Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-01-29
WOMEN HELP IN
FINLAND POLITICS
Country, Where Suffragists Won
13 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.

Wins Them Vote.
Washington, d. CIT seems only
natural that Finland, land where
women have had the vote for 13 years,
and won it by their participation in
luelling labor troubles like those which
now assail the United States of Amer
= lea. should be one of the first portions
of the dismembered 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 or the family of
free nations is. described in COM
munication to the society by Baroness
Alletta Korff as follows:
"From an educational point of view
the women in Finland have been very
fortunate, as there are many excellent
schools for girls and number 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 all
the celebrations and festivities, and
we're members of the various clubs
and student organizations. in which
they were on footing Of perfect
equality with the men and frequently
were elected to various Official posi-
tions. 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 the
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 edu-
Gated men to meet the requirements of
the country, and consequently the CO.
operation of the women is matter
of vital Importance. 1t not infrequent-
ly happened, in normal times. that
even married women in comparatively
good circumstances, sought employ
ment outside their homes.
Having thus such an excellent
undation to build upon, 1t is small
.yonder that the woman's movement
soon found many active supporters.
In 1868 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 be elected
members of certain local self-govern-
ing bodies. In 1900 the woman social
democrats included the suffrage In
their program, but the special activity
for the suffrage began only in the year
1904, although in 1897 a petition had
been officially presented to the diet at
the request of the Finnish Woman's
association.
"The reason why so little was done
In direct furtherance of the cause OF
woman suffrage between the years
1897 and 1904 is that just at that time
Finland was passing through severe
political crisis.
E, Women as Strike Managers.
."After the outbreak of the October
revolution in Russia 1905) sympa-
thetic strike was declared in Finland,
and several of the members of the CEN
tral committee elected by 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 to
q organize volunteer police force to
keep order. After the second day
the markets were reOpened and 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 couI Sc of the strike nt-
merous deputations were sent with Pc
titions to the governor general, and
in each deputation there were women.
members. Thus, even in moments OF
grave political danger and at times
when the utmost moderation and fore
sight were needed, the Firms were not
afraid to trust their women.
1.-THE very great interest that the
women took in the elections may be
gathered from the fact that in Helsing-
fors, the capital, at the time Of the
second elections Tin 1909, there were
19,640 woman voters and 1876 men
voters registered. 1t is true that the
majority of the women voted for men,
as there were only 26 women elected
In a house of 200, but one woman re-
ceived larger number of votes than
was given to any of the men candi-
dates of her party"