Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-21
RUSSIAN WOMEN
NEARLY CERTAIN
TO SECURE VOTE
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- =
IBy Assoeiatsa Prsssi
PETROGRAD, Russia. = Woman's
suffrage has come quietly and unos-
tentatiously to Russia. The Provi-
siona Government mas not ret off,
cially announced its fun views on the
subject. but individual ministers have
stated that II is decided that women
viii vote at both the municipal and
rural councils elections. and also In
the elections for the general consti-
tutionaI assembly.
Universal sufffage Ct women viii
be q curious anc interesting expert
ment In Russia From the mass or
peasant women fully fntelligent vot-
ing can scarcely be expected at pres
ent, but no doubt for them the vote
will be highly stimulating and edu-
catiye opportunity. The men voters
do not expect thar women Of this class
win vote independent and say there.
fore that their participation win only
slightly affect the result
Woman's Status Changes
The attitude Of the average peasant
to his women folk is still, on the
whole, contemptr ous, but sometimes
capable woman rules ID whole vii
lage, and it Is well-known fact that
In certain religious sects the women
are the leaders.
In Petrograd there have been sew.
eral woman's suffrage demonstrations
since the revolution, with speeches In
the city hall and professions with red
flags. They have not been militant.
but rather educational demonstra.
lions, reminders to the women them
selves to be up and doing. and q rc-
proach to those men who, while not
seriously objecing to woman's suf-
frags, wish It were not coming 80
soon.
Educational facilities to women in
both the secondary and university
schools were granted in Russia before
most other European countries. For
years past, too, women have had
rather greater liberty Of thought and
action than men, and while there has
been no very strong or organized sui;
frage movement, women have been
directly engaged In public work BY the
side Of the men, and 1t seemed to mo-
body any great step from the position
they thus enjoyed to the actual vote.
When the revolution came. every
one joined In, women as well as men.
Women who had been nursing or writ.
ing or working IN relief societies or
cooperative stores or munition facto;
ries, or simply housekeeping, came
forward and took their places natur5
ally IN the manysided movements
Women were prominent IN the bread
|processions which were reluctantly
fired on BY the soldiers Women
workers and girl students marched
with the soldiers and workmen. and
took revolutionary, red-nagged rides
IN the Communicated automobiles.
Win Friends n Duma
Women leaders came to the Duma
with Information and advice, estabs
lished connections, and helped 70
gather up the loose ends Of the chaotic
movement. Women and girls crowd.
ed into the Duma with the throng Of
soldiers and workmen radiated out
into the myriad committees, distrib-
uted food operated tYpeWriters. and
found for themselves suitable places
~ the general q san xallon. ou..s
women we're Iouna LIeqe saaa -
speakers at the 1mpromp1u mass
meetings where orators o. tne PEG.
pie harangned TIE croEas g se ~.
corners. A woman oLsanl1 aL,O.I
plastered the town with Dills nIsine
equal recognition Of the sexes.
A woman Yriter was placed e me
head o. tne oIsallilzs - s, -. s.' :. Z
soup Kitchens opened lot the solalsss
during the revolution week Inc e..s
council elected 70 is ernlans sa cyl,ai
mittee several women. lnciualng ~
dame Miliukofs and Countess ranlls
There were meetings specially organ
lied By women house servants % uIes
an Improvement Y then Work,ns
conditions but, IS nobody kneW w.
IN demand. nothing IuftneE udppcAcu.
- e 6 - - - 49,; !; x,s,f,,ic 111pofiuoe