ouse but all progressive legislation was blocked by the First
Chamber. During the campaign the women worked vigorously for the
election of Liberal and Social Democratic candidates, who had woman
suffrage on their program, 29 women speaking on their party platforms
at 217 meetings. They formed a large majority of the new Government
and a Liberal Cabinet was formed. The First Chamber was dissolved and
in the new one, instead of a negligible few, there were 64 Liberals
and Social Democrats to 86 Conservatives. In his speech on opening the
new Parliament in 1912 the King announced that he would present a bill
giving to women suffrage and eligibility on the same conditions as
possessed by men. On April 2 the Government brought in this bill
which was carried in the Lower House by 140 to 66; defeated in the
Upper by 86 to 58. This year 64 women councillors were elected. The
women strengthened their organization, added to their monster
petitions, held their mass meetings and then in 1914 came the War!

In the flood-tide of democracy which resulted the existence of the
kingdom itself was threatened. The First Chamber of nobles and landed
proprietors was forced to abandon its conservatism. The Reform Bill
proposed in December, 1918, at an extra session, abolished plural
voting, gave universal Municipal suffrage, made women eligible to
County Councils and provided for the Parliamentary franchise for them.
At the session of 1919 the bill was laid before the Parliament and on
May 24 it was passed by both Chambers without opposition. On the 29th
great celebrations were held in Stockholm and other cities and at the
old university town of Upsala the speakers were the Archbishop, Dr.
Selma Lagerloef and Prime Minister Brantung.

It was not all ended, however, for the measure had to pass a second
Parliament, although this was a mere matter of form. The elections
took place in the autumn of 1920. On Jan. 26, 1921, without debate,
the law was sanctioned by the new Parliament and two days later it was
promulgated by the King. It gives complete, universal suffrage to
women. In September the election occurred in which women took part and
five were elected to the Parliament, one of them to the First Chamber,
which so many years stood between women and their political rights.

THE NETHERLANDS.

The story of woman suffrage in the Netherlands is one of intense,
unceasing work for a quarter of a century. The old constitution did
not specific