The World's First Men's Rights Organization (with a comprehensive men's issues agenda) - 1926-1938, Vienna

NOTE: There is a great deal of information from German language sources that is to be added to this post. Most important to note is the error made by English language sources regarding the name Liga für Menschenrechte: it is incorrect. That name belonged to an organization -- founded in the same city in the same year --  for “human rights” (not involved with the conflict between the sexes, but rather advocating international peace)  rather than “men’s rights” group. The correct name is Der Bund für Männerrechte, founded in Vienna in March 1926 by Sigurd Höberth von Schwarzthal (born 1880, Odessa; died August 1938) and Leopold Kornblüh. Activities of the founders extended at least to the year 1935. There was not just one, but several publications published by the two men following the schism. 

The word “Männerrechtler” is roughly the equivalent of “men’s rights activist,” and has been found in publications in the late 1800s and the decades preceding the 1926 founding of Der Bund für Männerrechte.

The world’s first men’s rights organization? Technically this is nit accurate. An organization formed in 1898 in the United States (Atlanta, Georgia) has been identified It’s inspiration and continued focus was to resist a proposed “bachelor’s tax." Its ethos, of bachelorhood, closely resembles today’s “Men Going Their Own Way” movement (MGTOW). Yet Der Bund deserves credit as the first organization known to be established with a comprehensive program designed to address the full range of men’s issues. The founding of Der Bund für Männerrechte is, however, the first men’s rights organization with a comprehensive mandate, addressing a wide range of men’s issues rather than having its focus on a single one (such as alimony or a particular piece of legislation). The ambition and comprehensiveness is attested to by the fact that Der Bund issued a ten-point “covenant” on  March 2, 1926, stating its aims and covering a wide range of  “men’s issues.”

The organization broke into two factions in January 1927. The cause was Hoebert’s founding in December 1926  of an additional organization which he conceived as complementary to the aims of Der Bund. It was called Themisverband [Themis from Greek mythology – Themis is said to have preceded Apollo in giving oracular responses at Delphi. She was the daughter of Cœlus and Terra, and was the first to instruct men to ask of the Gods that which was lawful and right, whence she took the name of Themis, which signifies in Greek, ‘that which is just and right.’] The aim of this second association was “to fight all injustice, irrespective of whether it was committed against men or women.” The consequence of this decision to associate himself with women's issues was the resignation of Kornblüh, who in January 1927 formed Justitia Verein für Männer und Familienrecht, which was restricted to male membership. His view was that the aims of Der Bund and an organization that addressed the concerns of both sexes was irreconcilable. The Bund having collapsed, Höberth regrouped by forming a new organization, Aequitas Weltbund für Männerrechte, which would be open to both sexes.

Leopold Kornblüh (48, Jewish bachelor), along with a German railway official, Karl Knierling (36) and a Federal Railways pensioner, Alfred Porzer (52, Catholic, divorced) formed the association "Justice Federation for Family law reform." The group set up "Divorce counseling center" one in which men every Monday between 8 pm and 10 pm (20:00 and 22:00), which took place at their headquarters at Gumpendorferstraße 6, in Vienna’s 6^th District.

[more to be added]

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FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 9): Berlin, May 27—A revolt of the down-trodden male against the domineering female is, on the way in Vienna where the “Rights for Men” League has been founded to start the battle.

The League, which held its first big mass meeting recently, is composed so far only of bachelors, divorced husbands, and unmarried fathers. The still married husbands, the members insist, would like to join, but their wives won’t let them, which in itself is cited as proof for the need of such an organisation.

The mass meeting was held under the slogan of “equal rights for men.”

Sigurd Hoeberth, the president of the League, denied emphatically that the aggressive males were women haters. All the League wanted, he said, was that the preferences and privileges which the women now receive from society, from the State, and especially from the courts, should stop.

“We love and honour the ladies,” Hoeberth said, “but we want to leave to our descendants once more real mothers and wives, and to prevent their being killed off by the alleged emancipation of the woman.”

Numerous speakers denounced the “degenerate literary cafe clique” for having placed woman on such a high pedestal “that she has come to consider it as her right not only to claim but also to abuse her privileges arid her freedom.”

“The feminist, hysterical and degenerate cafe scribblers have helped cunning woman to forge intolerable chains for men,” explained one of the speakers, Wollner.

“The man is roped before the family coach, and on the driving seat sits the ‘gracious lady,’ and if he doesn’t pull till he drops, she swings the whip of legal paragraphs over him.”

A large part of the prison inmates, Wollner said, have been put there by the accusations of their own wives. A good number of the initiates of insane asylums, he charged, have been put there by their wives because they were in the way.

“The reason for all this,” Wollner said, “is that the authorities believe the women everything and the man nothing, although they should know that the he is a specific attribute of the feminine sex.”

The principal complaint of the league members was against the alimony claims of divorced wives and the claims of support of unmarried mothers.

The secretary of the League, Hofeneder, pictured the claims for alimony and support as a cruel persecution of the men, inspired not only by greed but often also by revenge and plain “cussedness.”

Under the present Austrian law, Hofeneder said, the unmarried mother has practically her choice to whom she wants to pick as the father of her child. And he deplored that a Vienna court had rejected the blood test for paternity on the ground that this test was not yet sufficiently developed.

“The unmarried father is helpless against the cunning and the revenge of the unmarried mother,” Hofeneder said. “Our antiquated laws speak only of the duties of the unmarried fathers, not of their rights.

