Page 30 - BLACK HISTORY IN BERMUDA red

1920 - Present

> The Road to Democracy

The Suffrage Movement 1900-1944

Progress towards full democracy in Bermuda was slow in the first part of the 20th century.
But beneath the surface, pressure for change was building.
Women’s Suffrage took centre stage for much of the first half of the century. After the
failure of female suffrage in the 1890s, little happened until Gladys Misick Morrell returned
to Bermuda after the First World War and, inspired by Britain’s suffragettes, formed the
Bermuda Woman Suffrage Society and began the campaign for female suffrage.

The campaign would take 20 years and repeated rejections. The most effective means of
protest was the refusal of women property owners, including Morrell, to pay their parish
taxes. Their furniture would then be seized and auctioned to pay the debt. This became
an annual ritual and helped to publicise the cause of women’s suffrage.

Nonetheless, women’s suffrage bills were moved and defeated throughout the 1930s.
In 1944, following an election, Sir Henry Tucker brought a new bill, which was carried
20 to 14. The service that women had given to the Second World War effort helped to
swing the vote, as did the vote of Dr. Eustace Cann (pictured), who, like most black MCPs,
had previously opposed the change, mainly because it entrenched the property vote. courtesy dr. john cann

He said: “When one speaks about keeping the vote from women on the basis of sex, one
must also think about keeping certain people from getting jobs because of the colour of
their skin … I shall vote for this measure today because I hate to see any group enslaved Dr. Eustace Cann
by the power of others and refused their legitimate rights. I call on all Assemblymen to
consider these matters that would grant to others the same privileges now proposed for
the Suffrage Society.”

Four years later, Hilda Aitken and Edna Watson became the first women elected to the
House of Assembly.

Outside the Somerset Police
Station after Gladys Morrell’s
furniture was put up for auction
for non-payment of taxes.

courtesy the bermudian magazine

30 | black history in bermuda | bermuda national trust