The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-18
DON'T SIT AROUND!
"We've Something More to Do
Than Make WristIetS."
That's WOman's Warming at Y.
w. c. A. War Study Rally.

| IF we are going into this war we
have got to do something more than
to sit around and make wristIets," de-
clared DR.. Eva Harding at meeting
which was called Wednesday after
/ some questions connected with the
war. when this thing is over" Doc
tor Harding said, our men will be
coming back manned, blind. deaf in
sane and idiotic, and we have got to
find some place TO put them and some
way to take care of them. and 1t is
not going to be done by sitting around
in a Red Cross wagon on Kansas ave-
nue."
The meeting was called principally
to listen to a paper by Mrs. Effie
Main. A part of the paper was read
before the Good Government club last
week and met with disapproval by
some of the members. The account of
1t, however, interested a group of
women outside of that organization
and they, headed by Doctor Harding.
called meeting TO hear the entire
paper Mrs Main pointed out that
mllitarism was forced upon this coun-
try by a small group of men of army
and commercial interests, who had
compelled the entire nation to go in
and fight their battle which was not
at all d cause common to all America.
She read a clipping from a Leaven-
worth paper which said that the army
officers favored the draft system. and
that their Announcements were rapid
upon the new plan, that their ad-
varced places became permanent, and
that this was the reaping time for the
officers. You can understand, l
think" Mrs. Main interpolated, "a
good reason for the attack made on
me a few days ago by the mother Of
an army officer"
Socialist Position.
! Mrs Main outlined the Socialist
position in regard to war in general
/ and this war in particular, and she
/ scored CONSUMPTION and the cOnscrip-
tionists, which, she says. forces an
unwilling people into slaughter to con-
serve the interests of those who exploit
them.
! An organization was suggested to
be made up of all women interested
in keeping food raised in this country
! for the use of the American people
and in retaining the army at home
maintained for purposes of home de-
Tense only. Resolutions were drafted
and accepted, as follows:
! Whereas the people of the United
States have entered upon a war in
which they had no choice, and where
( as consumption is contrary to the con-
stitution of the United States; there
( fore be it resolved by this assemblage
that we petition our congress and the
president of the United States inc the
name of humanity, to reconsider the
question of CONSUMPTION. And be it
I further resolved that the army of the
United States be raised for defense
/ only and not used for foreign in
vasion Be it further resolved that we
I look to the needs of our own nation
/ before starvation stares US in the face
and reserve food supplies for home,
and also that we look into the causes
of high prices"
! y short address was made by Miss
| Macy Sharp, an Australian woman
who is in Topeka in the interests of
the New Thought society She spoke
/ of the methods used for driving men
into the army in Australia, adding that
( the best and most desirable soldiers