Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/371

We may therefore make bold to say that the victory won by women is not a “revolutionary” victory in the evil sense of that word, in the sense, that it is something of which future development may deprive them.

Our whole revolution was perhaps the most unique of its kind. It cost not one drop of blood and was not accompanied by destruction of any property whatsoever. And yet through it there arose to freedom a nation which had been oppressed for centuries and it would only have been human nature, if in the intoxication of freedom they had made use of bloody weapons in order to avenge themselves on those at whose hands they had suffered persecution.

This liberated people have bestowed by their new Constitution, absolute equality of civic rights even upon their former oppressors.

This fact alone will possibly suffice to prove how deep-rooted is their sense of justice, how strong is this bulwark of Right in this little state, wedged in the heart of Europe, whilst in Hungary revolution followed revolution, whilst in Germany Bolshevism alternated with reaction and again with socialism of a mild form, whilst in Austria battles were fought in the streets of Vienna, the Czechoslovak Republic has constantly stood firm on the foundation of true democracy and justice, in matters social and racial.

How does the equality of rights of women work in actual practice?

It was established even before the war ended. There had arisen throughout the whole country “National Committees” which prepared the revolution and which subsequently took over the executive power of the State. These Committees were composed of delegates from every political party and among the members of the “National Committees” there were very many women—some even holding high offices.

There arose also economic-political institutions. The Goverment of the Habsburgs, as is well known, looked upon the Czechoslovak lands as their granary and regardless of how the war itself had exhausted supplies, regardless of the famine prevailing in all Czech regions, carried off all they possibly could. The “economic councils” composed of delegates from the political parties also became institutions for assistance and defense.

The idea of establishing these “economic councils’ originated in the brain of a woman, they relied on the co-operation of women who were members possessing full rights, in all committees and central offices. (The “Economic councils still exist as semi-official organs of public control over food supply and it is provided that one-fifth of their members must be women. The present chairman of the central organization is a woman).

Similarly, we meet women at the close of the war in all corporate bodies and occupying responsible positions to a degree unknown before. It is indeed true that Czechoslovak women even in the eyes of the Austrian Government were ripe for political responsibilities. Otherwise they would not have been condemned to death, interned and persecuted just as the men. The Czech men found in them steadfast supports and self-sacrificing co-operators. Immediately on the Revolution taking place—October 28, 1918 the co-operation of women in the creation of political institutions took an official form.

The Central “National Committee” declared itself appointed by the will of the people as a law-giving National Assembly and women obtained here too their places. Of 269 members of Parliament only 8, it is true, were women, but they played a very honorable part, during a period of great responsibility, in laying foundations for the State.

It is interesting to record that it was the socialist women members in particular who were the most active in the Revolutionary National Assembly.

The National (Czechoslovak) Socialists were represented by two women, the Social Democratic Party by two, the Agrarians by two and the National Democrats by one. The daughter of the first President—Dr. Alice Masaryk—in consideration of her social labors and sufferings (she had been imprisoned by the Austrian government) was sent to the National Assembly by the unanimous vote of all parties. She subsequently retired from Parliament to devote herself to her work as President of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, a task which she is accomplishing in a manner which brings credit to the name of woman. In her stead another woman—a Social Democrat—came into the National Assembly.