New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-12
War Is Woman's Problem,
Says Mrs. Henry P. Dawson
AS Member of National Board of Y W. C. A She ellis OF
Extensive Work Being Done by Women for
Women Training Camps

. LOCUST VALLEY. Long Island, Au-
gust ll.-If you could look far enough,
no doubt you would md behind every
man who does brave and splendid
things iu war some woman VINO IS az
least as good a soldier as he.
Every one knows Henry 2. Dawson
OF New York. Of Long Island, and now
Of Washington, who was made a
Major General last week for his won
derful work as head Of the War Coun-
Gil Of the Red Cross. Many people
know that he has two sons who are
aviatOrs at the Huntington station, I'm
sign Henry p. Dawson, Jr., and Lieu
tenant TruDee Dawson, who has been
seriously injured ~ the service q MS
country. And they have heard that
. his daughter. Miss Alice Dawson, rs
learning 90 be a wireless operator that
she may do her share IN the war.
Of course, lu a family Ike that
there must be a mother who Is the
most ardent patriot Of all Mrs. Henry
p. Dawson is one OF 100 women whose
war service IS a work as big, as i'm
portant. and as essential as even Red
Cross work can be O this time. They
are the members of the War Work
Council Of the National Board OF the
Young Women's Christian Association,
and their work viii be so meet the
special needs of the girls and young
women of the nation. caused by the
fact that the country is % war
Mrs Dawson who cannot be gotten
to talk about herself and who feels
that she is just zone Of millions OF
women ready 20 do what they can,
sat on the veranda of her home here
at Locust Valley, and told OF what a
| tremendous work that Of the War Work
Council OF the National Board Of the
Young Women's Christian Association
must be, of what 10 has already done
and Of what 10 must do. Her hands
were busy fringing the linen strips
/ that are used on flying machines, for
the Huntington Station. But all Der
/ thoughts we're engaged with plans for
/ the girls Of America.
Wartime Needs OF Girls
"Girls and young women need as
much thought in war time as men do, u
| she said. "War Is woman's problem
/ as well as mans, and they must be
taught TO meet 10 adequately. You
/ know as well az I do that when girls
are taken out of their homes, and put
into factories or agricultural work
they must have oversight.
+ All over the country there are army
towns that have sprung up almost
overnight, too new for fixed standard.
or even for proper living conditions
Girls come here TO work. and must ind
b0ard.ng-places and recreation and
safeguarding. Wherever there are
communities adjoining training camps
or mobilization camps, or where girls
and young women are doing munitions
work or agricultural work, there rs
need Of u.s.
/ Just after the outbreak Of the war
kilograms from mothers all over the
country began hurrying in 90 the Ma
tional Board Of the Young Women'a
Christian Association. What are you
going TO do for our girls % they wanted
70 know. The war situation was sure
20 bring new problems for them, as
for all Of u.s."
And so the War Work Council was
created, 70 meet the needs Of the new
conditions. kilograms were sent 70
prominent women all over the United
States, asking them 20 come 70 New
York to consider what should be done.
M laNIU Two HEEE0 uAerI N4F NANNAEtti
had first arisen they met for a two
days cOnfereuce-which lasted for five
days, before 70 had formulated ITS
plans for action, and dissolved. after
having organized War Council, with
o Committee OF One Hundred rMrs.
James s. Cushman was elected presi-
dent Of the executive committee OF
this council and Mrs. Henry P. Davi-
son treasurer
"The National Board Of the Young
Womens Christian Association, oldest
and best organized IN w0men's work Of
any such body in the United States,
was able 20 meet the problem az once,
said Mrs. Dawson. "It had the ma
chinery. the equipment and the plans
all ready, and iC had been considering
such a necessity since the outbreak Of
the European war. It's field secre-
taries were all college women, specially
trained for their duty, and the War
Work Council was able 70 begin work
at once In towns and communities all
over the United States where they
were asked to aid In safeguarding the
girls
The responses we're instantaneous
and so numerous as 70 show how great
the anxiety had been over the matter,
Army heads. Young Mems Christian
Association chairmen, and mothers tel
egraphed their approval Colonel
Wolf at Plattsburg authorized the
War Work Council 20 begin work there
az once
a great deal was being done for the
men Of Plattsburg and nothing az all
for the girls" said Mrs. Dawson. "Be-
fore our secretary had her hat of, she
had organized two girls clubs there,
and within two weeks the hostess
house, the first Of q series Of similar
ones. was opcrod. and ready for the
entertainmen of the sisters and wives
and swee-Hearts and mothers OF the
men In the training camp there
Probably no other thing has given