Mary Anne Baikie
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Mary Anne Baikie (29 June 1861 – 1950) a Scottish
suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to vo ...
who established the Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society (OWSS) and grew the membership and public interest in the debate, in the
Orkney Isles Orkney (), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but locals now consider it outdated. Part of the Northern Isles along with Shetland, ...
, during the campaigns for
Votes for Women Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...
.


Suffragist leadership

Baikie chaired the first official public meeting in Orkney to form a society for
women's suffrage Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...
, on 25 October 1909. This followed a preliminary meeting at the home of James and Bina Cursiter, when
Chrystal Macmillan Jessie Chrystal Macmillan (13 June 1872 – 21 September 1937) was a suffragist, peace activist, barrister, feminist and the first female science graduate from the University of Edinburgh as well as that institution's first female honours gradu ...
, the suffragist champion of women's rights to a university education, had visited in
Orkney Orkney (), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but locals now consider it outdated. Part of the Northern Isles along with Shetland, ...
, a month before. Baikie spoke at the launch in Kirkwall Town Hall, saying:
I do not come as a political woman, but I have come as a friend of the cause of women, because of my sincere conviction, held since my early youth, that the suffrage will raise the status, and improve the condition of all women – particularly the women workers.
She proceeded to argue that from
Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter"), sometimes spelled Magna Charta, is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardin ...
and the "
British Constitution The constitution of the United Kingdom comprises the written and unwritten arrangements that establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a political body. Unlike in most countries, no official attempt has been made to c ...
" women were not precluded from voting, but that legal reforms in 1832 deprived women of these rights. Baikie referred to thirty debates in
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
from
private members' bills A private member's bill is a bill (proposed law) introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch. The designation "private member's bill" is used in most Westminster system jurisdictions, in wh ...
to pledges from election candidates, none of which had prevailed. Her logic was that this outcome was because women did not have the vote, therefore any political promises could be made then broken with impunity. Baikie suggested that the "Orcadian's high intelligence will recognise the justice of the claim of women for political recognition, and will heartily support the cause". She also refuted the key points put by
anti-suffragists Anti-suffragism was a political movement composed of both men and women that began in the late 19th century in order to campaign against women's suffrage in countries such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. To ...
about women's "inability" to fight, and that their suffrage would change men's attitude to women. Baikie felt it had taken courage for her to speak in public and bravery (and risk of alienation) if supporting the more militant suffragettes. Not all present agreed on this point but the meeting heard that
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women already had the vote. Mr Cursiter commended Baikie's speech as the best he had ever heard on this topic. The Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society's membership grew significantly. By March 1910, one hundred and sixteen signatures were collected in favour of women's suffrage, including 50% of the town councillors, and sent to the M.P. for Wick Burghs constituency. In 1911, the
Stromness Stromness (, ; ) is the second-most populous town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the southwestern part of Mainland, Orkney. It is a burgh with a parish around the outside with the town of Stromness as its capital. Etymology The name "Stromnes ...
WSPU The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was a women-only political movement and leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom founded in 1903. Known from 1906 as the suffragettes, its membership and p ...
branch merged with OWSS.


