anization extending over the country
raising funds, smuggling literature and daily risking their lives. For
five days not a wheel turned and no work was done except under the
most urgent necessity. There was perfect order and at intervals
deputations of men and women went to the Russian Governor General in
Helsingfors asking for the restoration of Finnish autonomy. At last
the Government at St. Petersburg yielded, as all its forces were
required in Russia. Meetings of women were then held in all parts of
the country to elect delegates to another mass meeting in Helsingfors
on December 7, where amid great enthusiasm a resolution was carried
demanding full suffrage and eligibility for every citizen twenty-four
years old.

On May 28, 1906, this reform was passed by the Diet without objection.
It was taken to the Czar by the eminent Senator Mechelin, who assured
him that the nation demanded it, and he gave his assent. The Diet
consisted of four chambers--nobles, clergy, burghers (taxpayers in
towns and cities) and peasants who were landowners. It was now
reorganized in a single chamber of 200 members. The first election
took place March 15, 16, 1907, and 19 women were chosen, among them
the Baroness Gripenberg by the Old Finnish Party. Miss Furuhjelm
belongs to the comparatively small National Swedish Party, which
elects few candidates. She was elected in 1913 and has been
continuously re-elected. Following are the numbers of women members of
Parliament: 1907--19; 1908--25; 1909--21; 1910--17; 1911--14;
1913--21; 1916--24; 1917--18; 1919--17. From the beginning the women
members have introduced bills for much needed reforms, for the care of
children, protection of wives and mothers, benefit of working women
and many for social welfare. While the Czar was in power these were
all vetoed. Since then, with their small number and the great
questions that have pressed upon the Parliament, they have found it
difficult to secure domestic legislation but they have united with the
men in passing many bills of a political nature.

In 1917 a law gave to every man and woman 21 years old Municipal
suffrage, without paying taxes, and eligibility to office and a number
of women have been elected to city and rural councils. The Czar had
hitherto vetoed this bill. In 1919, after a period of the greatest
strife and sorrow, caused by the World War, Finland severed all
connection with Russia and became an independent republic. In a new
const