Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-03
HOW WAR HAS HELPED FEMINIsM
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKrN

man In the North was busily eprareA q,
making the articles. Fortunately. hov
ever. after many hundreds or have.
locks had been shipped TO tho soldiers.
Il number OF sons and brothers wrote
home and asked what under the .un
the havelocks wero for AS II happ.nsd
they had put them to every use except
The correct one. which WAS 10 protec,
Inc head fvom the heat OF tho sun. II
TOOK many months for the women OF
the civil War to learn tho list of mill
tary. equipment and to systematixs
their Work so as TO make every hour
count.
Another war will not md tho Amor
lean woman unprcpared. During tn.
past two years she has devoted a good
deal OF her spare time in knitting and
sewing for tho armies OF Europe She
has Joined training campo where nhe
has been taught the intricate pro-
ccsscs OF making hospital supplies Of
field and home nursing. of dictetics and
OF wireless tclcBraphy. While this
knowledge Is extremely general and
not sufficient TO permit a woman to 90
Immediately TO the front in the capn
city or nurse. tho basis OF military
usefulness IS thus begun.
Other women havs formed patriots,
leagues in their communities, and nr.
now affiliated with the American Red
Cross, which is badly In need OF any
possible assistance. The Red Crosr
Is one OF tho finest institutions in
America. and has accomplished n mar
velous amount OF good considering i,g
limited apital and equipment. When
the European war first broke out the
Rod Cross OF Russia had $4,000, 900 at
It's disposal. and ut tho present time
Japan's organization has Sl3.onoOoo
for working basis. with n member
ship OF nearly 1000. 900 meinbers Com
pared 10 these ngures. the American
Red Cross now has less than 100000
In It's treasury and 10000 members.
Under these circumstances it is up
10 every American woman who In IN
favor or preparedness to Join and help
the organization.
Red Cross Works Here.
Owing TO the lack OF sufficient funds.
the American Red Cross has boon COM
PEELED TO discontinue all OF tho work
II has been carrying on in Europe and
TO devote all OF It's attention to the
present needs OF the United States
1t is now organizing equipment for
field hospitals and storing 1t In Federal
buildings in various parts OF the coun-
try. where IL can be easily moved for
ward upon tho outbreak OF hostilitie..
Several Of these ncld hospitals went
10 the Mexican border along with the
state militia. Already many new
members havs been enlisted in the
hospitals throughout the country. but
the Red Cross ie still In need OF many
women supporters TO raise contribu-
tons and to mako hospital supplies
and otherwise help the cause along
But II is not only necessary that
women should train themselves for
taking care OF their mon who go to
war. but that they should train them
selves for self-support. In Europe to-
day thcrc is hardly n woman who Is
not more than earning her living by
some means OF work She does not
have TO drive a bus or street car, or
rum subway train: many women are
bank clerks. insurance agents, spies
wireless telegraphers, and still othern
are simply staying home and taking
care Of their families, but they arc
attending TO their jobs AZ they never
have before. Just recently when the
militia left to protect our Southwest
border. many American women we're
compelled TO obtain work, since there
were numerous small firms employing
militia men which were unable to car
~ them on the pay roll while they
were gone The great meaning OF pre-
paredness, then, for women is to make
every woman self-supporting. War
has no place for the parasite.