Anti-Franchise League

The Anti-Franchise League was founded in London which opposed women's suffrage. The founding date of the organization differentiates depending on opinion, but it is clear the league began around 1908 and thrived for 10–20 years. The organization is also most commonly referred to as the National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage.

Gardener, Park and Catt at Suffrage House in Washington

It is important to know how the term was created. "The word “franchise” is derived from the Anglo-French word meaning 'liberty.'"[1] The French term "Francis" refers to gifting power and rights to a peasant or serf. Those with an English background know the term to be defined as "empowering those who have no rights ".[1]

In April 1909, pamphlets were published in efforts to oppose votes for women. These pamphlets were created by group of men who paid one to five cents to become a member of the organization. The league gathered as many signatures as possible and published them throughout the 1900s.[2] The organization was originally called the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League but after running out of funding they were bought out by the Men's League for Opposing Women's Suffrage. The uniting of two groups created the new name, National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage.

The main objective of the National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage was " to resist the proposal to admit women to parliamentary Franchise, and to Parliament, whilst at the same time maintaining the principle of the representation of women on Municipal and other bodies concerned with the domestic and social affairs of the community."[3]

Small article on reason to vote YES.

The Suffrage Movement was deeply attacked through these pamphlets. Women were described as not suitable for politics due to their sensitive nature. Men believed their work deserved a higher price because it was worth more. The articles also discussed how Parliamentary franchise for a women would cause grave danger to the Empire and womanhood.[4]

White female suffrage was introduced into South Australia in 1894, followed by Western Australia in 1899, New South Wales in 1902 and Queensland in 1905. Victoria did not admit women to the voting polls until 1909.

Local residents responded to the formation of the Anti-Franchise League by establishing the Harcourt Branch of the Women's Franchise League - the Castlemaine branch had been established in 1895. They were referred to as the Women's Suffrage Movement. The fight for women's rights to vote finally was successful through laws in the 1900s.[2]

However, all white Australian women gained the right to vote in Federal elections in 1902.

In 1903, Vida Goldstein became first woman in British Empire to stand for election to a national parliament. She was unsuccessful in the Australian elections of December that year.