[“Men Form Defence League In Vienna.” The Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica), Jun. 10, 1926, p. 19; The spelling in the original, "Hoeberth," is erroneous.]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 9): Vienna, Feb. 17.—With the slogan "We men must hang together." The Vienna League for the Rights of Men, organized for protection against the encroachment of women have discussed the rescue of Charlie Chaplin at a sympathy meeting.

Herr Knobloch [error in orig./ correct: Kornblueh (Leopold Kornblüh)], a member of the executive committee of the league, declared:

"This is another case where a woman's treachery and woman's falsity are trying to ruin a good man."

He characterized the Chaplin-Gray marriage as a "speculation marriage entered into by American gold diggers."

It was resolved to send Chaplin their sympathy.

A resolution was also passed against Mussolini’s attempt to suppress bachelors* which it was charged again violates the rights of men in favor of women.

[“Anti-Woman Club Formed,” Syndicated (Universal Service), San Antonio Light (Tx.), Feb. 17, 1927, p. 4-A]

* This refers to what is known as “The Battle for Births.” – The Battle for Births began in 1927: Mussolini introduced a number of measures to encourage reproduction, with an objective of increasing the population from 40 million to 60 million by 1950. Loans were offered to married couples, with part of the loan cancelled for each new child, and any married man who had more than six children was made exempt from taxation. Mussolini, who had developed a cult of personality, argued that the Italian people had a duty to their leader (“Il Duce”) to produce as many children as possible. In correspondence with these incentives, laws were brought in to penalize any citizens who proved to be less productive. Bachelors were taxed increasingly, and by the late 1930s, the civil service began recruiting and promoting only those who were fertile and married. [Wikipedia]

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NOTE: The “men only” offshoot of Bund für Männerrechte, Vienna, led by Leopold Kornblueh, is discussed here.

FULL TEXT (Article 3 of 9): VIENNA, May 25.—Charlie Chaplin will deliver a lecture on the tyranny of women in America in Vienna this summer.

This announcement made by Herr Kornblueh at the recent congress of the Vienna league of men called “Justitia” was greeted with tremendous applause.

“Charlie Chaplin is one of our most ardent supporters abroad” Herr Kornblueh declared, “and since his divorce, he has written to us assuring our organization of his sympathy and emphasizing the necessity of a world wide movement for the emancipation of the oppressed husbands.

“The tyranny of modern women, who demand all rights and refuse all duties, who are marrying men only to lead a careless, workless and childless life, or to obtain a divorce and a lifelong alimony, this shameful tyranny is the underlying cause of all evils.

“Look at the insane asylum Steinhof in Vienna. Fifty percent of the unfortunate inmates were brought to this place because of their marriage.’’

The congress passed a resolution demanding the abolishment of alimonies find other unequal pacts between the two sexes, and protesting against the favoritism of the authorities in favor of women, especially the siding of the police with the wives whenever a domestic quarrel develops.

The Justitia is the first organization in the world fighting for the “emancipation of men,” and makes its appeal to all those “in revolt against the oppression of the female sex.” Only the freedom of men can prevent the white race from decline and ruin, declares one of the organizations proclamations.

“The only trouble is,” confessed Kornblueh, “there are few courageous men. Husbands are too cowardly, while bachelors are perhaps too willing to join our organization.”

[“Chaplin, Siding With Fellows, Will Assail Tyranny of Women - American Comedian and Victim of ‘Oppression of Female Sex’ Joins Brothers of ‘Justitia’ in Fight For ‘Emancipation of Men’,” The Charleston Gazette (W. Va.), May 27, 1928, p. 6]

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FULL TEXT (Article 4 of 9): Vienna, Austria. – Dr. Sigurd Hoeberth has courage. He has called a conference of all men of the world for Sept. 25 to discuss ways and means of obtaining equal rights for men. Dr. Hoeberth is also an optimist, for he thinks at least 2,000 men will dare to show up at such a conference, in Hofburg Hall in Emperor Franz Joseph palace. It is large and beautiful hall, with the distinct; advantage of having many exits. In case women storm the palace the men would have a chance to away and establish alibis.

For a time Dr. Hoeberth disappeared from Mozart strasse. It thought by those who did not know him he had given up the right for man’s rights, just the contrary. Undaunted he is waging the battle in the heart of Vienna's financial district. His new office is on the main floor of one of Vienna's many defunct banks. Where once the Viennese went long on their own securities, to their sorrow, and sold French francs short, also to their sorrow, Dr. Hoeberth is now barricaded, behind a show window, blazing with his posters. Within his office he is further protected by a high counter. It is perhaps superfluous to add his office has an exit on the back street.

The show window of the World League for Men's Rights attracts considerable attention. The posters are gay, and contain a sufficient outline of what Dr. Hoeberth is boosting. Pretty stenographers, on the way to and from lunch, occupy the sidewalk next to the window, and picket Dr. Hoeberth's shop. They open their umbrellas, and hold them at an angle to prevent the men from reading. Sometimes the police are compelled to keep the crowd moving. Now and then a man pulls his hat down, and turns up his collar, before running the gauntlet to get inside and ask for literature on the subject of men's rights. The market women grunt with disdain when they pass.

Surprisingly, Dr. Hoeberth is finding a number of Viennese women who agree with him.  They say unscrupulous women have scared men so it is hard for a really modest and refined woman to catch a husband. "If the present laws are maintained," they relate, "it will be necessary to use bear traps." Moved by pity, or some other emotion, even Mrs. Ross, wife of Prof. Edward Alsworth Ross of the University of Wisconsin, said Dr. Hoeberth has some good ideas.

Dr. Hoeberth has 10 points which he is demanding for men before he will accept an armistice. They are:

1. Divorced women, able to earn their own living, or those who have an income of their own, are not entitled to alimony,

2. Alimony claims are valid only for marriages which last three years. The amount of alimony is to be based on the duration of the marriage.

