The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03


other in the city or country.
So far the suffrage movement has
made little Roadway in France. At
present 1t IL described as not a move
ment at all. but merely the sprouting of
seeds. Women generally are indlffer-
ent to II. There IL no considerable ac-
tivi,y In It's behalf among French
women. 1t is foreigners who are leading
the movement. creating a demand for
woman suffrage. Nine. Miropolsky her
seif Is a case in point. The list Of SUI
frage association officers shows German.
Russian. Polish. Norwegian, Swedish
and English names for the most part.
Many reasons have been advanced
TO explain this lack OF interest among
French women in the subject OF votes
Some 81 the principal reasons are stated
thus: The dowry system in marriage.
which makes for contentment and unity
OF interests, among both the aristocracy
snd the bourgeose: parental authority,
as n tradition: the prevalence OF relig-
ious beliefs up TO late youth and on
into middle age; the special and re-
muneratlve character Of women's labor
in France, there being little competitive
pressure in the specialized trades at
which the French woman excels: the
social freedom Of all women without
dowries and all working women, and
the absence OF any strong social preju-
dice against the manifestations Of that
liberty: the comparative feebleness OF
the voters power in France, particularly
as compared with the United States and
England the lack Of higher education
among women; militarism and the con-
slant fear OF war, which tends to put
little value on women: emotional and
aesthetic prejudice against the plain,
practical. energetic woman widely ad-
vertised as the type Of the suffragette
notably In England; the general sue
cess and happiness OF marriage; the
enormous number Of individually rich
women, married or single, who have no
need Of Industrial protection. and per-
haps above all, the French woman's
almost complete inability to organize
effectively for political purposes.
Such are a few Of the reasons given
for the failure Of the suffrage move
ment to catch on in France. OF course
there are countless other reasons which
one frequently hears.
Mime. Mropolsky's articles quote
contemporary authorities for the most
ID,,fc ia
Of the vote for women. chiefly on the
ground that such social evils as
alcoholism and misery from poverty
would decrease under such system
He would admit women to municipal
elections at once as an experiment and
school Of politics.
The Socialist NJ. Lembat IS against
woman suffrage for a reason very gen
orally given by statesmen. namely, the
danger OF the domination OF politics b,
the Church through the influence Of
priests over women. That argument is
much discussed. the return OF the old
church and state problem being feared
NJ. Cruppi Is equally against giving the
vote TO women.
NJ. Lintilhac, Vice-President OF the
Senate. says that that body is more
feminist than Is the Chamber Of Dep
uties, an opinion which Is held by most
other authorities, though there Is little
agreement on the cause. NJ. Lintilhac,
Maurice Faure. Godet, Mollard and
Lefert are favorable in theory to
49, t,,t oil "A nj
the Church's use OF women in politics.
N. Lintllhac is particularly apprehen-
sive about that holding equal suffrage
perillous in any Catholic country.
Alexandra Ribot says 1t is not ia
vorable time for consideration and APP
plication Of the theory. NJ. BRAND
evades the question OF Nine. Miropol-
sky by saying that the country Is wor-
ried enough at the moment by the Vot-
ing OF men and matters OF reform and
should let the question OF women's vot-
ing sleep for time.
Writers are generally more favorable
70 woman suffrage than politicians.
Maurice Barrcs, who Is both author and
Deputy. Is a hearty advocate Of woman
suffrage. NJ. Paul Boncour IL sympa-
thetic.
The Chamber Of Deputies Committee
on Universal Suffrage has voted in favor
Of bill giving woman the munich
pal vote at once. The Acadamy Of
Moral and Political Sciences has chosen
as the subject for discussion at one
OF It's coming meetings political Suf-
frage for Women"
Not soul has advocated militant
methods, so far az can he discovered.
Nine. Miropolsky Is strongly opposed to
them, and every other student OF the
question agrees that they would never
work in France and would kin the
movement Immediately.
French political essaylsts, always in
teresting when discussing English af-
fairs declare. however, that despite all
the statements to the contrary the mill
fancy OF the English suffragctte has
succeeded admirably. has not set back
the movement a bit. but has earned II