Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-12

Washington, d. c.. Aug. 9-The war,
which has wrecked the lives Of so
many European women, has, neverthe-
less. been a great victory for the sex.
While the men have marched of 10
the firing line, the women have calmly
filled their places in finance, factory
and even politics. and have raised
funds for hospitals and supplies for the
wounded on the side. They have met
the demands of the war with high
courage, set aside the campaign for
the ballot and have displayed q re-
degree of efficiency in their
new occupations which has been none
the less conspicuous because of its
quietness and calm.
AS a result. the men are beginning
to be worried Some are already en-
tertaining disquieting visions Of time
when the war over. the status Of the
sexes will be changed and the men
will be dependent on the women for
support The Germans, were the first
to recognize the danger of woman's
success in former masculine monop-
olies of work, and to compile neat
list of statistics on the question which
Is soon to be made public. The other
belligerents followed suit, and heated
discussions on the subject are now be-
ing held In all the capitals of Europe
1t is really very difacult problem
The women have become used to their
economic independence and like It..
Not only have they supported them
selves and their children. but they
have unselfishly spent most OF their
spare cash in buying bandages and to-
bacco for their soldiers Now, when
the war is over. the fair sex may ob.
ject to returning to their old status or
feminine inferiority and insist upon
keeping the mems Jobs At any rate,
there will be no denying them the
vote.
The remarkable work Of the Europ-
can women In the war ia clearly Indie
alive of the progress of the sex, Sew
eral years ago, when the Boer war
was occupying the attention OF Eng
land group of English society wo-
men conceived the romantic Idea OF
offering their services in taking care
of the wounded Thew packed several
trunks with dainty feminine apparel
and iourneyed south to the military
camps, where they informed the auth.
critics Of their intention. The general
in charge was patient man, but With
in a very short time his amiability
gave out and the young ladies return
ed to London with more experience
but less enthusiasm. They had not
known how to make even the crudest
bandages or do anything useful, ana
they proved constant disturbing ele-
ment among the soldiers, who could
not keep their minds on the Beers.
The general heaved sigh of relief
when they were gone. once more be-
came amiable and referred to the
episode thereafter as "the plague OF
women"
Today. when women are doing half
of the administrative work of Europe,
showing especial efficiency in the hos
pital and relief corps, the adventure
of the English society ladies appears
almost medieval. Now the English so.
ciety woman Is engaged in conducting
the family Investments, looking after
the orphans of lost soldiers and or
ganizing new societies for making war
apparel. She and her sisters have
worked side by side with the men for
the men and in the places Of men,
proving their value as citizens at every
turn. Not once since the war began
have the men ventured the opinion
that womsn's place was the home, and
not once have the women attempted
any aggression for the ballot. Just re-
Gently, however, the significance Of
tits fact has begun to dawn upon the
European male and he has ordered
commissions established for the inves-
tigation into the question Of the fll-
ture political status Of women.
In this country, too, the example OF
the European women has had its in
fluence. Here the agitation for the bal
lot Is still conspicuously manifest, but
lately, the critical international rela-
tons of the United States have caus-
ed every private propaganda to be
sacrificed to- the more urgent question
Of preparedness. War with somebody
has been constantly imminent, the
southwest border has already been in
vaded and women all over the country
wives and daughters of militia men
have already experienced some Of
the deprivations of war. While there
is undoubtedly large woman's peace
party which opposes the business OF
the great majority OF