The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-23
WOMEN MUST
HAVE PROTECTION
Duty Of Government During
War to Pay as Much At
tention to Them as
Her Soldiers.
IMPORTANT PROBLEM
Development Of ,Woman-Power In the
Nation 10 Far More Vital oues-
tIon Than Seems to
be Realized.
IMPORTANT PROBLEM
[By George Martin, United Press STAFF
Correspondent

! [By George Martin. United Press STAFF
Correspondent
NEW YORK, May 23.-It is the
governments duty to organize de-
partment as comprehensive and eff
cient as the war department itself,
for the victualing. housing, medical
care and clothing of war mothers
and children. Summed up, that was
the verdict today Of two national
women's organizations with head
quarters in New York: The Women's
League for National Service and the
National American Woman Suffrage
association.
They suggested two plans whereby
the government, which is now seek
ing a solution Of the problem, can
use national organizations already IN
existence as basis for this women's s
war department
The service league favors reorgani-
zation of the national Red Cross,
under government control, to shoul-
der the task.
The suffragists favor the develop
ment Of their own national. state.
county, city, village and election dis
| LIICL OIkdulZdLlOu Ol LWO
women to handle the work for the
government.
Both bodies stressed their attitude
that there must be no hint Of charity
c. philanthropy about this work"
The government" said Mrs. Coffin
Van Rensselaer, Of the Women's
league organization committee today,
mas discharged only half its duty to
the nation when it has trained.
equipped and sent it's soldiers to
fight.
ut must also train, equip ands en-
power it's women. to do their share
at home in many ways; and it must
protect the children already born and
see that those who will be born have
every opportunity to grow straight
and strong that they may take their
fathers place. %.
This applies not only to the wives
and children of fighting men, but to
all the women and children of the
nation who need help and training.
How this work is organized is up
to the government. Our league is
pledged to support the national Red
Cross and if the work is turned over
to the Red Cross that will suit us.
"But both the Red Cross and our
selves are behind the government.
however 1t does this, Just SO it does
it. The government owes the obliga-
ton to the women for they not only
give up their loved ones to fight in
the trenches, but they also face many
difficulties at home"
Miss Maud Young of the National
American Woman Suffrage associa-
ton outlined that body's attitude in
the matter.
"The development Of woman-power
in the nation and the protection Of
feminine home forces by the govern
ment, is a far more vital problem in
this war than the government seems
to have realized" said she.
eff we bungle the problem of
woman power at the beginning. the
nation will seriously handicap itself
in this war for long time to come.
"The two million women of our
are alive to the fact
that the women at home will play as
great part in the winning Of this
war as will our men at the front.
Women are going to be called upon
to labor in the fields, the factories,