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WOMEN S FRANCHISE LEAGUE
There were 38 ladies and eight gen
tlement present at the Women’s Fran
• chise League meeting on Thursday
night, when the chief business of the
evening was the polling on the mock
election.
Mrs Henderson, the Vice-President
occupied the chair, and apologised for
the absence of the Mayoress, Mrs F.
Johnson, President of the League.
After the usual preliminary busi
Less, a letter was , read from the As
sociated Workers’ Union offering the
League the free use of the Union Hall
• for the League’s meetings. 0
Mrs Henderson thought it was very
kind of the Union to make, the offer,
and at some future time the League
might ; avail itself of the offer, Ai
present, however, the League had the
use of the Town Hall free, and there
for there was no need for them to
alter their place of meeting.
On the motion of Mrs Katting, se
conded by Mrs Kidd, it was decided
to send a letter to the Union thanking
them for their offer. ‘
Mrs Williams, of Bundaberg, wrote
stating that she was glad to see that
the Charters Towers ladies were alive
on the ’ Franchise question,. She
would be glad to help in any way pos
sible, as this was such a very im
portant time in the country’s history,
indeed it might be said id the history
of’the) world, for certainly the eyes of
the whole civilised world were turned
■ on the Australian Commonwealta.
The women. were in a sense on
their trial, and it rested with them as
individuals as well as communities to
fit themselves for their great responsi
bilities and opportunities. She was
quite willing to visit Charters Towers
under the auspices of the League, and
she would be at liberty at about the
middle-of May. If she left on Satur
day, May 16th, she would be in Char
ters Towers on the Monday, and sae
added that she was not tied to a day
or two if she could be of any service.
She did not, think it would be wise
_ io speak more than twice in the same
7 place, but left that matter to the
t League,
it was deided, on the motion of Mrs
Katting, seconded by/ Miss Gardner,
. that Mrs Williams be invited to visit
the Towers on the date mentioned in
her letter.
Mrs Henderson announced tat
they could obtain “Hansard” at 3/
per year direct from the Government.
airs Baxter said if they did this
they would not be under any obli
gation to any member of Parliament
for copies.
It was decided, on the motion of
’ y Mrs Nix, seconded by Mrs Pollard,
at that the State and Federal "Han
egard" both be obtained.
%r Mrs Baxter said one copy of each
would be sufficient, and any branches
that were established of the League
could have the use of them.
' Mrs Nix said that by getting the
State "Hansard" they could see what
their members were doing.
Mrs Henderson asked for a report
, from the Queenton Committee.
Mrs Katting said that Mrs Kerr
‘ might give them the report.
Airs Kerr preferred' that Mrs Nix
should do it, as she was the Chair
man. (Laughter).
Mrs Nix said that as far as their
meeting was concerned there was
nothing to report, as they had only
had a little talk amongst themselves.
However, the ladies had gone out
canvassing, and as far as she knew
had met with great success. She and
Mrs Kerr went together and secured
22 names, only having, two refusals to
join the League, and one of the re
fusals was through illness. These
promised to attend the meeting of the
Central League.as well as at Queen
ton. They all said that they, consid
ered that they should have a vote for
the State Parliament, and she told
them that that was what they were
agitating for. 7
Mrs Purvis said she and another
lady had also done some canvassing,
and had secured eleven names. in
some cases they were received well,
while in other cases they were told
that it would be better if they re
mained at home and minded the
youngsters. (Laughter.)
Mrs Katting : Supposing you have
none ? (Laughter).
Mrs Purvis said they said that they
had plenty of work to keep them
home, and leii s i lities to their
husbands.
Mrs.Baxter reported that 33 names
had been enrolled in Queenton, bring
ing the membership of the League up
to over 80. *
Mrs Nix said the people in Queen
ton were favorable to holding a meet
ing in a public hall, and not inapri
vate house. She thought that they
should do everything aboveboard, and
not let anyone say that they could
not run a public meeting. She pro
posed—“That next Thursday night’s
meeting be foregone, and the whole
of the members go to Queenton to
help to form the branch League
there.” ’ She thought they should have
a name for their League.
Mrs Katting : “Oh, we have a name
already, the “ Miner" gave us Out. 1
(Laughter).
Mrs Henderson objected to that
name. . 1 ; _.
Mrs Katting : “ Certainly.”
Mrs Baxter proposed that the
League be called “The Women’s Elec
teral Franchise League, and the
Queenton League have the words
“Queenton branch” added.”
