The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-23
ANTS RIDICULE
women and WAR
Say Sufragists Would Have a
Hard Time Voting Against
Fighting.
WORK OF INDIVIDUALIST'
Best Way to Eliminate War Is to Be-
gin Training Children in Home
and School. Is Argued.
IN Mrs. AUSTIN N. PURVEs,

Vice chairman Of the Organizing Committee. Penn
EylTania Association Opposed TO Woman SunraGe.
Since Secretary Bryan assured the suf-
fragists that il woman, who suffers
more than man from the results OF wal"
had been consulted before the hostilities
began" the peace movement would have
grown more rapidly than it has" the
ballot enthusiasts have been prOclaiming
far and wide that the present world war
is due TO woman's having had no power
TO vote against il.
OF course. il to die in battle, to lie
wounded in deserted trenches, to bear
the hardships OF the march, the siege.
and the charge, are sufferings, women
do not suffer 50 much in war as men,
and Mr.. Bryan is wrong. But mere facts
like these do not keep the suffragists
from trying to persuade the public that
women are the chief victims of wars
havoc, and that they would have pre-
vented war in all instances, if they had
been able to vote.
Who knows any men who voted for this
war? Did any one hear of war elections
being held by the Austrians, Serbs, Ger
mans. French, Russians. or English? The
present war. like most of the others that
caption the chapters of history, was
practically inevitable. Ballots OF neither
men nor women had an influence for or
against il.
But it is we'll to remember that one
lone anarchists hand lit the fuse that
exploded the powder in all the maya
zines and rifles in Europe. 1t might
also be held in memory that If this man
had been taught at one mothers knee TO
have a sacred regard for human life and
lawful authority, this great war might
have been indefinitely postponed.
Before women prattle about how they
might have voted against war. let them
examine the men of tomorrow who are
now under their complete charge and
control in the classroom and the home,
and begin 10 plant the olive branch of
peace in the deep soil Of childhood. Let
them remember that safety first" and
respect for law. custom and convention.
civilization's sole barriers against an
the hearts of men by women from the
first birthday to the golden wedding an
niversary.
Men do not vote for or against war,
nor do they engage in cruel campaigns
and bloody battles merely to get rife
practice. Wars are waged after treaties,
laws, diplomacy. and philosophy. as well
as commerce and Christianity have utter
ly failed in the preservation of peace. II
women would do their utmost TO culti-
vate higher ideals, fairer laws, better
diplomacy. purer philosophy, and strong
er Christian virtues among men, wars
would be unnecessary. National aEarice.
political greed. selfshness, and disregard
for the rights of others are the racial
traits that are the first causes and pre-
cursors OF war. Neither father nor
mother can vote against a boys grow
ing up with these traits, but they can be
prevented by parental. and especially
maternal care and example, and the in
culcation of Christian ideals and moral
principles that will soften or eradicate
such dangerous characteristics
Suffragists talk OF women's voting
against war. Nobodys ballot affects war.
AS Napoleon said, it is a question Of the
caliber Of cannon, and the strength of
armies must be tested by battles instead
of ballots When great interests are at
stake. and territories are invaded, the |
call to arms is sounded in the camp OF |
the defender as well as in that OF the |
Rggressor. and emperors as well as pri- |
Yates must bear the burden, share the |
sacrifice, and meet the menace of mill |
tary conflict Yet with all our arma- |
ments, bristling fortresses, huge navies |
and colossal war machines peace might !
have endured until the Federation Of |
the World" had not one "individualist" |
taken the liberty OF staying one Of |
these so-csIled useless rulers.
One Sins, but All Suffer.
Humanity is 50 constituted that IT will |
endure much rather than take up arms; |
but the present conflict proves that in
sane individuals as well as mad kings |
may plunge a world into war. Why neg
lect this patent fact and dreamily talk
of what women might have done II
they had been consulted.
Do you suppose those millions Of loyal.
obedient heroic men, the talent. the
glory, and the, courage of Europe, who
are moving each other down in thou
sands, elected to sacrifice their lives on
an altar hndled by the fanatic flames
of one mans snarchy? And yet not even u