Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-03
WOMEN OF SWEDEN
SEEK THE BALLOT
Hoping for Universal Suffrage,
but Expect to Have to Wait
at Least Five Years.
MUCH OPPOSITION FOUND

countries in which women do not en-
10y the same right to vote as the
men, must at best wait some five
wears before complete enfranchise-
ment OF its women, but that the goal
will ultimately be reached not only
here but in other backward countries
is the firm conviction OF the National
Swedish Woman's Suffrage associa-
ton, which has Just concluded its an
nual convention.
Reports made at the convention
showed a greatly increased interest in
the movement throughout Sweden.
There are now nearly 1900 women
enrolled in the association and some
200 branch organizations. Particularly
gratifying to the leaders was the re-
port OF great growth of interest
among the country's clergymen as
well as among men generally. Mems
associations for women suffrage were
formed during the year at Kristian-
stad and Malmo, and some of the best
known Swedish men are beginning to
interest themselves actively in the
movement.
Most OF this progress is the work
of only fourteen years, although eff
forts to improve the position of wom-
en- generally were begun at an early
period, Sweden standing in the front
rank of European countries in this
respect. 1t was not until 1902, how
ever. that definite organized move
ment to secure votes for women was
begun The impetus for this was given
by a man, Burgomaster c. A. Lind
hagen OF Stockholm. Burgomaster
Lindhagen, who was also member
OF the second chamber of the Riksdag,
presented woman suffrage bill in the
lower house. It was defeated by Ill
TO "a.
Presents Suffrage Bill.
The first notable victory was in
1906, when both chambers OF the Par
lament decided to petition the gov
eminent to investigate the subject Of
woman suffrage. This report was
submitted to the Riksdag in 1911. In
the meantime 1907 universal fran
chise had been granted the Swedish
men. and the first use they made OF
it was to elect liberal government,
in which K A. Staaf was premier.
Staaf presented woman suffrage bill
in 1912 as a government bill, and it
was supported by the constitutional
committee of the Riksdag. The upper
chamber defeated 1t, &c to So, but the
lower chamber gave l40 votes for to
90 against.
Al further unavaiiing effort was
made this year to induce Herr Ham
marskjold, present premier, to make
a government measure of the bill. A
change OF the nature proposed in
wolves an amendment TO the constitu-
ton, and hence must be adopted by
both houses OF two successive par
liaments. The Riksdag session carly
In 1917 will be the last session OF
the present parliament, and, although
conditions have apparently not altered
since the last unsuccessful attempt,
the women see themselves compelled
to make another effort TO secure the
passage OF a poltical-equality meas
urc. The bill will probably be pre-
sented as social-democratic party
measure. But even in the unlikely
event OF its passage, woman's suffrage
could not come into effect in Sweden
until the autumn Of 1921, so there is
still long fight ahead.
One Franchise For Women.
At least two Of the principal OBJ
stacles are the opposition of the men
and the anomalous as it may
sccm--that women already enjoy the
communal franchise. Their possession
Of the communal franchise obliges
women exercising it to be regularly
enrolled with their party.
The conservatives oppose woman
suffrage. That means that the con-
scrvative women are faced with the
choice Of breaking away from their
party or else OF opposing suffrage
Tor themselves, and thus far the party
call--and incidentally their allegiance
to the men of their families-has
proved the stronger.
The fact that OF all Scandinavian
countries, Sweden is the only one
where the women do not enjoy the
same right of franchise as the men, is
due to variety Of causes. The Fin
nish women secured the vote mainly
as result OF the important part they
took in their country's struggles for
liberty more than decade ago. Their
cnfranchisement came in 1906. The
Norwegian women took an active part
in the events leading up TO the scpara-
ton OF Norway and Sweden. When
they were denied participation in the
referendum held at that time they
conducted referendum of their own.
Another factor throwing light on
the situation in the Scandinavian
countries is that here alone in the
world is literature uniquely and close
ly associated with the woman's move
ment. But while Bjornson ad Ibsen
in Norway and Grundtvig and other
prominent literary characters in Den
mark championed the cause of
Z women. Strindbcrg, Swedcns fore
most literary light and the man who
has more powerfully influenced his
countrymen than has any other
writer, was an embttered misogynist.
hating woman and all her works,
Woman suffragists declare that
Strindberg's writings have been one of
the most powerful weapons in the
hands OF their opponents.
Miss Signe Bergman, president OF
the National Woman Suffrage asso-
citation, believes that the world war
will have great influence toward
equal suffrage rights.
Every since the woman suffrage
movement started" she said, ''one of
the chief arguments against it has
been the assertion that women were
incapable Of defending their country.
But in all the belligerert countries u,e