The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-04
WOMEN and The WAR
The TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
By Frederic ). Haskin. Director
Washington. ID. O.
of Women.

state has already m--de military
census of women as we'll as OF men,
and this step is now being advocated
for the whole country. 1t is also be-
ing opposed by few conservatives
on the grounds that it is unnecessary
and expensive, but registration nm
doubtless be made state by state IL
not by the national government.
The proposition is significant in
more ways than one. 1t is an official
acknowledgment that women are an
important factor in the political al
ministration of the state. 1t appeaiS
to the sense of duty of the women as
American citizens, and while some
millions of them have as yet not been
conceded the vote, they are none the
less being called upon for service. ana
that latter step is prophetic of future
suffrage changes, if the experience OF
| England means anything.
In all parts of the country the won1-
en- have modified for war work win
the greatest of enthusiasm. In thou-
sands of towns and villages they aIs
sewing for the Red Cross; canning
string beans and apricots, and drying
meas and corn against the winter
scarcity of food. while a few are al
ready filling the places of men VINO
have left for military service.
Inasmuch as the women appear TO
be rushing so rapidly to their new
posts of duty, it is held by some that
/ registration is superfluous. do you
realize the enormous amount OF paper
alone it would require to undertake
sucha census?' demanded the press
agent of one of the many commits
sions which have sprung up since the
declaration of war, in talking to a
couple of manufacturers few days
ago.
Now. our commission" continued
the press agent, "can reach every "o-
man in the country thru its news ser
vice and by means of women's clubs
And incidentally use up the SER
vices of several men who are needed
for the army" suggested one of the
manufacturers. That's all very nice,
but unfortunately the whole war can
not be won by canning tomatoes"
The manufacturers, of course, are
in favor of the registration of women
SO that they can procure feminine Ia
Dor. So far, a large part of the
United States does not appear to real
ize what the war will mean There
is too great a tendency to believe that
Germany is seriously threatened by
her food shortage, and rapidly losing
submarines and territory. Our part
in the war has begun. but it is only a
beginning. In few weeks. actual
consumption will begin, when, declare
the manufacturers, there is going to
! be great commercial and industrial
| confusion.
Moreover it is the belief Of the
|
to last for long time. Thus many of
them are already preparing to train
large numbers of women to take the
place of enlisted men. Feminine Ia
Dor has proved exceptionally satisfac-
tory in Europe, despite many rumors
women are working in the metal
industries of Great Britain, and a like
number in those of France. I'VE will
require at least that many additional
women factory workers before this
war is over" was the assertion of one
manufacturer few days ago.
The American woman, who fifteen
years ago would have been indignant
at the suggestion that she make he'll
NETS and shells. Is today eagerly well
coming the opportunity. The doc
trine of economic independence has
spread rapidly in recent years; the
modern woman has come to realize
that her most direct path to freedom
in a masculine world is to be self
supporting. Hence, it is not alto
gether patriotism which has led not
only the American woman, but wo-
men all over the world, to respond
to the demands of war SO courage
ously.
The work of women in time of war
is divided broadly into two classes
social and economic. The women of
the working classes, deprived of a
| masculine income, must enter the fac
tory and workshop in order to survive.
| Whether the United States govern
ment will institute a pension system
| for the dependents of soldiers, and
how much that pension will be, are
questions still to be determined, but
in any event large number of wo-
| men will have to enter industry to
live. In doing so they will be contrib
uting to the economic assets of the
nation. They will be manufacturing
the weapons of war.
The planting and preservation of
food and the prevention of waste also
fall into the economic class Women
are canning and drying and sailing
food this year. but their activities will
be nothing compared to those which
viii be necessary next year if the war
continues, as all authorities agree II
almost inevitably will Next wear will
have an advantage over this one, of
course, in that the women will not
| nave to be persuaded and taught.
They will know how. There will also
be greater system in the prevention
of waste.
Work of the social class is lust as
important as that of the economic
class, and needs to be Just as highly
systematized. The Canadian women
offer striking example of this.
Sewing classes must be orga nIzed TO
provide clothing for our soldiers and
their families. Work of this sort has
already been started by the Red Cross
but there is room for a great deal
more of it. Recreation must be pro-
vided in towns where there are train
ing camps-a feature to which great
Importance has been attached by the
European belligerents. There will be
an ever-growing demand for women
nurses. And, last but not least, it will
be the duty of every woman to see
that the nations children suffer as
little as possible.
Thus, in registering her name with
the state, every woman should state
the services for which she is best fit
ted, together with her responsibilities
if any, which might interfere with
their contribution. Whether she
serves in a munition factory. a REQ