3. After the termination of a marriage the woman, loses the right to use the name of the husband.

4. The legal limit in Austria for contesting the legitimate birth of a child, now three months, is to be abolished. The procedure shall be the same as in contested paternity.

5. Blood tests and anthropological examination have to be considered as a judicial and legal method for determining paternity.

6. Mothers are to be required to support illegitimate children according to their means.

7. The father of an illegitimate child shall not only have obligations towards the child, but also is entitled to rights as to the child.

8. Illegitimate children are required to support aged and invalid parents.

9. The existence minimum cannot be derogated because of failure to pay alimony or contribute to support. The law by which a man can be thrown into prison for failure to pay alimony must be repealed.

10. "Further," says Dr. Hoeberth, "we are fighting all the monstrosities which have come from the emancipation of woman."

The league cites the case of Johann Apfelmuss, but of course this is not the right name of this poor man. Mr. Apfelmuss was in the hospital about to undergo an operation when his wife asked the judge for a divorce. The date hearing was set on the very day when Mr. Aphelmuss was to be operated upon. Mr. Apfelmus asked for a postponement but his request passed unnoticed. Mrs. Apfelmuss received an uncontested decree. Her husband became legally culpable.

Contrary to what the doctors predicted, Mr. Apfelmuss recovered, after a long siege, and two years later got a job at the Vienna average, $30 per month. Five dollars of this was subtracted at the source for sickness insurance, pension fund and the usual social undertakings for which the Viennese worker must contribute whether he wishes or not. For his room and breakfast Mr. Apfelmuss paid $9. Then as Mr. Apfelmuss did not contest the divorce the judge ordered him to pay his wife $13 per month. This left Mr. Apfelmuss with the large sum of almost $4. The funny part of this story is that the former Mrs. Apfelmuss is a post office girl, and receives the union wage scale.

Dr. Hoeberth knows a number of these stories and when the league meets Sept. 25 in the Hofburg hall, he will relate all the harrowing details. That is, he will if the stenographer and market women have not climbed over the barricade into his office before that time.

[A. R. Drucker, “Equal Rights For Mere Man League’s Aim - World Convention Plans to Curtail Alleged Women's Advantages Austrian Takes Lead Thinks 2,000 Men Will Show Up to Protest Their Wrongs,” Syracuse Herald (N.Y.), Jun. 23, 1929, Sec. 3, p. 4]

FULL TEXT (Article 5 of 9): Vienna, Austria. — “Aequitas.” By this slogan a number of Viennese men hope to start a movement by which man, mere man, can cope with woman. Of course the battle is lost before started, and these poor misguided males might better should the white flag, and yield while the yielding is good. The chances are all against them. A conservative bettor would not even risk Austrian inflated currency of the period when ten thousand kronen made one dollar. But their feeble attempts are worth nothing even if the only result achieved is to dissuade other men from making the same futile endeavors.

Herr Hoeberth, Viennese lawyer had something to do with domestic relations cases in Austria. The tragedy of wronged husbands and exploited innocent bachelors worked on his feelings that after due meditation he decided to take action. He formed the beginnings of the world league for men’s rights the “Aequitas.” In the otherwise harmonious street named Mozart Gasse he opened an office on the round floor back of a court.

~ Nothing Feminine Allowed ~ 

Except a coldly cynical janitress nothing female was allowed in the office, beyond now and then a pretty steno. A statute of justice holding sword and scales does not count, being made of plaster, and not able to talk back. No fire and a generally absence-of-female look pervaded the room. The curtains hung awry, and the chairs were all placed wrong enough to delight any care-free bachelor. By keeping your over coat on, and swinging your hands now and then you could keep from freezing.

But Herr Hoeberth warmed up to his subject. “We demand equal rights,” he said. “The shameful condition as regards marriage and family rights has in many countries become a public scandal and disgrace. The cause is to be found in antiquated laws, and in the way justice administered so as to be downright inimical to males. For two years our organization has been fighting to change this, and often we have been slandered. Our intention is not to attack marriage nor to lessen rights for women. Our aim is to guide the lawmakers so as to place family life on a sound and just basis. We wish to have laws adjusted to modern conditions, with equal duties and also equal rights for both sexes.

~ Laws Out of Date Now ~

“One hundred years ago, when our present laws were enacted, it will probably be necessary to protect women, as they were shut out of most economic pursuits, and had no political rights. In those days the woman remained home until married. She occupied herself with her parent’s household, and brought with her, when married, a moral consciousness and a sense of the value of marriage. The old-fashioned woman rarely demanded divorce. and usually when she did so, she had good and sufficient reasons. And as she could not very well go into business she was justified in demanding and receiving alimony.

“Now all this is changed. The “woman of today enjoys all the political and economic rights of man. Every occupation is open to her. Indeed in many cases she can advance more rapidly than a man. Under these conditions what does marriage mean for a woman who has not a moral consciousness? To her marriage is nothing more than a nose bag. And according to our laws a husband is just an animal required to keep the nose bag full. And if a man is not ready to go over the top in order to keep his nose bag full enough to satisfy the speculative ambitions of his wife, then prison stares him in the face.

~ Just a Nose Bag Filler~

“And how do the instruments of justice act? A smirking smile, a well cut dress, a few crocodile tears, and the nose bag filler is lost. A woman cannot lose in court. We have collected data showing in detail many cases where justice has been flouted. Under such conditions it is suicide for a man to marry. And this explains the falling off in marriage, and the many liaisons. What can one expect? But even in the liaisons man is the victim. The father of the illegitimate child is always the one who can fill the nose bag to the fullest, and satisfy the woman’s ambitions. Our laws require that there be a father. It is left to the unscrupulous woman to choose one. This practice has ruined the lives of many innocent men. It is high time we got together and insisted upon equal rights.”

