The sun., 1903-05-03
THE SUN. SUNDAY MAY B, 1908


iiamsnt was signed BY 7s7.7ss women. u
is we'll known that woman suffrage bill
actually passed a second reading In the
House Of Commons during the session OF
10000, but was subsequently lost by what
the London Times described az an 'un-
dignihed shuttle"
~.
Wo conclude our notice OF this interest
Ing work with glance at chapter which
reviews the progress made by the woman
suffrage movement OH the continent OF
Europe. The Constitution Of the German
Empire says that every German above
25 years Of age shall have the Parliamentary
franchise" but. az a matter OF fact, no
woman has ever been permitted to vote
under 1t. The different States which COM
pose the empire have constitutions OF their
own. By the wording Of some OF them
II would seem that women landed proprie-
tors are undoubtedly entitled to take part
In elections. The prussian code declares
that the rights OF the two sexes are equal
II no special laws make an exception, and
it gives the Parliamentary franchise to
every ono who possesses the county or
burgess suffrage. The bylaws, however.
which prescribe the qualifications for the
latter franchise. exclude In some instances
women, and in others declare that women
landowners may act as electors, but only
through proctor (proxy). Teachers. un-
doubtedly being State officials. are entitled
to take part In local governments. 1t must
be admitted. however, that in Prussia
neither the Government nor public senti-
ment looks with favor on woman electors.
In Saxony women proprietors OF landed
estates, whether married or single. are
entitled TO municipal vote. but this can
be exercised only by proxy.
The Italian Electoral law OF 1870 gave a
widow the right to vote by proxy at Parlia-
mentary elections. In the Cisleithan half
Of the Hapsburg realm, since 1862 women
holding property have had proxy vote
in municipal and provincial elections
and for members OF tho lower house of
Parliament. The privilege. however. is
subject to many restrictions. In Bohemia
since 1873 women who are large landed
proprietors have proxy vote for members
both Of the Cisleithan Parliament and OF
the Provincial Diet. In France since 1893
unmarried women engaged in trade. in
Guiding market women, have possessed
the right to vote for Judges OF the Tri-
bunals OF Commerce. In Sweden. women
have voted in Church matters since 1888.
and in 1862 it was provided that women
who are rate-payers may vote. directly
or by proxy as they choose. for all officers.
except members OF Parliament. Indirectly,
women have a voice in the election OF the
First Chamber. or House of Lords, as they
vote for the County Councils, which elect
certain members OF this body. They have
the school and the municpa! suffrage.
and the right to vote for members OF the
provincial assemblies In Norway, since
1880 women who have children may vote
in towns for school inspectors, and be
eligible to the school boards In rural
communes, they are eligible a. inspectors,
and women who pay a school tax may
vote on all school questions and for school
officers, while those who pay no tax and
have children may vote on all questions
involving expenditure. In 1901 municipal
suffrage was granted to all women who
paid taxes on an income Of 800 crowns
(47D in country districts, and 400 crowns
in cities. II husband and wife together
pay taxes on the last named amount. both
may vote. About 100000 women thus
became electors. In Denmark. women
have no franchise, but there Is reason to
believe that the municipal suffrage will
soon be granted to them. In Holland.
not only Ia there no form Of woman suffrage.
but the Constitution Of 1887 expressly pro-
hibits it. Switzerland also allows no wo-
man to vote on any question, or for the
election Of any officer.
We have here shown what has been ac-
complished and what remains to do. II
We have laid particular stress on the work
ing OF women suffrage in four Of the United
States, it is because In the actual outcome
Of the experiment will be found the strong
est arguments for ide extension OF
the movement during the next decade.
NJ. W. Fl.