.

On April 15, Miss Rose, of Frinton-on-Sea, had goods sold under distraint for King’s taxes, and Miss Amy Hicks, M.A., was the speaker at the protest meeting held in the small Town Hall, Miss Rose being in the chair.

The first tax resistance sale in the Lake District took place on April 16, when Mrs. [Kate Raven] Henry Holiday had goods sold by public auction at Hawks-head, Ambleside. A most enthusiastic protest meeting was held after the sale, the speakers being Mrs. Kineton Parkes and Miss [Winifred] Holiday.

On April 18, goods, the property of Miss Corcoran, were sold at Loughborough by public auction, followed by a successful protest meeting.

Miss Beatrice Harraden’s goods were sold on April 22, at 6 p.m., at Gill’s Auction Rooms, Cambridge-road, Kilburn. Miss Harraden explained, in the auction room, the reasons for her refusal to pay. At the same time goods belonging to Dr. Mabel Hardie and Miss Gibbs were sold. There was a procession after the sale to public meeting at corner of Harrow-road and Elgin-avenue.

Dr. Jessie Murray’s goods were sold on April 23, at 1.15 p.m., at Davies’ Auction Rooms, 15, Upper-street, Islington, and a protest meeting held after sale at Highbury Fields.

On April 25 goods of Mrs. Beaumont Thomas and Mrs. Mary Sutcliffe will be sold at Warren’s Auction Room, 73, Battersea Rise (five minutes from Clapham Junction) at 7 p.m. Protest meeting after sale. Supporters urgently needed.