Link to national suffrage movement

Under Baikie's chairmanship, the society could host a debate for both sides of the argument without acrimony. By June 1910, Baikie was also developing a local Tankerness group, and an onerous 10 day tour by Wilhemina Hay Lamond (later known as Elizabeth Abbott) from the
Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage The Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage was a leading group for women's rights in Scotland. It was one of the first three suffrage societies to be formed in Britain. History The Edinburgh Ladies' Emancipation Society was at one time t ...
, with meetings with fishermen at the pier, and in drawing-room groups, in
Holm Holm may refer to: Places * Holm (island), the name of several islands * Holm, Nordfriesland, Germany * Holm, Pinneberg, Germany * Holm (Flensburg), Flensburg, Germany * Holm, Nordland, a village in Bindal Municipality in Nordland county ...
,
Westray Westray (, ) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a usual resident population of just under 600 people. Its main village is Pierowall, with a heritage centre, the 15th-century Lady Kirk church and pedestrian ferry service to nearby ...
,
Stronsay Stronsay () is an island in Orkney, Scotland. It is known as Orkney's 'Island of Bays', owing to an irregular shape with miles of coastline, with three large bays separated by two isthmuses: St Catherine's Bay to the west, the Bay of Holland to th ...
, Sanday (and
North Ronaldsay North Ronaldsay (, also , ) is the northernmost island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. With an area of , it is the fourteenth-largest.Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 334 It is mentioned in the ''Orkneyinga saga''; in modern times it is known for ...
),
Kirkwall Kirkwall (, , or ; ) is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. First mentioned in the ''Orkneyinga saga'', it is today the location of the headquarters of the Orkney Islands Council and a transport hub wi ...
,
Shapinsay Shapinsay (, ) is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. With an area of , it is the eighth largest island in the Orkney archipelago. It is low-lying and, with a bedrock formed from Old Red Sandstone overlain by bo ...
,
Rousay Rousay (, ; meaning Rolf's Island) is a small, hilly island about north of Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. It has been nicknamed "Egypt of the north", due to its archaeological diversity and importance. Like its ...
,
Deerness Deerness (, , Old Norse: ''Dyrnes'') is a ''quoad sacra'' parish (i.e. one created and functioning for ecclesiastical purposes only) and peninsula in Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It is about south east of Kirkwall. Deerness forms a part of th ...
, and
Stromness Stromness (, ; ) is the second-most populous town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the southwestern part of Mainland, Orkney. It is a burgh with a parish around the outside with the town of Stromness as its capital. Etymology The name "Stromnes ...
); Lamond also aimed to visit remote
Fair Isle Fair Isle ( ; ), sometimes Fairisle, is the southernmost Shetland island, situated roughly from the Shetland Mainland and about from North Ronaldsay (the most northerly island of Orkney). The entire archipelago lies off the northernmost coa ...
. In December 1911, Baikie convened another public meeting (including a social soirée) where she explained the Conciliation Bill and suffragist position, reported as "a brilliant speech, characterised by a sweet spirit of reasonableness, which was as convincing as it was enjoyable." Orcadian members grew eventually to 100 by 1916, and in 1912, there were already 60 members on four of the Orkney islands, holding regular public meetings and having keynote visits from leading speakers. A visit was arranged for Dr.
Elsie Inglis Eliza Maud "Elsie" Inglis (16 August 1864 – 26 November 1917) was a Scottish medical doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. She was the first woman to hold the Serbian Order of the White Eagl ...
from the
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
leadership on 24 April 1912, when she described the Orkney society as having "the most enthusiastic officers". A special "Orcadian Banner" designed by local artist,
Stanley Cursiter Stanley Cursiter (29 April 1887 – 22 April 1976) was an Orcadian artist who played an important role in introducing Post-Impressionism and Futurism to Scotland. He served as the keeper (1919–1930), then director (1930–1948), of the Nat ...
and Shetlander
Christina Jamieson Christina Jamieson (1864–1942) was a British writer, playwright and suffragist known for her association with the Shetland Isles. Life Jameson was born to Robert and Barbara Jamieson on 30 June 1864 at Cruisdale, Sandness on the Mainland of S ...
was carried at the Coronation Procession in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
by Baikie's niece, Miss Courtenay, with the other representative groups of the
National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies The National Union of Women Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the ''suffragists'' (not to be confused with the suffragettes) was an organisation founded in 1897 of women's suffrage societies around the United Kingdom. In March 1919 it w ...
. The Orkney group was the only Scottish group who also contributed to the
Women's March Women's March may refer to: * Women's March on Versailles, a 1789 march in Paris * Women's Sunday, a 1908 suffragette march in London * Woman Suffrage Procession, a 1913 march and rally in Washington, D.C. * Women's March (South Africa), a 1956 ma ...
from Edinburgh to London. In November 1912, local paper ''
The Orcadian ''The Orcadian'' is the oldest newspaper in Orkney, Scotland, first published in 1854. At first a monthly paper, it soon became a weekly. The newspaper is based in Kirkwall but printed in Glasgow for sale every Thursday. It is part of the Orkn ...
'' dedicated a large section of its news to Baikie's explanation, at a crowded meeting in the Albert Temperance Hotel, Kirkwall, of the various Parliamentary mechanics of the draft
Reform Bill The Reform Acts (or Reform Bills, before they were passed) are legislation enacted in the United Kingdom in the 19th and 20th century to enfranchise new groups of voters and to redistribute seats in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the U ...
(an Act to extend the male electorate but not to include women). Baikie characterised this as coming from anti-suffragists in the
Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...
, who saw danger in giving "unstable women" the vote, but are enfranchising "every irresponsible boy of 21". She explained amendment proposals (being debated) e.g. to simply delete the word "male" from the Clause 1(1) "every male person" to achieve equal franchise for women, by M.P.s
Grey Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...
, Lyttleton, Runciman,
Cecil Cecil may refer to: People with the name * Cecil (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name) * Cecil (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) Places Canada * Cecil, Alberta ...
, Dickinson,
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and
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. And the Labour Party amendment which was also to add after the word "person" the phrase "of either sex". Baikie's speech also outlined the various options on age, and property and the differences this would make to the eligible women voters in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, compared to Scotland & Ireland, who had different positions regarding women's property ownership. Her conclusion was this Act would be unlikely to calm the anger among women who had campaigned for so many years. Baikie went on to say: "Sex antagonism and bitterness won't win our cause for us, and we will win it"; and "in the name of common sense it is time to put an end to this unfair and unseemly struggle in a country world famous for its justice." Other speakers mentioned the Scandinavian "blood" of Orcadians as
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
or
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
, women already had the vote, and could soon stand for public office on the same conditions as men. Convinced of the case, the meeting unanimously endorsed Baikie's proposal that women's suffrage should be included in the Act. In 1914, the Orcadian group asked the Kirkwall Burgh council to send a senior representative to the National Suffrage Societies event at the
Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genre ...
, London as other Scottish cities were sending their Lord Provost and office bearers to meet the Prime Minister,
H. H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928) was a British statesman and Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. He was the last ...
.


