1911 Census - Suffragettes' protest

[Brambletye]

Seen recently in a newspaper cutting dated Tuesday April 4th 1911:

THE CENSUS

THE SUFFRAGIST RESISTANCE

"The task of the enumerators this year, in addition to its natural increase through the growth of population, has been complicated by the tactics of the Suffragists, who declared their intention of refusing to be included in the returns as a protest against their exclusion from the suffrage, and took special measures to evade registration.
A considerable crowd gathered on Sunday night in Trafalgar-square, consisting almost entirely of men, chiefly young men, and at midnight the number of Suffragists in the Square was insignificant. Most of those present were in holiday mood, and small groups of Suffragists were surrounded and escorted by spectators, who indulged in good-natured cheers and laughter. No attempt was made to hold a meeting or to deliver speeches, as it is illegal to do so in the Square after sundown. The night was fine overhead, but the atmosphere was damp.
At midnight Superintendent Wells, of the Metropolitan Police, who had charge of the arrangements, warned the women that it would be advisable for them to go home, as there was a rough element amongst the crowd, which might at any moment become inconveniently pressing in its attentions if the women remained on the scene.
Hundreds of Suffragettes assembled at Aldwych Skating Rink at one o'clock on Monday, and were joined by hundreds of young men, the proceedings at first being somewhat lively. The gathering was addressed by Suffragist leaders, and a concert followed. Before going home the women breakfasted at adjoining restaurants."

So, if you can't find your London ancestor when the 1911 Census is released, maybe he or she was involved. I don't know if there were any other such protests in other areas of the country, but it's entirely possible.

[Treetotal]

I know this is a very old post but thank you for posting this as I couldn't find the people I was looking for on the 1911 census who were well known Suffragettes, so this has answered my question and ended the search.
Thank You 
Carol

[josey]

Thanks to the OP and also to Carol for bringing it to the top again. I don't have any known family members in 1911 but what a ploy on the protestors' parts...

[Darnity]

This is timely as with the centenary of the 1918 Act which gave some women the vote being next year I, as I'm sure there will be others, am researching some women involved in the attempts to give women a voice.

My interest lies in the Greater Milton Keynes area (so includes some of Northants, Beds and Bucks) and I've found two 1911 entries in Towcester, Northants which show how some women outside of London were trying not to be enumerated.

George WELLER, a dentist, the husband of Marion (aka Marie) Louise WELLER (nee ASHBY) was at home in High Street Towcester on census night along with their son George and a domestic servant but no Marion.

I found her with the Towcester pages on a page to herself which shows her name as Marion Weller, age 31 married, born Towcester and in the address box it says "Wandering on the highway". Usefully it also showed she had been married 6 years and had had one child still alive although this information has been crossed out.

She was obviously not alone out on census night trying to avoid the enumerator because the next page is similar for Margaret BRICE age 20 a single domestic servant born Towcester also "Wandering on the highway".  I wonder if Margaret worked for the Wellers and had been encouraged by Marion to the cause.

So it's worth looking at the last pages for an area in 1911 to see if there are others who have tried to evade the enumerator by passive resistance.

[Treetotal]

I too am researching Suffragettes/Suffragists from East Yorkshire in celebration of 100 years of Votes For Women. There is to be a coin minted to mark the occasion too. We should remember how hard these groups of women fought and suffered for women's rights and not to waste our vote.
Carol