New-York tribune., 1922-12-24
.Idealisn Cost
French Women
Right to Vote
Fear Expressed That Ballot
Would. Tend to Reduce
Recipients From High.
est Plane Defeats Bill
Injustice, Say Women
Measure Rejected by Slight
Margin in Senate After
Approval Of Deputies
By Stephane Lauzanne
Editor IN chief Of "Le Mati,l"

LNttVf ~ iHtfi 0I Lc mum
PARIS.
The most animated debate the
French Senate has witnessed for years
took place over woman suffrage. The
Chamber Of Deputies, by an over
wholming majority, had granted to
women the night 20 elect and 70 be
elected. But the Senate. By tho mar.
row majority OF 20, refused this right
20 them.
The argument which had prevailed
in the Chamber was that the French
women, after having conducted them
selves 80 splendidly during tho World
War, we're worthy Of having the same
civic rights ss the men. But the argu-
ment which prevailed IN the Senate is:
that 70 grant The right OF vote 20
women is not granting them a great
reward; Il is, on the contrary, lowering
them, because II implicates them In
the risks and the struggles Of politics;
II is. in fact, taking them down from
the pedestal on which the respect Of
eli has paced them.
Labpusse Plea Chsersd
Thh latter thesis was pleaded ar
IDENTIFY with extraordinary eloquenee
BIZ young Senator Of France, NJ. La
brousse, who was enthusiastically
eheered by tho great assembly.
Il ask" said Senator LabrOusse, "if
Il be not rendering the greatest Of
services 10 women and confirming the
respect due 10 the mothers 20 refuse
60 them the meannesses, the dlsilluslons
and the notifications Of party strug-
giles. Duty, Justice and the home
country, ell that We place above poll
tics, we have represented under the
likeness OF woman, because we place
woman above all our strifes.'
Some one observed that all the Anglo.
Saxon countries and all tho Seandi-
navlan countries had granted suffrage
20 women: only the Latin countries
were denying II 70 women. Why would
they not follow?
But Senator Labrousse retoTted:
"The reason Of the lesser impulsion
IN tho Latin countries is explained by
the fact that the absolutism Of marital
rights has long since disappeared in
France. the land OF courteous loyeI In
Italy. the country OF gallant love; IN
Spain. the country Of ehiyalryi where
as. this absolutism persists in the eoun-
tries Of the North. The Latin woman
more highly honored, enjoying greater
privileges, hos not the same reasons
for claims as the woman OF Scandi-
uavia. Feminism is The product Of the
excess of the men Of the North
And the Senate cheered again.
Some one also pointed out that Il
suffrage were given 10 women IL would
help a great deal for the fight sgainst
alcoholism.
United States Used as Example
But Senator LabrOusse denied Il
vehemently:
Look" said he, what happened in
the United States Wyoming Is the
first American state which has given
suffrage 20 women, and, notwithstand-
ing this, prohibition was not voted
there until 1918; that is to say, fifty
years after suffrage had been granted
70 women. In Colorado, where the
electoral corps il composed OF an equal
number OF women and men, alcohol
has obtained tvo-thirds Of the votes.
In California, where women have voted
since 1911, prohibition was rejected
.hree times"
This time the Senate did not cheer.
but looked dumfounded.
Finally, by = narrow majority, the
High French Assembly rejected the
bill.
A woman with snow-white hair and
maenifeently expressive eyes, who had
followed the debate with keen interest,
looked sad when she heard Of the YER
diet rendered by the Senate. The
woman was Nine. Avril de Sainte-
Crois, president Of the National Coun-
ell Of French Women.
She said:
"The respect which has been shown
u7 during the debate is highly aPPre-
oiated by us. But Il is not a question
Of respect; It is a question Of justice.