Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-12-12
WOMEN HELP N
FINLAND POLITICS
Country, Where Suftragists Won
10 Years Ago, Quick to Right
Self After War.
MANY SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS
Women Of Finland Fortunate From
an Educational Point Of View
Work During Labor Troubles
Wins Them Vote.

Washington. -. CT seems only
natural that Finland, a land where
women have had the vote for IL years.
and won it by their participation IN
quelling labor troubles ike those which
now .assal the United States of Amer
lea, should he one of The first portions
Of the diSmemhered Russian empire TO
get up a stable constitutional govern.
ment," says bulletin from the Wash
ington headquarters of the National
Geographic society.
This new member of the family Of
free nations is described in a com
munication TO the society by Baroness
AIletta Korff as follows;
From an educational noin of view
the women in Finland have been very
fortunate AS there are many excellent ,
schools for girls and Il hummer of CO.
educational schools throughout the
country which prepare students for
the university examinations,
Girls Admitted in 1873.
Girls were admitted to the univer-
sity in 1878, and. until the war inter
vened. they not only attended lectures,
hut took part in all branches of uni
versity life; they participated in AL
the celebrations and festivities. and
we're members of the various clubs
and student organizations. in which
they were on footing of pcrt"r' .
equality with the men and frequently
were elected TO various official posi-
tons After they were graduated from
one Of the several high schools or from
the university there were many
branches of work open to them.
"They became teachers. even in III"
state school for boys; cashiers or
bookkeepers in banks, clerks in state
archives and in many branches of the
civic administration.
There are really not enough edn-
Gated men to meet the requirements OF
the country. and consequently the co
operation of the women is matter
Of vital importance. II not nfrequent-
~ happened. In normal times, that
even married women in comparatively
good circumsian1 as sought employ
ment outside their homes.
"Having thus such an excellent
foundation TO build upon. it is small
wonder that the woman's movement
soon found many active supporters.
In 1853 the diet had accorded the mu
nicipal vote to woman taxpayers living
In the country and in 1872 to women
living in the towns, all of whom were
also given the right TO he elected
members of certain local self-govern-
ing bodies. In 1900 the woman social
democrats inchded the suffrage in
their program. hut the special activity
for the suffra 90 began only in the year
1904. although in 1897 a petition had
been officially presented TO the diet al
the request Of the Finnish Woman'H
association.
1.-THE reason why so little was don"
In direct furherancc Of the cause Of
woman suffrage between the years
1897 and 1904 is that Just AT that time
Finland was passing through a severe
political crisis.
Women as Strike Managers.
after the outbreak of the October
revolution in Russia (l9o5) y sympo
fnef1r Sfrlke WAS UhtihGtH III I |DlHth'.
and several of the members Of the CEN
trail committee elected lay mass meet
Ing TO manage the details of the strike
were women.
"The first action taken by the com
mittee was to close all the liquor
shops saloons and barroomS and 70
organize volunteer police force 10
keep order. After the second day
the markets were rcopened ana the
strikers were not allowed to cut off
the water supply. In short, the strike
was managed in a most orderly and
systematic way and no outraGeS OF
any sort were committed.
During the course OF the strike nu-
merous depntations were sent with pc
titOns to the governor general, ana
in each deputation there were women
members. Thus. even in moments OF
grave political danger aud at timeS
when the utmost moderation and fore
sight were needed, the Films were not
afraid to trust their Momen