The sun., 1917-07-30
COULD WOMAN DO rHIsi
A Feminine Boycott Of TeutOnic Goods
70 End tho War.


To THE EDIroR OF THE suN-sir: The
women Of this country can bring this
war 20 an end shortly, do the greatest
service for the world which women
through organization perhaps ever have
done IN history, and believe save thou
sands OF sons and brothers from death
upon the sea or wounds, suffering and
death upon the western front.
They can do this by pledging them
selves never again knowingly to buy,
wear or use an article manufa ctured
In Germany or Austria or sail upon
vessel flying the flag of those countries
unless the present war shall cease be-
fore. say. November 1. 1917. The cost
OF this pledge should be practically
nothing.
VIII the women undertake this work.
Are they equal to carrying on to sue
cess a really great and serious one
They alone can answer this. I assume
that THE SUN and every other news
paper as well as every merchant in this
country worth considering will gladly
aid. ] am sure of Il
women are possessed of tremendous
power. being the readers Of ADVERTISE
ments. users of hosiery, underwear,
gloves china. glassware. linens. laces,
furniture and other articles made in
Germany and Austria, of which they
have been accustomed to buy of late
years almost 10 the exclusion Of other
makers
Without the patronage Of American
women and those In other countries who
undoubtedly will later join them in this
undertaking the German and Austrian
manufacturer and his operatives must
cease work, emigrate or become an agri-
cultural producer. The women really
have the power to destroy the German
Empire without cruelty, bloodshed or the
| infiiction Of undeserved and irreparable
| financial loss.
The movement I have suggested would
In my Judgment best be begun at New
York, where the financial and CONNER
| cial representatives OF the foreign manu-
facturers and ship owners have their
headquarters. Doubt then might not be
entertained that the movement would
become known oversee shortly, no mat
ter how rigid censorship might be
The great majority OF men in this
country. for reasons which must be ap-
/ parent to the thinker, have been silent
for months past and have abstained
from effort to keep their sons out Of this
| fight, and IL is clear must continue upon
this course, while thousands upon thou
sands of their sons with magnificent
| courage and devotion to duty are offer
ing their lives in the performance OF
their duty to their country and TO other
| men.
There is to me nothing apparent to
deter the women from undertaking and
completing the work / have suggested.
| Neither Government nor men may be
expected to participate in this work now,
but such participation which shall be
required later the women easily may
| secure
| To start II, It seems that there should
be enlisted some instructive woman, per-
haps now carrying on some other or
ganized work than life saving. perhaps
merely waiting for her. chance. The
work should be afoot and afire imnfedi-
ately. Those whose adhesion shall be
secured would make no sacrifice worth
considering. for should peace come be-
fore November there could follow moth
ing but gain. while should 1t not-well
We are now faced by the skeleton. truth,
and must unveIl it-mothers and sisters
will then care as little in what vestments
their bodies are clothed as the sons and
brothers lying still and cold along the
front and hardly will want to see any
! thing else made in Germany or Aus
tria. JOHN EDWARD MAXWELL
NORFOLK, July 2s.