“Right, you are.” we said to Herr Hoeberth. but not very enthusiastically. We had a hunch. Later we went back to the harmonious office in Mozart Gasse. Herr Hoeberth had moved. “Where?” we asked the cynical janitress.

“Don’t know.”

“And his mail. Isn’t it forwarded?

“He doesn’t get any mail.”

But we think Herr Hoeberth is still fighting against fate. He received a number of inquiries, and requests to be admitted to the organization. Also the judges finally admitted his paternity blood test. It is possible at least, so it is claimed, to tell who was not the father.

[“Equality Is Asked By Austrian Male - “Aequitas,” Viennese Society Champions Husbands and Bachelors,” (from Chicago Daily News), The Charleston Daily Mail (W. Va.), May 3, 1929, p. 17]

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FULL TEXT (Article 6 of 9): Vienna, Aug. 14.— Two leagues are functioning in Vienna today to “obtain equal rights for oppressed males,” but one of them is not striving so valiantly as it used to. The founder fell in love and decided to allow women themselves to join.

These two organizations are “Aequitas,” the original organization, which has invited “honest” women to participate in its world conference here next month, and “Justitia,” which is against all women.

When Herr Von Hoeberth, a divorced man of Vienna, formed the original league for the rights of men. He was outspoken in his criticism of laws and usages which gave men and especially married or divorced men “the worst of it.” He had little use for women and feminine prerogatives and did not hesitate to say so. But when he fell in love everything was changed.

~ Founder Is Firm ~

Herr Kornblueh one of the founders of the original league, who remained firm in his anti-woman attitude, declared in an address to his colleagues:

“Tread softly, my dear comrades, upon this floor because you are treading on one of my dreams. Herr Von Hoeberth, our president, who was known as an honorable divorced man, became entangled in a love affair, is seen in public places with a young woman, whom foolish youth would call a charming one, and has recently opened the doors of our league to women. This, I regard, as a desecration of our sublime ideals.”

This was the first serious discord among the fighters for the “emancipation of men.” It led to the secession of one faction from the original league and the creation of “Justitia.”

Herr Von Hoeberth remained president of “Aequitas” while Herr Hornblueh was chosen president of the hundred per centers of “Justitia.”

The world conference in Vienna sponsored by “Aequitas” is scheduled to open on September 25. Its program, as previously outlined by Herr Von Hoeberth calls for inauguration of an international movement for reform of marriage and divorce laws, especially laws relating to alimony. It is claimed that “unprincipled women purposely marry men with the idea of obtaining divorces and alimony later on.”

“Justitia” is opposed to the present movement to bestow still further political liberties upon women, who, it is claimed, are “forgetting their natural duties.”

[Alfred Tyrnauer, “Oppressed Males To Have Their Inning - Two Leagues Functioning In Vienna To Obtain Equal Rights For Oppressed Males Allowing Women To Join League Becomes Controversial Point With Founders,” syndicated (INS), New Castle News, Pa,), Aug. 14, 1929, p. 15]

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~ • ~ • ~ Link: A discussion of this organization in relation to activities in the United States, 1929

~ • ~ • ~ Link: A woman's view of this organization, 1929

~ • ~ • ~ Link: Interest in this organization in France, 1930

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http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/2014/02/british-branch-of-international-mens.html

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FULL TEXT (Article 7 of 9): Vienna. – Equitas, the world league for the rights of men, an organization which had its headquarters here and a membership made up of Europeans and Americans, has disappeared. Whether it has gone to the ground before the victorious advance of all conquering woman or merely as part of the world economic depression is not clear. At all events, it has given up its offices.

The two handsome plateglass windows, which once displayed a patchwork of such newspaper clippings as “Singer Shoots Her Husband,” “First Feminine Broker Revealed as Swindler,” “Orgies of 18-Year-Old Girl,” “Husband Poisoners of Nagrev,” and “Film Star’s Wife Wants Million Alimony,” are now filled with the exhibits of a shoe store, and a women’s shoe store at that.

A year ago Sigurd Hoeberth, president of the world league, sent hundreds of invitations to college professors, bankers and journalists of the United States to attend the world congress at which the league’s objectives were to be discussed. So few recipients took the initiative seriously, however, that the congress was postponed.

From then on the league’s interests and activities steadily declined until practically the only source of funds was its feminine members. Of these the league had, according to a statement of the president, 500, and he admitted in confidence that they were the best contributors, more especially mothers with marriageable sons.

[“World League for Rights of Men Dies; Women’s Shoe Store in Headquarters,” syndicated, The Tipton Daily Tribune (In.), Oct. 7, 1930, p. 1]

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EXCERPT (Article 8 of 9; from article similar to the previous one): With the League has gone its weekly journal, “Self-Defense,” that contained such interesting features as a serial entitles “Satan’s Daughter,” and a sort of market report on the state of men’s rights in various parts of the world, but it perished apparently for want of department store advertising, leaving to women the last word as usual.

[“League for Men’s Rights Abandoned – ‘Equitas’ Had Headquarters in Vienna – Europeans and Americans Among Members,” The Gazette (Montreal), Oct. 6, 1930, p. 13]

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FULL TEXT (Article 9 of 9): Rarely does a mother consider a son’s choice of a wife worthy of the distinction conferred upon her.

