New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-24
THIS WAR WILL AFFECT
WOMEN IN MANY. WAYS

If we stop and consider what the
attitude of the German wal machine
has been towards women, we recall
a long string of Illuminating incl
d%ents-the Lusitania, the execution
of Edith Cavell, the murder of in
nocent kindergarten children, and, in
another class, the persistent, cold.
bloodcd deportation Of women and
girls, forcibly seized, and made to
work in the fields or in the ammuni'
ton factories of Germany for the
aid Of their enemy against their own
people, As Cardinal Farley said to
Ambassador Gerard, Zone has to go
back to the times of the Medes and
the Persians TO find any parallel for
such an act"
We know what war means to wo-
men, what this wal and all other
wars have meant to women in the
way of heroic sacrifice; but do the
women Of New Mexico realize pre-
cisely what it would mean if this
war were to be won by the powers
against whom all our moral and
physical force is now directed?
Women May Lose Freedom
This is the attitude of the German
government toward women in time
of war. Would it be any different
in time of peace, il that peace were
a German peace, and the women
Of an alien nati0nt II is perhaps
significant of the status of German
women at home that in any talk of
governmental reform in Germany
however much mere talk it is, or
however highly socialized the state
is supposed to be-there is never
any mention OF TIE enfranchisement
Of womenl
The American women know what
it is to enjoy liberty. 1t is a herit-
age which they would not willingly
%relinquish.
Those women who picket the
White House with "phony" messages
10 Russia are really ridiculous they
merely delay the inevitable. Much
more deserving of sincere admira-
ton is the whole-hearted effort be-
ing made by the members of the
Woman's Committee of the Council
of National Defense to make the
work of women in this war count
to make it count as women's work
has never before counted in the
history Of a nation.
In Time OF Need
In this respect, one of the phrases
describing the functions of this com
mittce of women, called into being
by the Council of National Defense,
and an integral part of it, is sign
ficant. The purpose of the Woman's
Committee, it is stated, is: $50 to
coordinate the activities of the coun-
try that their power may be i'm
mediately utilized in time of need"
and-this is what should be singled
out for cmphasis-"to supply a new
and direct channel of communica-
ton and cooperation between wo-
men and governmental departments"
This last is tremendously import
ant. Any women who does not real
ize what this means and who fail
to take advantage of this opportunity
to increase the scope and effective
of womcn's work in the ma
ton, must surely be asleep!
1t is an extremely significant fact
that one of the first things that the
Council of National Defense did after
the declaration OF war was to create
this advisory committee of womer
workers.
Is there any such committee IN
Germany? Is there any organ Or
organization whatever of woman's
opinion in that "Kultured" state? If
SO, we would like TO hear of it.
German Women Restricted
A striking contrast is afforded by
the attitude of the German war ma
which is the German govern
.ent, toward women both in time
Of war and in time of peace and that
of our own government toward wo-
men. And when the ZONE of our
begin 20 realize this. they
vii realize that it is not only a ducs-
ION of conserving food that con-
them, but a question of on
their own liberty as we'll!
If the world is made safe for demo-
,racy, then it is made safe for wo-
men. If it is not, then the status of
will be set back to what it
vas in the dark ages. or as Cardinal
puts it, "the time of the Modes
md the Persians."
Certainly this contrast is too vivid
be ignored. American women
will not relinquish the liberty they
low enjoy, and, as a matter of pro-
it is safe to assume that by
heir whole-hearted cooperation with
he Woman's Committee of the Coun-
il of National Defense that COM
will be proved too useful as
governmental unit to be dropped
fter the war. 1t is safe to assume
hat some direct channel of COM {
lunication and cooperation between {
and governmental depart I
1ents" will have to be maintained t
GREATER as a result of the effective {
ess of this one. Even apart from ,
he war, this is an object worth s
for. q.
Liberty imposes responsibilities as
'ell as comforting privileges. If we 4
ppreciate our liberty, we must live 4
p to it.
The Woman's Auxiliary expects 4
- A.. ~ A. ~