RIGHT TO VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1922, Page 16

RIGHT TO VOTE

FRENCH WOMEN IN POLITICS

PROGBESS OF CAMPAIGN,

A renewed effort in French feminist circles is being made this year to- enforce the right of women to vote. "The repeated postponement of discussion on ! this subject by the Senate and the j active opposition in certain parts of the J French Press (writes a correspondent to "The Times") have braced the leaders of feminism to further endeavours. They are determined to have a voice in the government of their, country, and are no longer satisfied with "tho power behind the throne." Their aim is to improve the social conditions for working women and children, to fight disease and drink, and to bring about, a fairer standard of justice for both sexes. In their struggle for legal rights, the women of France have many supporters among distinguished politicians. M. Poincave and M. Vrviani agree that their countrywomen should enjoy the same legal privileges as women in other countries where the vote has been given. . . . M. Yves Guyot has always been on the side of the feminists, and it has beep said by leading women in the movement that "we shall get the vote through the men and in ispite of the women." Another politician who has been aasociated with the women's movement for many years is M. Jules Siegfried, Deputy for Havre, and husband of the late Mme. Jules Siegfried, whose name ia a beacon light in French feminism.

The successor to Mme. Siegfried as president of the ,Oonseil National dcs Femmes Francaises is Mme. Avril de Sainte-Croix, who for several years acted as general secretary to the society, and worked in close contact with Mmc, Siegfried. She is a brilliant speaker and a trained politician. Her knowledge of international politics is wide, and her energy is untiring. With her are associated a group of exceptionally gifted women: Mme. Witt Schlumberger, Mme. Maria, Verone, the barrister, Mmo. Gotinouilhou, and Mme. Pichon Landry, who has succeeded "to the post of general secretary. With admirable patience nnd tact these women are upholding the' cause of their contemporaries. They have much to fight against, since French women are not politically ambitious. As the peasant farmer clings to his old ways of tilling the earth, so do French women hold on to their old ways of getting what they want in the world. They have email wish to come ■ out into the arena of politics, aid they prerfer to practise philanthropy in private. They are not traditionally public-spirited, and they are intensely conservative in thought and action.

With great tolerance and sympathy, feminist leaders are slowly and steadily educating their fellow-countrywomen to .1 wider view of citizenship. Very wi^sly, they are following the old precept that "A litle child shall jead them." They are pleading for the children; their health, their education, and their social future.

Their task is difficnlt. They have to contend against centuries of tradition, which encourages family exclusiveness, and turns away its*face, from public careers for its daughters. Fortunately, the younger generation is leee restricted in vision. French univei'sity students aro specially interested in the feminist movement. The question of depopulation interests them, and, recognising that women are in the majority to-day, and marriage is thus impossible for all, they are" prepared to take a social training which will lit them for looking after other people's children. There are already several welfare work schools in Paris, and as the idea of useful citizensship groves others will be established.

As a stepping-stone to higher things, French women are ready to accept their part in municipal government where their help is needed. This is generally felt, and in an unofficial way is realised. Violence has no place in the feminist programme. It is constructive in design, tolerant in spirit, and strong in its very gentleness.' Youthful enthusiasts may find it lacking in fire, but s,i they burn their fingers with their own flames they come to the knowledge which" teaches patience; and with children as the starting point for action they cannot go far wrong, as, no matter how an idea or a theory may be forced into maturity, a child refuses to be ( hurried, and the young.social worker is' taught a wholesome lesson by Nature,