The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-09-08
TO THE WOMEN IN THE
HOMES.

a personal message to those among
two months-to those who have come
into the Woman's Card and Label League
to help build strong an organization
which is in expression an embodiment
of the evolving altruism which society
is generating today-and also to the
many women, who because of natural
and other cares, are for the time being
unable to affiliate with us in the League,
yet from the home will keep in touch
with the activity of the membership,
doing what they can to aid us in our
endeavors.
| want the women | have met (un-
organized as well as organized) to know
that my work here has been wonder
fully happy experience. Visiting you in
your homes as l have, probably l can
get a perspective on the existing condi-
lions and potential possibilities as no
one else can at this time, but / hasten
to add right here that THE CAMPAIGN
HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN, for when |
came the active membership was very
small indeed, and now we have a splen-
did organization of earnest women, each
one of whom is going to constitute her
self SELF-APPOINTED ORGANIZER
and there will be no end to the cam
psign which is begun.
In looking over the situation | feel
that the prospects are wonderfully en-
couraging-the men and women in the
ranks of labor in Everett are think
ing; they know that there is something
wrong in society and they are finding
out what it is. That so many are cast
ing off the old, worn out, antediuvian
modes of thought, and seeing things
with new sight is cause for rejoicing,
but best of all it seems to me is the
fact that those whose vision has broad
ened, seem not to forget the process by
which they arrived, they are not drunk
with wisdom las is the case in many
places and running forth madly to de-
stroy but building sanely, realizing that
out of the old the new state is evolv-
ing and they are industrious, earnest,
faithful, prOpagators of the process.
While the labor movement is torn
asunder in many towns because of the
transition process-the disco ordination
oh in a
feeling of fellowship is so strongly i'm
planted among the workers it seems that
men ARE PATIENT with those who are
only beginning to accept the new, will
ing to build and not to break, to con-
struct rather than to destroy.
And now the women-every avenue
is open to them, every opportunity to
grow and develop into larger social re
lation and activity. If they do not
enter into the new kingdom the trouble
is all with the perverted creature her
self; it is because as Charlotte Gilman
puts it, eve have still the heavy legacy
of the years behind us, the weak and
innumerable little women with the as
pirations of affectionate guinea pigs
However while there may be some who
are not waking up to new conscious,
ness, the splendid growth of our League
will testify to the fact that Everett's
women do aspire to fuller life of activ-
ity and usefulness, that they are no
longer unconscious of the world pro-
cesses and are determined to become an
active factor in bringing about better
state. We have in our ranks women of
many creeds and different temperament,
all in process of development. That
there will be some misunderstanding,
some heart aches, arguments and dis
agreements, goes without saying, but !
feel sure the Everett Spirit will pre-
vail, that these women, in spite of little
differences, have caught the inspiration
OF A NEW PURPOSE purpose which
because of its large social import serves
to minimize the individual difference of
opinion and temperament and weld
into one great compact whole the
strength of the many for social service,
The women in Everett are on the march
"and once we start we never lie by
again."
In my association here with you /
have acquired new ideas, new inspra-
ton and enthusiasm to take into other
fields. If we can carry the Everett
spirit" into other localities. | am CON
fident that Washington women will
Justify to the more backward states,
woman's right to political emancipa-
ton, which is but one phase of larger
emancipation which is working out in
social relation everywhere.
Keep up your splendid work, increase
the membership of the League and never
be in too much of hurry to welcome
those new members who are just joining
: the ranks.
And one last word: Remember, Their,
are sins of omission as well as sins o
commission. Women, as a class, ar,
the sinners who are criticized for NOT
DOING. Let US forge ahead even if W,
make mistakes. Let us grow through
them to larger efficiency. Let GU
motto be "The world travels on and W.