The sun., 1908-12-13
WHERE WOMEN HELP GOVERN.
A Natien's Congress Where - Out Of
400 Members Are Women.

~ NBuonN SoDHTo8s WHITE ~ uut VI
100 Members Are Women.
There is no suffragette question in Fin.
land. The Grand Duohy, possessing in
its entire area only about half the popula-
ton Of London. has been bold enough
to give its women votes and elect them
as members Of Parliament.
Small wonder. says tho Queen. a mag
azine for English women-who do have
suffragette question that Finland seems
to many women the only sensible and
practical Government Of modern times
and that many eyes are turned to the
Grand Duchy to note with keen interest
its object lesson in statecraft.
Twice within the last three years have
Finnish women exercised their right to
vote in the choice OF the nations repre-
sentatives; the Diet Of 1909 included nine-
teen women among its 200 members. and
the general election Of July last resulted
in the return Of twenty-six women, rep
ressnting all GLASSES Of society.
These rights have come to the women
Of Finland without violent effort on their
part. In 1905. at a time of acute political
crisis between the Grand Duchy and
Russia-the Car Of Russia has been
Grand Duke Of Finland since is0e-when
the machinery Of the empire was almost
paralyzed by the general strike declared.
the workingmen Of Finland deliberately
All communications and supplies be-
tween Finland and Russia ceased. and for
eight days the life Of the nation was
almost at a standstill. remarkable
but bloodless revolution was the result.
A manifesto was submitted 70 the Grand
Duke by q number OF Finland's leading
men giving the terms on which they
had become impossible and the terms
With the ending OF those eight dark
days-when Russian guns domtnneed
the city OF Helsingfors, but tho soldiers
in charge received no order to fire. simply
because there was no disturbances OF the
peace-a notable democratic victory was
won.' There was reconstitutson OF Fin
lands legislative machinery. and every
one, man or woman, OF the age OF % re-
eived the right to vote.
Instead OF the four houses OF mobiles,
clergy, burghers and peasante, the FIN
nish Diet now consists of one house only
with 200 members. among whom are TO
be found representatives OF the former
four houses-and twenty-six women.
The reform Of the Constitution also in
cluded proportional representation for
the Diet on the basis Of the distrlbution
rule Of the Belgian D'Hondt,
1t IL designed TO protect minofitles, and
Finland has made advances upon the
Belgian's method TO suit her own needs.
So desirous Is she to give every citiSen
the opportunity Of expressing, his or her
views with regard TO gariiamentary
to enter the name Of any person or persons
on q space specially reserved for the pnr-
pose on the voting lists II none OF the
recommended candidates please.
Every Finnish citizen is entitled TO one
vote. and it may be given in any part OF
the country. The voter is also allowed
to vote for three candidates n che order ss
elected. For the first candidate OF the
choice whole vote is given, the second re-
ceives half a vote, the third one third OF a
vote. The voting lists usually give the
names Of candidates grouped in threes. as
eet forward by various associations and
parties: a candidates name may be found
In more than one group, varying perhaps
In position, first, second or third.
The electoral law states clearly that the
citizen is either man or woman-there is
no dispute possible as 70 the exact mean
ing OF an obscure word, such as person.
with which Great Britain 10 now troubled.
The only exceptions TO the broad rule in
clude soldiers, wards. those who from
other reasons than poverty have not
habitants OF workhouses-oasual relief
does not take away the right to the fran
chise- criminals, and those who have in
fringed the electoral law either by voting
in more than one place or using threats
or violence or buying or selling votes.
The elections are over and the results
known in two or three days. The Diet
dissolved by order OF the Grand Duke.
as was the case this year. before the exc
piration Of that period.
After election 10 the Diet comes an
election by the Diet OF members TO serve
on the important committees. through
which the great part OF the work Is car
ried on. Election TO the committees is
also proportional. insuring tho represen-
tation OF varying opinions.
n week as a rule, the committees are at
work every day. Not a few women. az
well as men, are appointed 70 places on
more than one committee, so that they are
kept hard at work during the session.
Every member however, resolves pay
mont at the rate Of i2s. cd. day while
the Diet is sitting; no difference is made
between men and women In this respect.
There are in the present Diet three cases
OF husband and wife sitting side by side.
and the women are not GLOW 10 explain
that they owe their seats In many cases
TO the votes OF the men.
There is no opposition on the part OF
men TO the presence OF women In the
Diet, and the President himself commends
their useful and quiet work. Perhaps
the fact that Finland adopted coeduca-
ton a generation ago accounts for the
which exists between men
and women In public work.