Definition
The Common Cause was a weekly newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1909 to 1920 that served as the official organ of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), promoting constitutional and non‑militant campaigning for women’s voting rights.
Overview
First issued on 15 April 1909 under the title The Common Cause of Humanity, the paper was financed principally by Manchester councillor Margaret Ashton and produced by the Common Cause Publishing Co. Ltd. Although it represented the policies and activities of the NUWSS, legal restrictions prevented it from being formally owned by the organization. The newspaper ceased publication on 30 January 1920, announcing its successor, The Woman’s Leader.
Etymology / Origin
The title was chosen by the paper’s inaugural editor, Helena Swanwick, who argued that humanity was “bi‑sexual” and that there should be no separate “women’s causes” or “men’s causes.” The phrase “common cause” thus reflected the belief in a shared, gender‑inclusive social agenda.
Characteristics
- Frequency & Format: Weekly newspaper, printed in English and headquartered in Manchester.
- Political Alignment: Suffragist, aligned with the NUWSS’s constitutional, law‑abiding approach to securing the vote for women.
- Editorial Leadership:
- Helena Swanwick (founding editor, 1909‑June 1912)
- Clementina Black (1912‑1913)
- Maude Royden (1913‑1914)
- Ray Strachey (post‑World War I until cessation)
- Funding: Initial capital of £2,000 provided by Margaret Ashton; the paper relied on subscriptions and donations.
- Content: News of suffrage meetings, reports on local and national NUWSS activities, essays on women’s rights, and commentary on broader social reforms. The publication deliberately avoided criticism of the more militant Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in keeping with NUWSS policy, a stance that later caused editorial tension.
- Legacy: The Common Cause contributed to the diffusion of suffragist ideas across Britain, providing a platform for prominent women reformers and influencing public opinion during the critical years leading up to the Representation of the People Act 1918.
Related Topics
- National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)
- Women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom
- Margaret Ashton (philanthropist and suffrage supporter)
- Helena Swanwick (journalist and suffragist)
- Ray Strachey (political activist and editor)
- The Woman’s Leader (successor publication)
- Non‑violent suffragist movement versus militant suffragette movement (WSPU)