New-York tribune., 1919-11-15
Finn Women Led i'm
Recognition Fight
For Equality of Sex
Won Right TO Vote by Aid
in Quelling Labor Dis
puies; Outnumber Men i'm
Taking Part i'm Elections

"1t seems only natural that Finland.
land where women have had the vote
for thirteen years and won Il by their
participation In quelling labor troub IS
like those which now assail the United
States of America. should be one Of
Russian Empire to set up a stable con
stitutional government" says bulle-
tin from the Washington Headquarters
of the National Geographic Society.
This new member Of the fami'y Of
free nations is described in comm'
nication to the society by Baroness
Alletta Korfr az fol ows:
From an cducat oual point OF view
the women in FINLAND have been very
fortunate, as there are many excellent
schools for girls and II number -
co-educationAl schools throughout the
country which prepnrc students for
the university examinations.
Girls were admitted to the uniVer
sity in 1878, and, until the war inter-
vened, they not ony attended lecture
but took part in al branches Of unl.
versity life; they participated IN q
the celebrations and festivities. md
were members OF the various clubs and
we're on q footing Of perfect cqauitf
with the men and frequently wore
elected 10 various Official positions
After they were graduated from one
OF the several hgn schools or
from the university there were mnnt
branches Of work open 70 fHcm
They became teachers even us The
state schools for boys. en- shiers or
bookeepers In banks, clerks n fhe
h, a J.
the civic admin stratlon. Thctr ara
really not enough educated men 20
meet the requirements Of the country.
and nsequently the coooncrstIon 81
the women is matter Of vital imDor-
tance II not infreqnentlv n8prened.
in normal times. that even married
women in comparatively good clrcnm.
stances sought employment outs De
their homes
Having thus such ar excellent fosn-
dation TO build upon. 70 is small n-
der that the women movement soon
found many active supporters ln f-f3
the Diet had accorded tho municipal
vote to women taHpatcrs living iu fha
country. and IN 1872 20 Women lvuR
in the towns, all 0f whom were al %
given the right "a be elected members
of certain local sel( governing bodies.
In 1900 the women Social Democrats go.
cluded the suffrage in their proeaf4lH
but the special activity for She suffrage
began only m the year 1901 although
in 1897 Is petition had been officially
presented to the Diet at the ieouesf nf
the 'Finnish Woman A sociatIan
The reason why SO littic ~ae done in
direct furtherance of the cause Of WON
an suffrage between the years l7fI
and 1904 IS that just az thai TIME n
land was passing through severe ne.
liticai crisis.
After the outbreak ot the 0c'e be.
revolution in Russia ll9etl a synin
thetic strike was declared fn FInaHa
ard several Of the members of ths ceI
tral comm ttee elected hy mass nIeff
ing to manage the details OF tne sfrlt.
were women.
The first action taken hy tho cem
mttee was TO close aii lhe lala
shops, saloons and tarroome and to of
ganize volunteer police force to t-e.
order. After the second day The maI
kets were reopened and the striker
were NOT allowed 20 cN OF the wafo
supply. In short. the sti kc WAS i.er
aged IN IA most orderly and sSs tsmaflD
way and no outrages Of ans sort ner
committed
During the course Of tae strike
numerous populations wera sent %lth
petitions TO the Governor General aud