New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-21
Miss Constance Drexel Justhes Change as Transition
from Destructive to Consructive-Women or Europe
Look to American Women to Remake Civilization.

had decided to go to the front when it
came to me that there was more
important work in America for me to
do.
Patching up the soldiers to fight
more was aiding in destructive proc
cess. | wanted to have hand in some
thing constructive.
French Women Discouraged.
"The more | saw of the women OF
France in their calamity the more
felt their hope was fixed on America.
If the women Of New York City-which
in France means America-if they get
the vote il will do more to encourage
those poor women over there than any
thing else. They are discouraged. The
future looks dark They have no hope
but that war will come again, even II
the present one ends.
"French women have never thought
l, much of getting political power for
themselves, because in France almost
every woman is married, and they work
with their husbands. They haven't in
dependence in the way we have here.
But if we get the vote, and start to
use il for the peaceful, good things of
life, it will give them heart and hope
to feel that they can accomplish some
thing, too.
at isn't merely prominent women In
France who feel this. II Is the common
women. got it from them everywhere
as I worked among them. Their eyes
are fixed on America"
English women. Miss Drexel said,
were far less hopeless.
"The militant suffragists will begin
again to work for the vote as soon as
the war is over, and they have behaved
so splendidly in serving their country
in its extremity that public opinion
will give them what they want. But the
poor French women! Think what they
face when this war is over-fatherless
homes, a country almost depleted OF
men, Women have the worst Of war.
Men are killed-it is finished. But the
women live to suffer. That is one thing
that made me a suifragist."
Miss Drexel, whose mother and sis
ter remain in Europe, came 10 America
about six weeks ago. She spent fort
night in Washington, and since coming
to New York has been enjoying her
self" she says, III company with Mrs.
James c. Parrish.
Sees Hope in the Vote.
"But couldn't play very long. Those
poor women in France haunt me. And
I think we ought to work hard for the
vote here, for critical times may be
ahead. In Europe every one believes
that the United States cannot escape
war with Japan. They say Japan occu-
pies the same position with regard to
the United States that Germany does
to the rest of Europe-it, like Ger
many, Is reaching out for more terri
tory. / hope this country will be SEN
sble and let Japan have more terri
tory But will it? Anyhow, let US
women get the vote, for we have a
right to help decide the national poll
cies.
1.-THE women of Europe don't feel
that the present war could have been
sverted, but what they do feel is that
different sentiment may be planted
and made to grow for the future. Let
us have, they say, a less narrow pa
triotism. a stronger feeling of brother
hood among the nations. Then killing
thousands Of men for a bit of terri
tory will be impossible"
Miss Drexel, though working with
the Congressional Union at present, is
not identified with that organization.
She is keen for the referendum in New
York as well as for the federal amend
ment. and will enlist with the local So
cieties, too.