New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-22
Woman Our Hope for the Future
The Problems Which Confront Her and Why She Can Be
Trusted TO Solue Them
By George w. E. Daniels

the tremendous seriousness of 1t all. | do
not mean that there is any lack of resolution
or of grim determination that the thing must
go on now to its logical conclusion-the de-
feat and final overthrow Of the powers that
guide and rule the Central Empires; that the
guilty must be punished, and restitution MADE
as far as il can be-which is really not very
far after all. Finish the war logically ana
properly" must be our slogan. IL is the only
proper course. What | am dealing with In
these presents is really one of the problems
that lie ahead in the reconstruction period.
But it is as we'll to be beforehand in facing II.
1t is not by any means the least serious
II appears highly probable that this very
shortage of manageable males will be the
prime mover in bringing woman from the
background. where her natural modesty and
mans Grass stupidity have combined to keep
her so long, and mpeling her to take hand
in the management of things to an extent
hitherto undreamed Of And the very last
thing | have in mind in saying this IS the
disparagement of woman. Let no one misun-
derstand me. 1t is in sheer desperation that
woman is going to come forward and say:
Enough Listen to my voice, that the sons
Of women may go forth to slaughter one an
other no more
For it must be plain to the most casual OBJ
server that while one kind of herosm Is re-
auired and very fine kind of herosm with
out doubt to take man away from ms
home and kindred to endure for a more or
less limited period the horrors OF modern
warfare and the risk of fearful death or
frightful mutilation. quite another kind is re-
uuired (but real herosm, nevertheless) to
bring tender-hearted and afectionate
woman land all women are tender-hearted
and atfectionate, given reasonable chance)
TO the point of resigning herself with cheer
fulness and patience to the prospect of spend
ing the term of natural life, solitary and
alone, surrounded by family scenes and hap
pinesses she may never enjoy. To most sober
and sensible women such a prospect would
be truly appalling. Nay, | will be bound that
the great majority of true women, confronted
with the alternative of taking their chance
for brief period on the battlefield, with
home of their own as the ultimate reward, or
of keeping out Of danger and earning there
by the right to a life of celibacy, would un-
hestatngly, choose the former. And he is a
fool who does not know that the driving
force in this is the mother love.
Facing the Prospect
While at first sight the suggestion Of suc'
an alternative may seem somewhat far
fetched, little thought will show that it IS
by no means an unfair presentment For
there is going TO be a vast army of women
from whom all hope Of matrimony has COM
pietely and finally fed. For whom even the
old sporting chance" that man in his gener-
Gus condescension formerly conceded has
quite disappeared Brave and sensible women
will we know, face this desoate prospect
with calmness and fortitude. But the wretch
A. hi
ton. if for no other reason than for the sake
of their sisters to come. They will insist on
radical changes in the general ordering of
things.
Since the United States as nation has
come into the war at the tail end of the
business 1--WE may as we'll be perfectly frank
about this) it is rather improbable that we
shall lose such comparatively great numbers
of our men. and so the problem of the single
woman is not likely to be so acute here as
in Europe or even in Canada We shall be
affected to lesser extent, however if not a
greater for the problem of one nation is
going TO be the problem of other nations
after the war to a degree that was never even
conceived in the days gone by. Humanity is.
in a manner speaking. going to compare notes
rather more freely than of yore.
Woman's Problem
Exactly how woman is going to handle the
problem specifically dealt with in this arti-
Gle ! do not hazard even guess. But IL is
essentially woman's problem and the settle
ment of it should be in her hands. Men will
doubtless assume, as they always do assume
(thus paying a gracious, if uncon-
scious. compliment). that she will deal with
it wisely, generously, lovingly. and to the
best interests OF the race to which she be-
longs and of humanity at large
How single the remedy for so many of the
ills that vex and retard suffering humanity
could it but have been perceived and laid hold
of!-just to leave the difficulty TO the mother
heart to settle To turn for aid TO woman.
who has been standing by so wistfully wait
ing TO be asked and never being asked. Waiting
and longing for the power which man in his
wisdom has always denied her and doubtless
would have denied her still had not the ap-
palling magnitude of the present calamity
made her cooperation inevitable. Woman, our
hope for the future and in whom we do
put our trust!