Evening star., 1922-08-22
4 ISIS ALICE PAUL, head Of the
~ Woman's Party. was remark
ing, Just the other day. on the
- ..aid anraad of &eniaisn, nuar

n 4 ISIS ALICE PAUL, head Of the
MI Woman's Party, was remark
ing, Just the other day, on the
rapid spread of feminism over
every European country since the war.
She has just received word from a num-
ber of the society now residing at the
American legation in Sofia, Bulgaria,
who say that the, emancipation of
women has obtained a permanent foot
hold in the Balkan countries. In dis
cussing this news, Miss. Paul said:
"Rumania has perhaps attained
greater prominence than any of the
other Balkan states through the pro-
gressive tendencies upheld by Queen
Marie 1t is she who has undoubtedly
been responsible for the fiourishing
feminist organizations Of that country.
"Jugoslavia also has to its credit
many raminlst organizations. But most
Of our information has come direct from
have always enjoyed an especially high
status. and although they have not yet
been granted equality of citizenship in
actual fact, they are many years ahead
of their Balkan sisters The women of
this country have for twenty-five years
been organized for political emancipa- :
ton and general reform. ! believe as
far back as 1901 twenty societies united
to form one organization, the members
Of which have worked untiringly for
equal rights.
Bulgaria is indeed a feminist coun-
try, since 1t demands the cooperation
Of both men and women to serve the
country in cases of emergency. and
women are compelled by law to enroll
In the classes for national service, A
woman may not evade this law. even
If she wishes to do so by influence of
her wealth or social position.
Serbia is another of the Balkan
countries where women of this country
may find object lessons of industry and
achievement. During the war practi-
cally every male in the country was
forced TO turn soldier. and at this tipe
women had been denied opportunity for
asserting their individuality. But as
soon as necessity demanded, women
responded. I believe statistics on busi-
ness conditions made mention Of the
fact that the peasant women actually
raised better crops than their husbands.
while the wives of shopkeepers and
tradesmen improved and extended their
husbands business. and the women in
the towns developed an amazing amount
of initiative and resource. showing d
special fitness for organization.
This was the beginning of their (,e-
mand to be accorded full equality. The
far-reachihg results of their organza-
tions were seen in their every endeavor
Shortly after the war several hundred
Of these women organized and called
themselves the Association for Women's
Rights, and for the past three years
they have published monthly an interna.
tional magazine called The Women's
Movement. Their campaign has con-
sisted of a concentrated effort to inform
the whole of Jugoslavia Of their doc
trine. and practically every day a new
feminist flag appears over some cottage
in one Of the remote villages. With
their insistence for the vote, however
the practical has not been neglected
for in addition to their struggle for
equality they have instituted general
welfare stations where the rudiments
of hygiene, industry and economics are
taught.
1T is most encouraging" concluded
Miss Paul. TO learn that women in all
countries are at last awake enough to
demand something for themselves"