Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-26
WOMANHOOD OF The
NATION is AT STAKE
Mrs. ohaus Says that Morals Of
Young Girls Must Be
Guarded More Than
Ever Before.

Mrs. Rose NJ, Ohaus, head of the
domestic relations department of the
Board OF Public Welfare, believes
that the conservation oil young
women is one OF the problems which
should be faced in connection with
the war situation She AYERS there
is tendency among many girls ard
young women to be unguardcd in
their morals while under a spell OF
sentimental regard Tor men in mill
tary camps.
She read the following paper at a
sectional meeting OF the State Con-
servation congress:
Conserve food, conserve labor.
conserve all the tremendous natural
and manufacturing resources OF our
wonderful land, but when THE war is
over and the remnants OF our young
manhood return to take up life again
and make OF the nation the land OF
promises realized let the glory Of the
ration continue to be its women. Let
US conserve our womanhood; let US
save to the honor and glory OF our
land and the unsullied lives and names
OF our young girls.
There is and always has been the
question of the erring woman. Our
responsibility toward her is one OF the
gravest concern OF the community
Face Great Peril.
There is, however, in these war
times, new and grave danger, and
that is that the hitherto good girl en-
ticed by the glamor of war, Of the
soldier going forth to battle for, and
L need be die for his land, falls into
the error of forgetting all the long,
long future, and all the possible issues
OF wat: she falls an easy prey to the
designs of carefree youth, irresponsi-
bly, giving herself, her youth, her vir-
tue, all that sets her aside from the
woman Of sin, and sacrifice herself for
the qualification Of the sentimental ap.
peal to her senses that the soldier
makes. 1t is for the conservation OF
this young woman that | especially
appeal.
"Let US learn through the sorrows
Of our allies the lesson OF the lack OF
system during the carly war days
taught the nations OF Europe.
I'VE need the labor of women; in
all the old lines Of endeavor we need
their continuance, and in countless
new lines will their assistance be re-
quired, but in all and in every way
let the citizens OF America save their
women from the disaster that has be-
fallen their European sisters. Let
not the pail Of delinquency in women
and children darken our land; let no
bitter aftermath Of nameless chill
dren, ruined women and desolated
homes follow Americas help TO the
nations at war.
Must Organize Right.
"Let US organize now and rightly,
legally, systematically protect our
girls from themselves as we'll as from
the excngicics Of war. Let the home
mother more carefully guard the
pride of the nation--the purity Of our
womanhood.
This war with its awful lessons
comes home to us all. We know wars
sequel Not family but will mourn
its dead; not home that will not in
one way or another pay its toll OF
the war. If not in actual loss Of life,
in varied other ways will we pay the
price. Many young men and women
will be obliged to quit school in order
to support the dependents made so
by the mems absence in war and in
numberless ways will lives be
changed.
To Tighten Days Ahead.
"Ali the sorry, sad and lonely days
ahead of every American can be light
cned and frightened if shorn Of the
horrors that appal the older nations
at war. Let this nation Of ours, strong
in the right, armed for what it feels
war for justice, come forth from
the fray with its banners for right
eousness held proudly aloft. Let there
be no sorrowful, no shameful home
coming for those spared from the
battlefield and camp. Let Americas
homecoming be to homes left invio-
late to hearts awaiting in hope and
faith and love, the return Of the war;
riors. whom all may honor and all
proclaim"