le as Guardians of the Poor. In
1900 they were made eligible to all municipal offices. An influential
Finnish Woman's Association with twenty branches is agitating for
suffrage on the same terms as men.

In Holland there is no form of woman suffrage and the constitution of
1887 expressly prohibits it.

Women in Denmark have no franchise, but Premier Duentzer has announced
that the first reform movement of the new Cabinet (1901) will be the
extension of Municipal Suffrage to women.

In 1893, through the efforts of the Socialists, universal suffrage was
granted to men in Belgium. While this gives to every man a vote, it
permits to the married man, if he pays a small tax, two votes as the
head of a family; if he pays tax on what would be about $2,000, or has
a university degree, he is allowed three votes. The vast majority of
those owning property or possessing university degrees belong to the
established (Catholic) Church, and the Socialists soon found
themselves out-voted by a minority. They then instituted a new
movement demanding "one man, one vote," and the Government, which is
Catholic, said: "If you compel this we will enfranchise women,"
believing that this would strengthen its power. At this writing the
contest is going on and becoming more violent.

Switzerland, whose pride is its absolutely republican form of
government, allows no woman a vote on any question or for the election
of any officer. They are admitted to the universities.

In France, in 1898, unmarried women engaged in commerce (including
market women, etc.) were given a vote for Judges of the Tribunals of
Commerce. A Woman Suffrage Society has just been formed in Paris which
is attracting considerable attention. Women are admitted to the
highest institutions of learning.

The laws in all the countries thus far mentioned are most unjust to
women and especially to wives.

Women in Sweden have voted in church matters since 1736. It was
provided in 1862 that women who are rate-payers may vote directly or
by proxy, as they choose, for all officers except for members of the
Parliament. Indirectly they have a voice in the election of the First
Chamber or House of Lords, as they vote for the County Council which
elects this body. They have School and Municipal Suffrage and that for
Provincial representatives. The laws are very liberal to women. All
of the educational institutions, the professions, occupations and many
of the offices are open to them