ils. As far back as 1906 M. Dussaussoy had proposed a bill to the
Chamber of Deputies giving to all women a vote for Municipal, District
and General Councils. In March, 1910, M. Buisson, chairman of the
Parliamentary Committee for Universal Suffrage, reported in favor of
this bill and added full suffrage. In June, at the request of the new
association, 163 Deputies signed a petition that the report should be
taken up at once. A remarkable sentiment in favor was disclosed.

Mme. V. Vincent, a pioneer in the woman movement, became president of
the association, which was called the French Union for Woman Suffrage.
By the time the International Alliance held its congress in Budapest
in June, 1913, Mme. Marguerite de Witt Schlumberger, a very capable
executive, had been elected president and the report of the secretary,
Mme. C. V. Brunschvicg, of the progress made along many lines filled
five printed pages. The Municipal suffrage bill had been taken up by
the Chamber of Deputies in December, 1912, and then, as usually
happened in all countries, some electoral reform in the interest of
men crowded it out. The Union now numbered 10,000 members and held a
national meeting each year. More requests came for speakers than could
be answered.

The War begun in 1914 put an end to all hope of parliamentary action
but after it ended the expectation throughout the world was that the
magnificent courage and efficiency of French women during the
four-and-a-half years would be rewarded with full enfranchisement. The
Union took up the question at once and met the fullest cooperation in
the Chamber of Deputies. The debate opened in May, 1919, and continued
through three sessions. It commenced with the bill for the Municipal
franchise but at the beginning of the third session this passed to an
amendment, conferring the same complete universal suffrage possessed
by men. The Chamber was undecided when M. Viviani and M. Briand,
former Prime Ministers, in strong speeches called for the amendment.
Their powerful influence turned the scale and on May 20 by 377 ayes,
97 noes, the Deputies voted for the amendment amidst the greatest
enthusiasm. It had to be ratified by the Senate, a non-progressive
body not elected by popular vote but by District and Municipal
Councillors in each Commune.

With much anxiety the women turned to the Senate and after interviews
with individual members succeeded in obtaining a hearing before the
Commission, or Committ