The Men's League

In the early 1900s, Oswald Garrison Villard and Anna Howard Shaw were in contact with one another regarding the creation of a group of prominent men to support women's suffrage efforts.

Later, James Lees Laidlaw became the president and helped spread the concept of the group around the United States.

Fanny Garrison Villard had heard about the British group, the Men's League for Women's Suffrage, which was formed in 1907.

[3] The next year, she persuaded her son, Oswald Garrison Villard, to contact Anna Howard Shaw about creating a similar group in the United States.

[7] Shaw invited Villard to the New York state suffrage convention being held in Buffalo in October 1908.

[11] Eastman served as secretary for a year, and then the group in New York was taken over by Robert Cameron Beadle.

[8] Later, members such as George Creel and Dudley Field Malone had access to President Woodrow Wilson, whom suffragists were pressing to support women's suffrage.

[8] Men in the League were able to steer the conversation about suffrage to equal justice, rather than focusing on gender roles.

[3] Some felt that it took more strength of character for the men to show public support of a women's issue.

[3] Francis Perkins said of Laidlaw marching with them, "I can never be thankful enough for the courage he gave to many of us – young and doubtful – when he took up the suffrage movement on his own.

[23] Orlando, Florida created a League in 1914 and the mayor, E. Frank Sperry served as the president.

[28][29][30][31] The Iowa Men's League for Equal Suffrage was formed in Des Moines in January 1916.