The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-14
JAPAN SOON TO HEAR
"YOTES FOR WOMEN"
Interest in Recent Campaigns
Presages Early Dawn Of
Suffrage Movement.
MRS. OZAKI INTERESTED

The dawn OF a movement for woman
suffrage In Japan In seen by many stu
dents Of Eastern life In the ever fncreas-
Ing interest OF Japanese women In mo
politics OF the island empire.
The rapidly increasing numbe OF
girls graduating from about $50 hish
schools in Japan. with a viewpoint en-
tirely different from that OF the Japan
I csc woman of a score of a ago, Ia
believed to indicate that the sphere OF
oman's activity Is enlarging so steadily
tina the equal rights movement must
soon attract a substantial following. The
women Of Japan are beginning to con-
slider that their place Is not always ! n
the home.
The interest and progress among
women in the field of politics was DEM
| onstrated by the active campaigning
carried on previous to the election held
, last December. when twenty-five women,
the wives and daughters OF candidates
for representative In the Government,
rendered active assistance to their hus-
| bands and fathers Some mad house
TO house ~canvasses for votes. In tho
/ municipal elections also many women
! garnered votes for the men with all tho
zest OF women OF America or England.
Mrs. Osaki Gives Views.
In speaking OF this new tendency Mrs.
! Ozaki. one OF the foremost OF the new
women and wife OF the Minister of JUS
tice in the present Japanese Cabinet. Is
quoted as follows In an article in the
monthly magazine ShiHnihon tNeU ia
PAM for July:
III a woman has political ability there
Is no reason why she should not help
her husband in his election campaign,
especially II II Is IN accordance with his
wish and II she has knowledge OF the
subject and can be OF real service to
him.
But her political work should never
clash with the interests OF the home
| and the welfare of her children. She
must have time enough to superintend
| and take care OF the house and her
husbands comfort. A woman should
not become absorbed In politics TO the
detriment of her home.
III a woman's opinion in politics diff
fers from that of her husband and
son she cannot be of wholehearted help
to them. for she would be acting against
her own moral conviction and in that
case she would he false. and In the end
loss of her conscience and her own self
respect must result from such dishon-
esty. Her help must be full and true
to be OF moral worth. for a man can
not be helped by a shadow or a slave.
II the wife feels hat a moral principle
Is involved and she believes that her
husband and son are acting against
the laws of righteousness and Justice
and truth then she should do her utmost
to use her influence privately to show
them the error of their ways.
But political dissensions In the fam
IL
and son return home to rest after a
strenuous days work n not to quar-
rel with their womenkind about political
differences. Though the discussions and
airing Of various opinions may benefit
both. this can be enjoyed only with
women of education and intelligence.
II have not a decided opinion about
house TO house canvassing. but my feel
ing Is that II must tend to lessen
woman's charm n refinement. Re
spect OF woman Is not yet a social virtue
In Japan. and In undertaking house 70
house visiting she must often meet with
rudeness and rebuffs, and this must
tend TO coarsen her in time. In ENGLAND
respect for woman has been inoculated
In all classes for many centuries. so
that even the toughest laborer will move
aside out OF respect and difference when
he sees "A woman coming. and a great
deal of enthusiasm Is aroused by house
TO house visiting by ladies in election
time. The Japanese OF all classes must
be educated to hold respect for women
as one OF the chief social virtues before
house to house ~canvassing can be recon-
mended in this country.
Essentials for Political Work.
Three essentials are necessary to a
woman who would take part In political
work. /. She must understand the sub
ject thoroughly 2. She must be actu-
ated, as her husband ought to be. by
the social motive mot the competitive
motive which places self-lnterest first
before the good OF the people) 3. She
should have a wide outlook and a broad
mind. capable OF understanding world
politics, for japanese politics has now
important international relations and
must De considered from that point of
view. Ignorance. insular prejudice and
want OF balance and cool judgment must
be a great source of danger In politics.
Althoush there are half a dozen maya
zines In Japan devoted to the interests
OF women and the home. the subject of
suffrage for woman Is rarely. IL ever,
mentioned in their columns.
Ole OF the most interesting OF the
women's magazines published in Japan