Mrs Henderson thought they were
both good proposals.
Miss Gardner seconded Mrs Nix’s
motion. ;
Mrs Katting thought it. would be a
great mistake to give up one of the
League’s meetings.
Mrs Baxter strongly objected also,
and thought they could go down on
another evening. .
Finally it was decided to find out
when the Queenton Hall could be ob
tained.
Mrs Nix proposed—“That in view of
having the. Franchise extended to us
lit the election of Federal members,
that this Franchise League take the
earliest opportunity to secure a mon
ster petition, signed by the women
voters of the Charters Towers electo
rate, to tbe presented to the Honor
able the Premier of this State praying
him to extend the same privilege to
us for the election of members to the
State Parliament.” She said that for
nearly 20 years the New South Wales
women petitioned for the privilege
before they got it, and therefore the
Queensland women must not think
that they would get it without an ef
fort in Victoria the Franchise had
again been thrown, out.
Mrs.Katting: “While Philp reigns
it will be thrown out here too.”
Mrs Nix thought if they worded the
petition nicely it might have some
effect. She had found in' New South
Wales that when petitions were nicely
worded they 'often had the desired
effect.
Mrs Katting: “ We’re not going to
smoodge to Philp.”
Aire Nix: " Certainly not, but we
can word it nicely.”
Mrs Katting: “ P don’t believe in
smoodging." \
Mrs Nix said neither did she, but.
they should treat the Premier with
respect, as they would like to be
treated.
Mrs Katting said they sent peti-1
tions in from Bundaberg, and they |
were only put in the waste paper I
basket. (Laughter). Anyway,. they
should not smoodge.' ,
Aire Nix said no, but they should
remember that he was a' gentleman, ।
and should send in the petition' as to
a gentleman.
Airs Kattjng: “Oh, yes, they’re all
gentlemen.”
Airs Henderson thought they should
petition Parliament. It might not be
very long before there was another
premier.
Mrs Katting : "Oh; certainly not.”
Aire Henderson : " You never know
till the numbers are up.”
. Mrs Katting: “Mr Glassey had to
get five men to carry in the petition
from Bundaberg.”
Mrs Nix : “Oh, yes, but you must
remember that Charters Towers is
the second city in the State, and there
fore its voice would carry much more
weight'than from a smaller place.”
Aire Baxter said they would get the
vote when the Labor Party got in.
Airs Henderson: " We might and
we might not.”
Airs Katting : “Oh, yes we will.”
Mrs Henderson said that the Hon.
C. C. Kingston was about to visit
Charters Towers. He had ever been
a loyal supporter of the Women’s
Franchise, and she thought they
should form a deputation to wait on
him and ask him to continue his sup
port to the'women, and also use his
influence with his colleagues for them
t6 continue their support.
Airs Kidd proposed—“That a depu
tation wait on MF Kingston, and that
he be asked to have 4 private . room
set apart for the ladies to vote in,"
Aire Henderson said the question
of the private room was a debatable
one.
Airs Katting could not see why
they should have a private booth.
Airs Baxter said that some'of the
ladies were afraid of the crowd.
Aire Hepgerson said it might be in
convenient, seeing"' that long trains
were now the fashion, bur there was
only one booth at the Municipal elec
tions, and they voted there.
Aire Baxter said there were private
booths in South Australia for the
State elections.' She thought it would
be good to meet Mr Kingston, nd
find out about the Tariff and Cus
toms from him.
Airs 'Henderson ; “ He’s been telling
some of them more than they wanted
to know. (Laughter). P Mr Johnson
i had promised to introduce the deputa
' tion if they were prepared.
Afrs Pollard seconded Mrs Kidd’s
motion that a deputation wait 91
Mr Kingston, and the following were
appointed' as the deputation :—The
President (Mrs F. Johnson), the Vlee
President (Mrs Henderson), the Secre
tary (Mrs Baxter), and Mrs Nix and j
Miss Gardner. j
Mrs Henderson then produced three t
large cards with the names of the
three candidates written upon them,
and explained the way to vote, which
in future-Federal elections will be by
placing a cross opposite the desired
candidate’s name. She also announc
ed that Mrs Monteith would be tne
presiding officer. J
Avoice from the window: “Mr
Dean.”
Mrs Henderson said she would 'be
very sorry to think that their presid
irg officer could not do better than
Mr Dean. (Laughter).
