Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-26

| ~ ARTS. Dec 12.---In English speak
H. ing countries the only OPPOSE
ton to woman's suffrage has
been popular tradition and q
certain immaturity on tho wonlens
part for civic responsibilities, But IN
| France, aside from the usual Gallo
| conservatism that greets any attempt
at feminine emancipation, there is an
other barrier That is the compulsory
army service which every voter must
undergo as u component part of his
citizenship.
DR.. Madeleine Pelletier, president OF
the Women's. Solidarity league, who
recently attracted considerable atten
ton by limiting in a vague sort OF way
that she was ready to do military ser
vice in exchange for q vote, has fol-
lowed that statement up by giving
your correspondent a complete exposi-
ton of her views on the interesting
subject.
"Of course the conscript service is I, :
logical necessity If women are granted
the right to vote" she explained. All
though L am the first to proclaim my
willingness for such service, there ore
many French women who would do
likewise only they aren't courageous
enough to say SO.
To DO woME;N,s WORK.
al know the idea sounds ridiculous at
first, but that is mainly because of Its
novelty. Naturally I don't mean to
advocate army service without amy
qualifications. + don't expect women
TO serve in the rank and hle.-at least
at present However, only two-thirds
OF the army is given over to active
B. field work. The other third have much
more passive duties. These duties Wo-
men could perform as well as men. For
instance, they could help in the mar
facture OF army supplies, could make
uniforms and shoes. The provision de-
p;Htment could be turned over TO
them and they could work in the STA :
bles and kitchen, could act as orderlies.
and. of course, serve on the medical
staff. Later, when popular opinion
had grown more accustomed to tile
idea women could serve regularly IN
the infantry, cavalry and artillery
This would mean. of course. a special
military education, schools, etc.
Naturally the majority OF French
women, however, great their civic zeal,
will prefer to renounce their preteIl-
sions to the vote rather than serve. j
would overcome that difficulty in this
way: The vote would be granted only 4
to those who were willing to do tlleir i
service and, as q compensation for
their public spirit, certain privileges
would be granted them after their. term
Of service WAS over. Tor example, Wo-l
men who had served would be assured
positions in the government, With a
pension after so many years. Ihey
could be postnistresses. could be gwen
charge Of the tobacco shops which are
under state control or could be ems
ployed as government clerks.
Believe me. there are many We
men of the lower classes--and, OF
course. these privileges would hardly
appeal to the smart set--who have
TO work anyway and who would be
glad to serve one year with the pros
pect of an assured income aftcrWard.
NOT a NEW IDEA.
"1,hc idea of women serving in tho
army is not new in France. Certain
papers exist showing that similar pro
jects were discussed during the reyol,i-
Their advanced thantnoW and certain
ly the plans would have been put into
operation il Napoleon had not come to
the front and focused all attention on
his own schemes. Several women
during the revolution, such as Madame
de Xaintrailles and Mdllc. Gle Foernig.
disguised themselves as men and hrs
tory tells US That they made excellent
officers
1T seems to me that uniform for
women is of the highest importance.
It Is like q medal or a title. 1t con
fers a certain prestige ana dignity.ls
their convictions which SO many seem
to lack. They could wear the knicker-
bockers and short jacket OF the
course in the colors OF
their respective regiments.
"Our first step Is to get parliament
tary hearing. This will strengthen thu.
of many luke warm ones.
Many need such concrete signs before
they can realize the intrinsic worth of
n cause. We must start on humble
footing. This year, NJ. Ferdinand BuiS-
son. a deputy from Paris will lay be-
fore the chamber des deputies bill
matters. If that passes. we may hope
for greater developments and who
knows perhaps in a few years my idea
Of military service may be receiving
grave official attention and later. Of
fetal sanction. Then everyone Will
find it quite logical and practical. 1t
Is only the pioneer who bears the brltnt
Of popular rldicule. Time is the great
LITTLE PLAY. FOR THE WORKING