Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06
DETERMINED ON EQUAL RIGHTS.

After such Spartan training it is not, therefore,
surprising that in this time Of general unrest they
should join forces with the men and insist on
making their wishes heard The Moscow ladies
have led the way, and with the help of women
from other cities, have organized an association
called the Union Of Defenders of Equal Rights
for Women. They demand absolute equality with
respect of the suffrage, education and right to
hold appointments.
This powerful union is composed of different So
ceties, which include in their scope almost every
side of woman's life. petition has been sent
to the Governor of Moscow signed by over nine
hundred women, asking for equality between the
sexes in municipal affairs. This union also de-
mands the inclusion of some women on all the
juries that have to try female prisoners, as they
contend that men are unable to understand the
physical and psychical conditions which lead wom-
en- to commit certain crimes.
1t is a most significant fact that this associa
tion has been incorporated with the Russian I'm
ion of Unions lately founded for the political
liberation of Russia. One of the most striking
features is the way the sexes are working hand
in-hand; this increases the power of both for
good or evil thousandfold.
Womens clubs are forbidden in Russia, and
when few ladies in st. Petersburg wished to
form an association for mutual help the govern
ment consented to allow its existence on condi-
ton that it was called phlanthropc institution.
1t is the nearest approach to the modern wom.
sn's club that the Russian lady can attain.
NEW OCCUPATION FOR WOMEN
Its aim is the meritorious but in Russia easily
misconstrlIed one of trying to raise the tone and
ideals of Russian women so as to ft them for
the work which lies before them. It is ex
traordinalily well organized institution, whose
business is carried on by council of capable, ce-
yer women. 1t is divided into twelve sections,
among them being az department. to arrange
courses of lectures register for finding employ
ment for women and bureau for money lending
and savings banks combined
This society, which consists of over 1000 mem
bers takes active part in alleviating any pub
lie calamity. During the inuudations which so
often occur in Russia local centres are insttut-
ed to work more efficiently and during the win
ter it collects money, clothing and food for the
relief of those suffering from famine
The late war has had the effect of opening out
many occupations which were formerly closed to
women We find from the latest statistics that
2200O female officials are employed in the twen-
ty-6ve Russian state railways. They act as book
ing clerks, points women and some are engaged
as guards; their pay is very small, but they re-
ceive free lodging and some perquisites.
Many women of the peasant class are agricul-
turists who enter the factories during the winter
to avoid starvation, and most of them hate it,
The majority of the factories where women are
employed give free lodging to workers These
lodgings resemble large barracks, and in many OF
them men, women and children all sleep in
same rooms on wooden planks Those who hire
lodgings in the neighborhood are no better off, as
the rooms are very dirty and overcrowded. The
higheet wages they paid are in the cotton in
dustres where there arc 81 per cent. more wom-
en- than men. Here there is no difference between
the wages of the sexes. In most factories, how
ever, the wages of women are deplorably low.