Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-12
WOMEN PLAN CANVASS
TO ENLIST WOMEN FOR
DEFENSE OF COUNTRY
Circle Organized at Home of
Mrs. A. j. DreXel Biddle to
Work With General
Committee
MRS. BIDDLES APPEAL

a circle to wage definite campaign
for quick action for national prepared
ness was organized this afternoon at the
| home of Mrs, A. ]. Drexel Biddle. 2lOi
| Walnut street. The meeting was attended
by more than 200 women, who decided 10
cooperate with the Preparedness Commit,
tee, which Is raising a fund of 100000 to
finance the proposed Citizens Army of
$4,000 men.
There was a spirit of unanimity at the
meeting. Mrs. Biddle, i'm the course of &
brief address said that without the aid
of the women, preparedness by the men
of Philadelphia would be incomplete.
Thousands of patriotic women of this city
were ready, she said, 10 give their service.
their money and their energy to n move
ment which had such a worthy object. In
concluding her remarks, she added:
I'm all ages women have proved them
selves at least the equal of men in self
sacrifice and devotion to principle and
country In case Of war thousands of
our sex in Philadelphia would be ready to
serve in the hospitals to minister to the
sick and wounded or go to the front, no
matter how far distant, 10 aid the sufferers
on the field.
But 1t is necessary, to make service of
this kind effective. to organize. 1t is as
necessary to mobilize the women as 1t is
to mobilize the men. While the men may
be fighting or in other ways defending
their country the women would be bear
ing other burdens, such as caring for the
children who are left behind and aiding
the poor and needy In national crises
there is something for all to do Every
body can be of service.
Now when the sentiment for pre-
paredness is so general, but the defensive
condition of the country so deplorably
weak. is the time for us to organize, We
should show the men of the country that
we are willing TO make sacrifices ; that we
are true patriots. There are as many
Florence Nightingales in Philadelphia as
ever served in the Crimea or any other
war. They would be ready for service if
called upon, but by organization and
proper instruction only can we make them
really effective"
At the close of the meeting several
teams, which viii cooperate with the
General Committee in it's campaign, were
organized, One of the terms win be
headed by Mrs, Biddle.
Among the women present were Mrs
William H. Horstmann, Mrs William L.
Mclean, Mrs. Henry Read Hatfield, Mrs
Ward Lewis, MIS-. Henry l.. Grove, Mrs.
James dew CorkmRn Mrs. Franklin
Beale Mrs Walter Pearce Douglas, Mrs.
James Forny, Mrs. Beverly r. Potter
Mrs Pancoast, Mrs John Cooke Hlrst,
Mrs. Seeley, Mrs. Edwin d. Douglas Mrs
Allen Childs, Mrs. William II. Tevis
Heeey, Mrs. Joseph s. Rambo, Mrs Fran
els X. Dereum, Mrs George Fritz Chand-
Ter. Mrs. Henry L. Williams. Mrs. Eugene
c. Bonniwell. Mrs William Cochran, Mrs.
John Penn Brock, Mrs Henry c, Butcher,
Mrs. William Fray Brooks, Mrs. Frederick
c. Durant, Mrs. Edward Grocer Mrs. Rob
ert NJ. Girvin. Jr,, Mrs. Mahlon Hutehin-
son, Mrs. Francis Hazlehurst. Mrs. Lang j
don Mitchell. Mrs. Francine. Mrs. William
W. Filter Mrs. Roger W. GrisWOld, AIRS
Stevenson Crothers, Mrs Charles T. BEN
der, Mrs. John Harrison, Mrs. Frederick
L. Giger Mrs. James +. Fahnestock, Mrs.
Frank Granger Kennedy Mrs. Maskee
Ewing Mrs Elizabeth Chew. Mrs Henry
C. Burr, Mrs. Joseph Seal Neff Mrs.
Thomas Langdon Elwyn. Mrs William M
Lyeett, Mrs Gardner cassatt, Mrs.
Charles sinnickson.