Equitas, the world league for the rights of men, with headquarters in Vienna, was made up largely of women members, a majority of them mothers of marriageable sons. The purpose of Equitas was to defend men against the encroachment of women, whom it charged with being in league to pre-empt all world power and dominion.

Equitas’ offices bristled with such potent warnings as “Singer Shoots Her Husband, “Husband Poisoners of Nagyrev,” “Orgies of an 18-year-Old Girl.” A weekly journal, “Self Defense,” kept members and public informed on status of men’s rights in various parts of the world. Now Equitas has folded to make way for a woman’s shoe store in the quarters it occupied.

Mothers find their sons do not share their apprehension concerning the dangers besetting the path of an eligible young man. Equitas could furnish its members no recipe for convincing a young man in love that the object of his affection is a designing creature plotting to reduce him to a state of dependence or even slavery. Unlikely as it seems, the time may come when men will be compelled to band together in defense of their rights, as women were forced to unite in a concerted drive against man domination, and Equitas may rise again.

[“Mothers’ Club to Save Sons Closes Doors,” syndicated (Newspaper Alliance), The Milwaukee Journal (Wi.), Oct. 10, 1930, p. 10]

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These English language reports were incorrect in assuming that closing of the offices of Aequitas and Justitia meant that the organizations had disbanded. Justitia remained active until 1937. Aequitas remained active until Hoeberth's death in 1938. Soon after the founder died the Nazi Anschluss Commissioner shut down the organization.

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NOTE on naming error in English language sources:

English language sources never, insofar as currently available sources reveal, gave the correct name of Der Bund für Männerrechte. By mistake they replaced the correct name with Liga für Menschenrechte, another, unrelated Viennese organization.

Coincidentally in 1926 another organization with an almost identical name was founded in Austria, Österreichische Liga für Menschenrechte. This Austrian organization, founded by  Rudolf Goldscheid (1870-1931) was associated with Fédération internationale des droits de l'Homme of ligues. Its mission was the promotion of human rights in general, not on problems of the relations between the sexes. There is no connection between Goldsheid and Hoeberth’s organizations despite the similarity of name, location and date of origin.

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►• ►The “Early Men’s Rights Activism” post gives links to other articles on 1910s-1930s men’s rights activism in several countries. ◄•◄

SEE ALSO: Early Men's Rights Activists: 1926-1960

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For more revelations of this suppressed history, see The Alimony Racket: Checklist of Posts

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Early Men’s Rights Activism

1890s   New York Alimony Club (informal)

1896    Anti-Bardell Bachelor Band, Atlanta Georgia. Formed to fight against a national campaign headed by activist Charlotte Smith (Women’s Rescue League) to promote a tax on bachelors. Another, similar effort was made by the Hoboken Bachelor’s Club in Hoboken, New Jersey.

1898    League for Men’s Rights, London, England – William Austin

1908    E. Belfort Bax, England, major political writer who called feminism a fraud and discussed “female privilege.”

1911    Anti-Alimony Association, New York.

1912   George Esterling – Denver, Colorado.

1925   Samuel Reid, “Alimony Sam,” the “alimony martyr” of California.

1926    Bund für Männerrechte, Vienna, founded by Sigurd von Hoeberth (Höberth)  and Leopold Kornblüh in March 1926. In January 1927 the Bund split into two organizations circa: Aequitas (Hoeberth), Justicia (Kornblueh); journal “Self-Defense.”

1926    Themisverbandes (Men’s Rights organization for female members, Sigurd Höberth von Schwarzthal). The founding of this organization led to a schism in Bund January.

1927    Aequitas Weltbund für Männerrechte (Aequitas Word Federation for Men’s Rights) (international), Vienna, following a schism in Bund für Männerrechte (Federation for Men’s Rights). This was Sigurd Hoeberth’s new organization for men’s rights which welcomed female members.

1927    Justitia Verein für Männer und Familienrecht (Justitia Society for Men’s Rights and Family Rights), Vienna, founded by  Leopold Kornblüh following a schism in Bund für Männerrechte (Federation for Men’s Rights). This group did not allow female members.

1927    Alimony Club of Illinois, Society of Disgruntled Alimony Payers, Chicago, founded by Dr. Vernon B. Cooley and second wife, Mrs. Bessie Cooley.

1927    Alimony Payers Protective Association, led by Robert Gilbert Ecob.

1927    Milwaukee Alimony Club, Wisconsin.

1927    Fifty-Fifty League, London; manifesto “The Sex War;” led by John MacArthur.

1928    Tibet Men’s Rights organization (name of org. unknown), founded by Amouki.

1929    World’s League for the Rights of Men, United Kingdom section, founded by  Geoffrey Kimber, London.

1930    D. A. M. Association, Kansas City, Missouri, founded by French L. Nelson.

1930    National Sociological League, Dr. Alexander Dallek, executive secretary (another link).

           

1932    Alimony Club of New York County (Adolph Wodiska) (cited Jan. 9, 1932).

1932    Ohio Alimony Association, Cleveland, Ohio.

1933    National Divorce Reform League, Theodore Apstein (cited Feb. 14, 1933).

1935    Alimony Reform League, New York

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►• CHRONOLOGY of Established Organizations

1926 – May 27 (?) – Bund für Menschenrechte – Vienna, Austria – (split into 2 organizations: Equitas & Justicia) – Sigurd Hoeberth

1928 – Aequitas (Equitas) – Vienna, Austria – (from schism of Bund, members of both sexes) – Sigurd Hoeberth

1928 – Justicia – Vienna, Austria – (from schism of Bund, restricted to male members) – Joseph Kornblueh

1927 – May 13 (incorporated) – American Alimony Payers Association – New York City – Robert Gilbert Ecob

