New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-02
MRS. GAIT ATTACKS
ARMAMENT TALK
Warns SuffragistS to Protest
and Prevent War
Peril Here.

"If there had been no forts and
dreadnoughts in Europe there would
have been no war. When we get forts
and dreadnoughts Wen get war"
With these words Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait yesterday summed up the
women's protest against an increase in
armament of the United States before
a large gathering at the New Years re-
ception of the Equal Suffrage League
at the Hotel Astor. Mrs. Gait said:
"A number of men who, we must
admit, are distinguished for intelli-
gence and knowledge Of affairs, are
proposing a thing which would turn
backward the pendulum of human
progress and bring a restoration of
barbarism. They are proposing to
teach boys in the public schools how TO
shoot, and TO introduce military COM
pulsion into our democracy.
"All intelligent women must set
themselves against this proposal. The
present war already has meant $1,000
600 worth Of contracts for military
supplies. The men who made those
contracts are glad there is war; they
are glad to make money. When men 20
to Washington next week TO urge in
creased armament upon Congress the
interests which profit from war Will be
behind them. They will have an intiu
ence upon Congress that women can
not have because they have no vote
and no way to force their representa-
tives 10 do their bidding. If there IS
woman in the civilized world who does
not raise her voice in protest against
the horrors Of war. IL is because that
woman has never learned to think.
"When this war is ended we women
are going to make public some evil
dence gathered from soldiers and
nurses in the hospitals OF Europe. 1t
will stdgger humanity.
"For example, nurse who recently
returned from the American Ambu-
lance Hospital g. Paris told me of one
soldier who was brought TO the hos
pital. needing an operation. When
they tried TO unfasten his Jacket he
resisted. On cutting IL open the nurses
found the delicate arm of young
woman, with the fingers laden with
Jewels That, women OF America, is
the kind of thing that war does to
men.
much Of our evidence was gained
from members OF lue lHitlHollO4"4
Woman Suffrage Alliance, who have
been acting as chaperons for German
and Austrian girls who were IN Lon
don al the time war occurred. II was
not safe to send these girls home
through the var zone alone, so our
women volunteered TO escort them.
1--WE women must stand together 10
protest against the slaughter We
must insist that love and not hate Will
bring good to human society. As an
antidote for the European war mad
ness. let us pray that the Empire state
will give women the right 10 partlcl-
nate I'm the affairs of the nation. The
year 1914 was the worst in the history
If mankind. Let us hope that the new
wear. by leading the way 20 complete
freedom and permanent peace through
the votes Of women, may be the pest
wear in human history
Miss Mary Shaw related converse
ton with an editor Of a New York
paper. in which he saId that this war
would probably put an end to TINS
female agitation" in this country, as
it had in England.
81 told him" said Miss Shaw. that
the thing this war was pretty sure 10
do was TO make woman suffrage an as
sured thing. by teaching nations how
necessary in their counsels the voice
OF woman is
Dr.. Katharine B. Davis, Frederick
Howe. Miss iona Gale and Nine. Rosika
Schwimmer were the other speakers.
After the addresses the suitragisis
held a New Years reception.