FRENCH SUFFRAGIST.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13706, 22 September 1908, Page 7

FRENCH SUFFRAGIST.

Mils. Jeanne Laloe, the unsuccessful candidate for the Paris Municipal Council, has contributed an interesting article 10 the "Xouvelle Revue" on her expeiiences as a suffragist. "Most women remain all their lives little girls. They pass without- transition from one state of servitude to "another; from the family hearth to the matrimonial hearth. "These women, these children, these social minors, scarcely ever feel the hardship of their condition. If it- concerned them only, feminism would-be of doubtful utility. What is the use of crea ling in their minds new wants which cannot,, perhaps,'be satisfied? But the other women? Yes. those for whom death, the reverses of fortune and other miseries have made personal action imperative. Why should not all these—and they are ,1 numerous class—having e<|ual need*, have equal rights with their companions in the snuggle, for lite i s a stiuggle? - . "1 applied for a post previously occupied by u male worker. -- They - offered me halt the salary which had been given beloie • You are a woman, you iiuderi>tand.' But, no, I did not understand! —or. rath«T, 1 understood only too well If stub an abuse of jxnver jv possible, it- is because our weakness had allowed man to acquiie ihe strength to exercise it. A react ion was necessary. 1 was not going to-'delay passing fiom th.oiki to acts. "How have 1 become a suffragist ? It is veiy simple. One day 1 was making lesearches lor a serious article. By chance I came across the text of the Law of Aptil S, ISB4- a law relating to muni cipa! elections. In it 1 read t'ha following words: " Klectors are all French people <tous des Francais) who have icached the age of 21, and not being in the li»t of exceptions laid down.' I fuund that these exception*.--persons who were incapable of voting--did not include wo in. u. Nothing ,tlu-i\loie prevented me being an e Vet or <m even a candidate. " 1 consulted an advocate, Maitre Maria Vei'.-n-. Afi. r study, inquiry, and reflection, uiy counsel agre-d with me that ; liie law in question conferred on me all ihe rights. ' - ' "Meantime the municipal elections ap proai.-hed, and I resolved to become a ] candidal?. But 1 had still too many obstacles to ovetconic. The officials pretended that the words, " >ont electeurs tons les Fraicais"' could not be interpreted iu my favour, seeiug that I was a Francajsf, Is u t ihp masculine is the common gender of j*rsonal names, aud 1 asked my contradictors if, when one speaks of inhabitants (habitants) of Paris women aie included in that number. They dated not pretend that women were not included. 'lhe wot thy functional ies discussed the i matter in M-cret. and admitted that my j claim was justified. ! "My op|M>n<ut- was M. l-Ncudi-r, a r«- ! tiring councillor. 1 had not the strength { to struggle against this adversary, aivus. i turned u» he Mas to the usages of public life. I totally neglected to have hi* ' bills covered up and to vend my friends J wiih cavalry tiump.-ts to Ins meeting*, i I have viiil |.h> much prejudice against i tin-*.- tactic*. Yet nearly a thousand I elector*, more than 9.0. v>.!ed for m;-. ) I di-1 ii.,t exj>«i-t *uch a result. If in I a Week, ill spile of all ob'tadr*. it u.if ' J>o»*)lt!e to *e.uie so a propor tiou of v<it»-». what might one not obtain by ,i vii..n K ' .itul -ytematii cjiois * Mv i ta>L li is. ti<>| been in vain," ■