1927 – Jun. 2 (founded) – Alimony Club of Illinois – Chicago – Vernon Cooley

1927 – Sep. 12 (founded) – Milwaukee Alimony Club –  Wisconsin – Dr. H. W. Taylor,

1927 – Fifty-Fifty – London, England – John MacArthur

1928 – Name of organization unknown – Tibet – Amouki

1930 – National Sociological League – New York City – Dr. Alexander Dallek

1932 – National Divorce Reform League – New York City – Theodore E. Apstein

1935 – Alimony Reform League of New York – Jack Anthony

1960 – Divorce Racket Busters (incorporated 1961 as U.S.A. Divorce Reform, Inc.) – California – Reuben Kidd

1961 – Nov. 20 (incorporated) – U.S.A. Divorce Reform, Inc. – California – Reuben Kidd

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British Branch of International Men’s Rights Organization – 1929

Following are newspaper articles discussing the British branch of the international men’s rights organization founded in (April?) 1926 and whose headquarters were located in Vienna: Aequitas Weltbund für Männerrechte.

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FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 3):

“Distressed Men” Want Equality!

“Wake up, Men!”

“Safeguard your Rights.”

“All you men who are handicapped by the excesses of emancipation of women, organize yourselves in the World League for the Rights of Men.”

--Extract from an appeal to men of the world to join the Aequitas League of Vienna.

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As a recent divorce case in America it was reported that the wife, who was suing for divorce and alimony, was already receiving substantial sums by way of alimony from her two former husbands! The sums were such as we should consider a respectable fortune in this country, and certainly enough to keep her in luxurious comfort for the rest of her life. She had, in fact, done well in the marriage market and solidified her holdings at the top of the “boom”! not content, she was asking for more. It is a curious example, perhaps, but one that shows how the law of the country works for the benefit of the woman. In more ways than one does the law of America – and of this country for that matter – favour the wife in married people’s relationships. Generally, it is incumbent upon the husband to maintain his wife after they have separated, and where the husband is to blame there is justice in this attitude.But how often is unhappy marriage the result of unsuitable temperaments? In such as case, husband and wife, for their unwise choice, are equally to blame for the clash, and the separation when it comes, but the husband has still to pay alimony. Is that the just attitude? It prompts a query that will shock most people in this country, and cause apoplexy almost to those staunch old folk who regard our marriage customs and laws as the unalterable pillar of life itself. Are our standards wrong?  Are they based on a wrong conception of what marriage should be? Instead of being in the van of progress, an example for the whole world, in reality are we living in the Middle Ages of blinded vision and stilted outlook? Dreiser, in his recent book on Russia, which country he visited some months ago, devoted a most interesting section to the marriage customs of that country. There, we are given to understand, men and women really are equal. They get equal pay for equal work, equal holidays, women are expected to work alongside men and serve in the Red Army. What is of supreme interest to the subject under discussion, however, is their marriage laws. When a wife, who generally is an outside worker employing a domestic to do her housework, is undergoing a confinement the State sees that she gets the best attention possible, and pays her well, for the Soviet realizes that in the children lies the hope of the country. That is a system that in theory many would  claim to be vastly advanced to ours. The drawback is that officially the child is regarded more as State property than that of the parents. But, “’till death to us part” has no place in the new Soviet order. Either party in Russia can secure divorce quicker than purchasing a railway ticket. All that is necessary is for the complaining party to go to the local Soviet office, make the complaint, and get his or her ticket stamped “Single” again! Then, the children being the joint responsibility of the parents, and each having equal chance to work for equal pay, the parents have to keep themselves and pay equally towards the upkeep of the children! that, according to Dreiser, is the ideal way in “idealist practical” Russia, and he finds such in the system to commend. We do not comment, or much less approve, or much less approve, the virtues or drawbacks of the Soviet way of doing things. We give it to show the extreme contrast between our views of marital relationships and alimony and the views in a country in an experimental stage, where the “ideal” system is being sought after. [Note: Dreiser’s account did not reveal the absurd excesses of female privileges. For a look at how the Soviet system really worked in this period, see "A Dictatorship of the Eternal Woman Has Been Declared": TheSoviet Alimony Racket – 1927”]

Many a man in this country, or America, or other places where laws are similar, who is having to pay for a wife who is wife in name only, and who feels he is being unjustly treated, will view with kindly outlook with a system. Many a man who, unaware of his wife’s extravagant ways, is called upon to pay her debts will see much justice in it. In Austria there must be many men who are smarting under the marriage laws, for an “Aequitas” League has just been smarting under the marriage laws, for an “Aequitas” League has just been started. It is a “World’s League for the Rights of Men.” Its headquarters are at Vienna, and it is calling a great mass meeting  of men to discuss means whereby the authorities can be prevailed upon to alter present laws, so as to grant equality to men! The arguments used in the appeal for members are that our matrimonial laws, so as to grant equality to men! The arguments used in the appeal for members are that our matrimonial laws, probably more so than Austria’s and other countries, are oppressive to men and favour women to quite an unjustifiable extent. The argument proceeds that the laws live unchanged from the days when it was necessary to grant women special legal protection, for they had no political rights whatsoever and were debarred from most professions. “To-day,” says the appeal, “women share equal political rights with men, each branch of human pursuits is freely accessible to them, and it is a well-known fact, under the existing state of affairs in the labour market, that women have far better chances to earn a living than men. And what means marriage to an unprincipled woman? Nothing else than an alimony business to which the man is unconditionally and relentlessly exposed. This also sufficiently explains the general aversion to marriage by men. We have daughters, however, and do not desire that men should not be prevented from marriage by the existing conditions. The distress of men is the cry of the day everywhere! Men of all civilized countries will assemble at a Congress to be held in Vienna, Austria, from September 25^th to October 1^st, 1929, in order to protest against such an unjust state and discuss means whereby the authorities could be prevailed upon to amend and alter the obsolete laws in connection therewith.”

