Show JAPANESE WOMEN IN POLITICS although not voters without doubt they are making their influence felt the participation of the women ol of japan in a public election Is a most striking instance or of the progress of the woman movement throughout the world women tn in oriental countries have for centuries occupied a menial or subordinate position and while japan as the most progressive of eastern people cannot be compared in this respect with many of the other oriental nations the japanese woman has been accorded the social freedom and influence exercised among the more progressive western nations it must be understood of course that the women of japan have not yet been given the ballot frances frear writes in Le lesliea Lesl leB but in the recent election ot of a new house of representatives the wives of several of the candidates made a house to house canvass in behalf of their husbands tho the election w was a s of the greatest importance as the last house bouse was dissolved on last christmas day by the emperor because of its refusal to ratify the military program of the cabinet comment was made by the japanese press upon the entrance of the new woman into politics but the tact fact that women in japan contrary to all national traditions have begun to take an active part in political affairs Is a significant instance of the leavening process of the movement for womans comans emancipation the development of modern japan shows that when that country does begin to move she ohe moves with great rapidity even more tremendous will be the revolution in the great chinese republic when the progressive progress 1 gress gres lve sive principles of the west begin to work them themselves out |