Legacy

In 1911, Robert Gallon painted an oil portrait of Baikie entitled ''Mary Anne Baikie (Milanne), née Traill''. The portrait hangs in
The Orkney Museum The Orkney Museum, formerly Tankerness House Museum, is a history museum in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. Run by Orkney Islands Council, the museum covers the history of the Orkney Islands from the Stone Age through the Picts and Vikings to the pr ...
, which is in Tankerness House, the former home of the Baikies of
Tankerness Tankerness is a district in the St Andrews parish in Mainland, Orkney, Scotland.Wenham, Shiela "The East Mainland" in Omand (2003) p. 198 Essentially a peninsula, it is about south-east of Kirkwall and east of Kirkwall Airport.
. In 2018, to mark
International Women's Day International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March, commemorating women's fight for equality and liberation along with the women's rights movement. International Women's Day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive righ ...
and the centenary of (some) women's
right to vote Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in ...
, the Northlight Gallery in
Stromness Stromness (, ; ) is the second-most populous town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the southwestern part of Mainland, Orkney. It is a burgh with a parish around the outside with the town of Stromness as its capital. Etymology The name "Stromnes ...
presented an animated short film called ''A Gude Cause Maks a Strong Erm''. The film was written by Orkney-based journalist Fiona Grahame, painted and animated by Martin Laird, with a musical score by James Watson and narration by Kim Foden. The film had an advertising poster in the form of a
Cubist Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement which began in Paris. It revolutionized painting and the visual arts, and sparked artistic innovations in music, ballet, literature, and architecture. Cubist subjects are analyzed, broke ...
style graphic abstract of Baikie's portrait, painted by Laird. After touring film festivals it won the Most Creative/Original award at the Scottish Short Film Festival in Glasgow.


See also

*
Feminism in the United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, as in other countries, feminism seeks to establish political, social, and economic equality for women. The history of feminism in Britain dates to the very beginnings of feminism itself, as many of the earliest feminist wr ...
*
List of suffragists and suffragettes This list of suffragists and suffragettes includes noted individuals active in the worldwide women's suffrage movement who have campaigned or strongly advocated for women's suffrage, the organisations which they formed or joined, and the publi ...
*
List of women's rights activists Notable women's rights activists are as follows, arranged alphabetically by modern country names and by the names of the persons listed: Afghanistan * Amina Azimi – disabled women's rights advocate * Hasina Jalal – women's empowerment activis ...
*
List of women's rights organizations This is a list of women's organization by civics International * All India Democratic Women's Association – founded in 1981 to achieve women's emancipation in India Yes Helping Hand– Founded in 2009 for empowerment and employment of Women, D ...
*
Timeline of women's suffrage Women's suffrage – the right of women to vote – has been achieved at various times in countries throughout the world. In many nations, women's suffrage was granted before universal suffrage, in which cases women and men from certain Social ...
*
Women's suffrage organizations This list of suffragists and suffragettes includes noted individuals active in the worldwide women's suffrage movement who have campaigned or strongly advocated for women's suffrage, the organisations which they formed or joined, and the #Wome ...

A Gude Cause Maks a Strong Erm''' animated short film


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baikie, Mary Anne People from Orkney Scottish suffragists