Now in all this there is a grain of commonsense, and matter of sufficient interest to men and women to start a sex war blazing, and if the promoters of the League had stopped at that one could have admired them for their zeal, even if one could not agree with their opinion. The appeal, however, ends up with an exhortation to men to attend this maating at Vienna, and concludes with the lines: --

“No passport visa fees and reduced fares to Austria!”

“All facilities for a comfortable stay in  Austria!”

In that the real object of this campaign? Is it just a piece of clever “Visit-our-country-for-your-holidays” propaganda? Ironically enough, would the Austrians be glad if the “distressed” men were also to take their wives as a further contribution towards the tourist profit campaign? It might not be so, but it sounds suspiciously like it.

[“’Distressed Men’ Want Equality!” The Daily Mail (London, England), Sep. 3, 1929, p. ?]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): A United Kingdom section of the “World’s League for the Rights of Men” [Aequitas Weltbund für Männerrechte, Vienna] has been formed and letters have been sent to the three party leaders drawing attention to various “inhustices” which the League considers men are subject to.

Among the aims of the League, branches which are established in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, and other Continental centres, is the form of law  relating to divorce. It is urged, for instance, that the circumstances of a divorced woman should revert to her own nationality and abandon the name and title of the husband from who she is divorced.

In matters of education the League asks that boys in State schools over seven years of age shall be taught only by men teachers; that children should be taught sufficient of the subject of anatomy to safeguard their own health; that instruction on “sex matters and their perplexities” should be given in schools by qualified and competent instructors; and that there should also be instruction in the simple laws of the country.

“We are not an ‘anti-feminist’ League,” said the general organizing secretary, Mr. Geoffrey Kimber. “We are simply ‘anti-ultra-feminist.’ We are against the masculine woman who thinks she can take any man’s job, no matter what it is, and do it better than he can.”

[“Masculine Rights – League To Keep Men’s Jobs For Men.” The Nottingham Evening Post (England), Nov. 14, 1929, p. 3]

[Typo in original – “there form of law” – has been corrected to “the form of law.” Also “from who she is divorced.” Has been corrected to “from whom she is divorced.”]

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NOTE: Following is a article written in a sardonic tone as was common for many English language reports on the early men’s rights activism efforts.

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FULL TEXT (Article 3 of 3): Women of London, let me introduce you to M. Geoffrey Kimber, the bachelor who is going to protect all us downtrodden men from your subtle and enslaving wiles (writes a Downtrodden Man in a home paper).

A tough job, you say? Then all the more honour to Mr. Kimber, who by starting a United Kingdom section of the World’s League for Men’s Rights [Aequitas Weltbund für Männerrechte, Vienna] has taken on womeankind single-handed, without a single tremor of fear!

What a hero is Mr. Kimber.

And how lucky for him that he hasn’t got to tell a wife what he had done!

~ FLASHING EYES. ~

I had a long talk with Mr. Kimber at his Chelsea headquarters, and was delighted to hear that women will not dominate men if he can help it, and that he is going to chop off all the tentacles that women have been stretching out to seize the privileges of Man, the Master.

In fact his grey-blue eyes positively flashed as he passed his hand through his bushy, fair hair and said:

“We of the League are definitely against the ultra-masculine woman who cuts her hair short and imitates a man. Do you as a man realize how many of them there are about?”

“Alas!” I said, sympathetically.

He re-arranged a stack of propaganda on his table. “We have got to fight,” he said, with the utmost firmness. “And my goodness, we are up against something.

“There are four or five high organizations for women, and not one for men. Women want everything changed in their favour. What has been done to help men?

“Nothing,” I answered, “only please don’t quote me as saying so.”

“We want fair play for men,” said Mr. Kimber, emphatically. “Look at the divorce laws. They are unjust to men. And look at the divorce laws. They are unjust to men. And look at everyday life in London. See how women trade on men’s chivalry.

~ INSULT TO INJURY. ~

‘That tradition that a man should give up his seat to a woman in a bus is all wrong. I would give up my seat to a woman in a bus is all wrong. I would give up my seat to an old woman or an old man, to a woman with a baby or a man with a baby, but as far the rest – why, I reckon I am just as tired at the end of the day as any woman.

“But what do women say? They say: ‘Some fool will give us a seat,’ and get on a crowded bus.”

Mr. Kimber’s eyes positively glinted.

“Woman,” he said, “not only wants to mother the race, she wants to manage it as well.

“I am afraid men will deteriorate if things go an  as they are. They will; get weak and spineless, while women will become masculine.

Why – tell me this, as a man – why do we allow women to teach boys in schools when they are older then seven?”

“Ah!” I said, cautiously.

“The boys become feminine,” he said.

Mr. Kimber declared sorrowfully that already women were forgetting how to cook.

“But don’t imagine that we are out to smash women altogether,” he said. “Are we against women going into the professions, even though we do prefer the womanly woman? Certainly not. We’re not fools.

~ A MENACE. ~

“We see the necessity for women policemen. But we are out against the sort of educational woman who teaches girls to go in for so much sport. They are a real menace.

“The ordinary London girl is not so dangerous. She simply wants a good time. She likes to wear nice frocks, and go to theatres. But as for the others …”

Mr. Kimber, who has given up his work as a teacher to fight the cause of downtrodden Man, and has begun by sending a letter to the three Party leaders about it, is not such a confirmed bachelor as you might think.