Mrs Nix said that they must not
tell anyone how they voted, as the
men often said they could not keep a
secret.
The election . Was then proceeded
with.The stage was. arranged tor the
electors to use for the purpose of
marking their ballot papers, while
papers headed, “The Way to Vote”
were freely distributed through the
hall. As the voting pruce ded the ex
citment grew, and the ladies eagerly
pressed forward to vote, and quite a
number paid their fee, which entitled
them as financial members to vote.
The candidates were Mrs F. Hen
derson (Independent Reformer), Mrs
Katting (Labor),, and Mrs Baxter
(Liberal Reformer).
The officers were Mrs Monteith
(Presiding Officer), Miss Morrison
(Poll Clerk). ScrutineersMiss
Gardner (for Mrs Baxter), Mrs Kidd
(for Mrs Henderson), and Mrs Burgon
(for Mrs Katting).
The poll closed at 9.20 p.m., when
the votes were counted; and the re
sult officially declared as follows
Voters) on the roll 99. ,
Mrs Henderson (LR.)... 12 .
Mrs Katting (L.). 11
Mrs Baxter (L.R.) . 7
informal. 4
Total . 34
The informal votes were made up
as follows One paper not • initialed,
one had two crosses, one had a name
crossed out, and one had two names
crossed out.
The result was received with pro
longed applause, and the enthusiasm
grew as Mrs Henderson rose to re
turn thanks. The successful candi
date thanked the electors for the hon
or done her, and was glad that there
was not so many) informal votes after
all. She was very glad that the
other candidates had done so well, as
it showed that fall sides were well re
presented. She was pleased that She
had won, and although it was not
si ch a great victory, still she appreci
a ted it. If she was really going into
Parliament—(laughter)—and she was
sorry she was not—-she would do her
best for the electors. (Applause).
In conclusion, she would like to. say
that she had been told that the
league caused dissension in. some
homes. She was very sorry to hear
that, and if it was so it was the faurr
of the women. She had studied hu
man nature, and found that nearly
every man had an innate sense of jus
tice, and this should be appealed to.
I he women should speak gently to
the men about the League, and dis
cuss the matter with them. They
should not say, , “I will go to the
League,” but “I should like to go,”
and then they should try and persuade
them. She would give them a piece
of illogical logic—A woman is never
so sure of a victory in an argument
■with a man' as when he has persuad
ed himself that he is convincing her
against her will. (Laughter and ap
plause).
Mrs Katting returned thanks for the
support she had received. She did
not think as a Labor candidate she
would have got on so well, as they did
not always get so good a show.
Mrs Henderson : Go. on, they have
had a good show for the past nine
years here anyway.
Continuing, Mrs Katting said she
hoped . next time that she would be
more respectable. (Laughter). She
would try anyway, and see if she
cculd not get in next time. She was
a white ribboner too, so that might
help her. She knew that some were
opposed to the Labor candidate mor
ally and otherwise—of course, she aid
not mean herself—but she hoped next
time to head the poll. (Applause).
Mrs Baxter said she was awfully
disappointed. (Laughter). She was
giad to see that the different sides
were about equal, and therefore out
siders could not say they were for.
one side more than the other. Their
husbands were about equal Labor and
the other side, and this election should
show they were too. (Applause).
1 A vote of thanks to the returning
officer was then carried, on the motion
of Mrs Henderson, seconded by Mrs
। Baxter.
Mrs Henderson, in answer to a ques
tion, said she was going in without
pay. j
Mrs Katting: I wouldn’t. If I am
worth electing I am worth £6 a
week. (Laughter).
Mrs Baxter : I can feel for defeated
candidates inow. (Laughter).
Mrs Purvis : “Has the “Eagle” re
porter been invited to attend ' these
meetings ?"
Mrs Baxter: “None of them have
been invited.”
Mrs Henderson said the meetings
were quite open, and any reporter
would be quite welcome.
Mrs Purvis: “Oh, I thought they
had to be invited.”
Mrs Katting said that as the Labor
candidate she would certainly inquire
why the “Eagle” was not present. It
was an insult to her as the Labor can
didate.' (Laughter). They had not
even barracked for her—but she
would look into it. (Laughter and
applause).
Mrs Monteith returned thanks as
Returning Officer, and Mrs Henderson
said that at next meeting the deputa
tion to Mr Kingston would furnish
their report.
The meeting then closed.
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