Subjective Factors
The nation-wide public debate began in Ontario among members of the Toronto Women's Literary Club, a screen for suffrage activities created in 1876 by Dr Emily Howard Stowe, Canada's first woman doctor. She and her daughter, Dr Augusta Stowe-Gullen, kept up with Ontario's suffrage campaign for 40 years. In 1883 the club became the Toronto Women's Suffrage Association, then in 1889 the Dominion Women's Enfranchisement Association . Valuable support came in the 1890s from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), whose leaders saw votes for women as necessary in achieving prohibition. The WCTU was also active in Manitoba, where women's suffrage had first been proposed in the late 1870s by the Icelandic community. In the 1890s from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) leaders saw votes for women as necessary in achieving prohibition. In 1910, the respected and influential National Council of Women spoke out for suffrage.
After the premier of Manitoba, Sir Rodmond Roblin, claimed that "giving women the vote would be tantamount to breaking up the home," Nellie McClung, a well-known women's right activist, gave a famous speech, on why men should, in fact, not get the vote. The following is a passage from that speech.
I am the chosen representative of the people, elected to the highest office this fair land has to offer. I must guard well its interests. No upsetting influence must mar our peaceful firesides. Do you never read, gentlemen? (Biting sarcasm) Do you not know of the disgraceful happenings in countries cursed by manhood suffrage? Do you not know the fearful odium into which the polls have fallen—is it possible you do not know the origin of that offensive word “Poll-cat”, do you not know that men are creatures of habit—give them an inch—and they will steal the whole sub-division, and although it is quite true, as you say, the polls are only open once in four years—when men once get the habit—who knows where it will end—it is hard enough to keep them at home now! No, history is full of unhappy examples of men in public life; Nero, Herod, King John—you ask me to set these names before your young people. Politics has a blighting, demoralizing influence on men. It dominates them, pursues them even after their earthly career is over. Time and again it has been proven that men came back and voted—even after they were dead.
Sir Rodmand Roblin was often seen as the cause as to why the women of Manitoba weren't given the vote. A poll in the December 11, 1912, Grain Growers’ Guide, a supporter of women’s suffrage, found that 741 Manitoba readers favoured extending the franchise to women, as opposed to the 239 who were against (the results were published in the February 12, 1913, issue).
But the ruling Conservatives in Manitoba were still an impediment to women obtaining the vote, with Sir Roblin being the primary obstacle barring women from enfranchisement.
In her autobiography, The Stream Runs Fast (1945), Nellie McClung wrote that she once telephoned the premier’s office and was surprised to be granted an interview with Roblin: “Sir Rodmond,” she told the premier during their face-to-face encounter, “the women of Manitoba are going to get the vote, either by you or someone else, and as you are the present Premier, it can be your proud privilege to have this piece of progressive legislation to your credit.”
After the premier of Manitoba, Sir Rodmond Roblin, claimed that "giving women the vote would be tantamount to breaking up the home," Nellie McClung, a well-known women's right activist, gave a famous speech, on why men should, in fact, not get the vote. The following is a passage from that speech.
I am the chosen representative of the people, elected to the highest office this fair land has to offer. I must guard well its interests. No upsetting influence must mar our peaceful firesides. Do you never read, gentlemen? (Biting sarcasm) Do you not know of the disgraceful happenings in countries cursed by manhood suffrage? Do you not know the fearful odium into which the polls have fallen—is it possible you do not know the origin of that offensive word “Poll-cat”, do you not know that men are creatures of habit—give them an inch—and they will steal the whole sub-division, and although it is quite true, as you say, the polls are only open once in four years—when men once get the habit—who knows where it will end—it is hard enough to keep them at home now! No, history is full of unhappy examples of men in public life; Nero, Herod, King John—you ask me to set these names before your young people. Politics has a blighting, demoralizing influence on men. It dominates them, pursues them even after their earthly career is over. Time and again it has been proven that men came back and voted—even after they were dead.
Sir Rodmand Roblin was often seen as the cause as to why the women of Manitoba weren't given the vote. A poll in the December 11, 1912, Grain Growers’ Guide, a supporter of women’s suffrage, found that 741 Manitoba readers favoured extending the franchise to women, as opposed to the 239 who were against (the results were published in the February 12, 1913, issue).
But the ruling Conservatives in Manitoba were still an impediment to women obtaining the vote, with Sir Roblin being the primary obstacle barring women from enfranchisement.
In her autobiography, The Stream Runs Fast (1945), Nellie McClung wrote that she once telephoned the premier’s office and was surprised to be granted an interview with Roblin: “Sir Rodmond,” she told the premier during their face-to-face encounter, “the women of Manitoba are going to get the vote, either by you or someone else, and as you are the present Premier, it can be your proud privilege to have this piece of progressive legislation to your credit.”