“I shall probably get married myself,” he said.

[“Equal Rights. – Bachelor To Champion Men’s Cause. – Chivalry? – No!” The Singapore Free Press (Singapore, S. S.(Straits Settlements)), Dec. 24, 1929, p. 4]

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For the main article on this organization, see:

The World's First Men's Rights Organization (with acomprehensive men's issues agenda) - 1926-1938, Vienna

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Early Men's Rights Activists: 1926-1960

Links to “Unknown History of Misandry” Blog Posts:

Sigurd Hoeberth – 1926

click name to link to article

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Mrs. Bessie Cooley – 1927

click name to link to article

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Dr. Vernon P. Cooley – 1927

click name to link to article

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John Gasteiger – 1927

click name to link to article

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Robert Ecob – 1927

click name to link to article

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Dr. Alexander Dallek – 1930

click name to link to article

(also this link)

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Mrs. Samuel Gompers

click name to link to article

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Adolph Wodisca – 1932

click name to link to article

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Mrs. Rose Fox - 1934

click name to link to article

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Theodore Apstein – 1935

click name to link to article

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Reuben Kidd - 1960

click name to link to article

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Alimony Racket, Anti-Misandry, Debtor's Prison, Divorce Racket, Extortion, Family Court Reform, Fraud, Gender Oppression, Gender Studies, Male Studies, Men's Rights, Misandry, Patriarchy, Political Activism, Radical Feminism, Social Engineering, True Crime

Early Men’s Rights Organization: England 1927

FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 3): London, Dec. 16.—With the “restoration of man’s “lost prestige” and “no votes for flappers” as its aims, the Fifty-Fifty league is the latest of the many anti-feminist movements in England.

With a membership roll of already 30,000, the Fifty-Fifty league is out to succeed where others have failed. It views with alarm the growing infiltration of women into public life, and. proposes to combat the “domination” of the weaker sex, and to ensure that in the future control of England men shall play at least as prominent a part as women.

~ Restore Men’s Prestige ~

“We are going to make a determined effort to put a stop to the handing over of the control of .England to women, and we mean to put man back. on his pedestal,” John MacArthur, secretary of the organisation, told International News Service. “The proposed extension of the English franchise to women of twenty-one is absolutely the last straw,” he added.

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“Women want all the power of government without the responsibility men have to face,” MacArthur continued. ‘‘In other words, they want to dictate what we shall do, and then watch us do it.

“Man, since the beginning of time, has been the dominant sex but in recent years, women have made continual encroachments on his rights. If we can get a strong enough membership we hope to limit their powers on a fifty-fifty basis with men, and to achieve the emancipation of our sex.

~ Fears of War ~

“If women get control of Britain they will lead us, intentionally or unintentionally, into war, and that will mean that the manhood of Britain will fight at the dictation of the woman voter—who does not fight.

“Women are responsible for Prohibition in the United States, where woman-worship is a mania, arid the legislation there is an absolute farce.

“Call us women-haters if you like, but we don’t ask that women be deprived of all their privileges, we want them to pay more attention, to the thing that concern them and to leave the government of the country to men,” MacArthur continued.

[Charles A. Smith, “50-50 League In England Fights ‘Flapper’ Votes – Alarmed At Prestige Of Women In Politics, New Group Organizes – Offer Determined Plan To Prevent ‘Weaker Sex’ Gaining Control, syndicated (International News Services), New Castle News (Pa.), Dec. 16, 1927, p. 21]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): London, England, April 10.— The enfranchising of all women at the age of 21 has brought into existence. “The fifty-fifty league” whose members want to do something to offset the placing of men voters in a minority in the United Kingdom.”

The League stands for “the emancipation of men from feminist domination” and it has issued a manifesto headed “The Sex War.”

The leaguers contend that, as women will now be in a position to dictate the country’s policy, they must be prepared to accept the logical consequences.

The manifesto therefore demands that immediately political power in the country is transferred from men to women, and declares:

(1) Women shall be liable to military conscription on exactly the same terms and conditions as men are or may be liable thereto.

(2) All sex privileges, concessions, and immunities presently enjoyed by women shall be withdrawn.

(3) All laws and practices which relieve women of the economic consequences of their acts, shall be annulled.

(4) The marriage laws and all customs and usages which arise therefrom shall be rectified.

[“‘Fifty-Fifty’ League To War For Men’s Rights,” syndicated (AP), Roswell Daily Record (N. M.), Apr. 10, 1928, p. 1]

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FULL TEXT (Article 3 of 3): Such is the cave man aspect of an international congress that is to be held in Vienna at the end of this month that the promoters are finding difficulty in securing British delegates for it. The promoting body is known as the World’s League for the Rights of Men [Aequitas Weltbund für Männerrechte, founded in Vienna early 1927 by Sigurd Hoeberth (Höberth) following schism of the organization he co-founded in March 1926, Bund für Männerrechte], and its primary object is to combat the political influences making for any increase in women’s emancipation in all countries. Anti-feminist societies and tourist agencies here have been approached to take a practical interest in the conference. The agenda submitted to them takes the form of a list of demands, which are to be discussed seriatim in the Old Royal Palace in Vienna Equality is the watchword, but the only Britsh organization that appears to take the movement very seriously is the Fifty-Fifty League, the chief figure in which is a Glasgow man in London – who is a bachelor.

[“Cave Man Congress (“London Correspondence” column), The Glasgow Herald (Scotland), Sep. 7, 1929, p. 11]

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►• ►The “Early Men’s Rights Activism” post gives links to other articles on 1910s-1930s men’s rights activism in several countries. ◄•◄

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