The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-27
Woman Suffrage Great
Success in NORWAY

lot Is to add to their usefulness in the
community"
The fact that Norway has taken its
woman suffrage sanely and without
excitement does not mean that the wo-
mar vote has made no difference. No;
there is a considerable body Of evil
dence to prove that the women have
been intensely interested in he gov
eminent and that their vote has en-
abled them to take a very practical
and helpful part in public affairs.
j. Castberg (Ex-Minister Of Justice)
has written: "As a general rule, I
think it may be said that the first
result of the women's parliamentary
franchise in Norway has been. to a
great extent, to awaken the public
spirit Of women. Undoubtedly the wo-
men voters have also helped to direct
the attention Of politicians more close
ly to the moral and social side Of
politics"
In 1905, when tax-paying women
only had the municipal franchise,
the question Of the dissolution Of the
union between Sweden and Norway
was submitted to the voters. The wo-
men, though legally disqualified from
expressing their opinion. took an in
formal ballot and submitted it to the
Storthing. 300s0 900 women thus voted
while only 400, 900 men cast their
formal ballots. This manifestation Of
public spirit produced a profound i'm
preston upon the men Of the coun-
try.
Women are eligible to parliament
and to all other elective Offices. In
each municipal election since women
have been eligible, a number have
been elected to city and county coun-
ellis. In 1907, 20 women were elected
members Of municipal councils, and
SO women, alternates. In 1910, this
number was more than doubled, A
women having been elected members,
and 178 alternates. No woman has as
yet been elected to Parliament. In
1909 one woman, Miss Anna Rogstad,
a teacher, was elected alternate. and
in the absence of her primary, took
his seat and discharged the duties Of
the eff1ce with dignity and. efficiency.
In the speech in which he welcomed
this, the first woman in the Norwegian
Parliament, the speaker of the house
said that he regarded the day as mi
Of the most important in the history
Of Norway, and that he belived that
posterity would look upon it as n
bringing honor and credit to the
country.
In Norway, grand and petit turies
are regularly elected, and hundreds Of
women have served on them, Women
are placed on all kinds Of commissions,
and one is national factory inspector.
There are women on board ships to
look after girls, and a number are on
the police force. They can practise
law in the highest courts and serve
as judges, magistrates, shertffs. dis
trict physicians n chief physicians
professors in the university, even on
the theological faculty, and several
now hold professorships.
Women high school teachers receive
the same pay as men for equal work
and this principle is gradually OBJ
tanning In government positions. Wo-
men can now act as trustees and
guardians.
One woman, Elise Sem, has been
appointed to the responsible position
Of counsel for the defense in the high
court Of justice, an. office never before
held by a woman in Norway. She is
known throughout Norway as OF
the cleverest lawyers Of the day.
Miss Henrietta Hoegh, said to be
young, pretty and proficient in In
ternational law was a short time ago
appointed first secretary to the Norway
legation in Mexico. She is the first
woman, it is said. to take up the
diplomatic service as a profession.
Norway has one m judge-Ruth
Sorenson of Hammerfast.
In 1912 a law was passed admitting
women to almost all public offices on
the same terms as men. Some excep-
tons were made in regard to members
Of the cabinet and ecclesiastical, mill
tary, diplomatic and consular officials
Women were not allowed to preach
in the pulpit until 1912 after Rev. An
ma Howard Shaw. president Of the Ma
tional American Woman Suffrage as
ISOLATION and also a Methodist Protest
ant minister, was refused permission
to preach at the state church in Chris
tiania.
The possession Of political power by
women has already noticably increased
the amount of consideration given by
I the government to the welfare OF wo-
men and children. A number of the
worst inequalities and injustices IT
the legal position Of women has beer
removed. Both political parties have
shown themselves particularly active
| in efforts to improve the conditions o.
industry for women.