New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-14

4 other IN their cNortS 10 entertain NutH
and contribute 20 their wellbeing. Tho
best homes are open TO them and they
are wined and dned continuously.
Each woman and girl seems to consider
herself a committee OF one to do some
thing for a soldier Thus the restraint
which in ordinary times hedges the
freedom OF association between the
women and men has been thrown aside.
And beyond question this has contrib
uted something to the ruin Of the girls
and the seriousness Of the social evil.
Now if this is the actual state of af-
fairs in the belligerent countries we
ght expect that superhuman efforts
would be put forth 20 stem the tide Of
immortality and save the people. Yet
the exact reverse is true. SO far as
the ordinary person is able 10 discover.
there is absolutely no action being
taken to control the evil.
The laws. OF course, stand on the
statute books. and we occasionally read
Of conviction; but all this means
nothing. Conviction means small
fine. perhaps a brief imprisonment. no.
toriety through the public press and
then the victim is sent out worse than
ever. hardened, resentful and with the
door of reformation efectually closed
against her.
The difficulties in such situation
are we'll known and are the same in oil
countrics-the difficulty of securing
evidence. the lack OF any adequate cor
receive agencies, the general attitude
which prevents reformation and the IN
ability to grapple with the evil at ITS
base by reaching the ultimate cause
OF it.
Affects All Social Questions
To sneak Of the problem which such
a reign Of immortality is preparing for
the future is to raise at once the en-
tire range Of social questions. There
Is no form Of crime which ramifes so
thoroughly through the structure OF
people's life as the social evil. and the
present carnival OF misbehavior, which
/ am constrained 20 believe rivals any
similar situation which has ever faced
the world in its history, is p!lng up Tor
MS trouble Of most serious kind. In
no first Mace. we shall have 70 con-
slider anew the question Of illegitimacy
and this vii! involve a complete change
Of attitude toward unfortunate children
If il is to be answered in way that
will preserve the best interests OF the
social order.
II will require more than a mere OFF,
cial edct or legal enactment ordering
the legitimatizing of all children born
out Of wedlock; this, indeed, is a most
foolish proceeding, since It secures 70
the children nothing which they would
not obtain without IT, except IN un-
usual cases.
The remedy must 60 deeper; il must
secure 10 such children all the dement's
of opportunity and respect. and this
cannot be done until the attitude OF
society. which denies them these
things, is changed. And this is the
most difficult OF all tasks, as well as
the most dangerous. Deep-seated preju-
d.ces, moral conceptions with centuries
OF time behind them, ideas Of respecta-
bility which are the Outgrowth OF the
social experience Of al! the ages, the
instructive sentiments Of the heart. 90
which violations Of cCnJugdl confidence
are repulsive no law or edict can
change these things. And what Il they
are changed?
In that case we face the danger Of
plunging the world into very hell Of
crime by overthrowing all OF its moral
ideas. Surely the best interests Of
civilization viii not be served by the
cultivation of spirit that excuses lie
gitimacy and LOOKS with federation upon
a violation of the Seventh Command
ment, For such II relaxation could not
be temporary eXpedIent; our ideas
& are too fundamental TO be changed and
] adjusted at Will. In either case the
social problem remains serious.
Women Prove Capability
Another aspect Of this social problem
will concern the preponderance IN num-
bers Of the women over men. This is
,favorite subject of speculation, and the
superficial suggestions for its adjust
ment range ali the way from equal
rights for women" through polyeamy,
TO a complete abolition Of the lnsutu-
ton of marriage. But it is not nearly
so serious as II has been pictured. Its
economic aspects are, indeed, practical
ly negligible.
In this war the women have shown
once for all that they are abundantly
\ble and willing 10 take care Of them
selves, so that their dependence upon
the opposite sex for support Is thing
Of the past.
In the matter of morality and the
MtllAit u INC lOAtlt aS GA AtN'4'N ~+N+'s
however, the influence of the disparity
of one sex will be felt. It will not be
good thing, either, for the women or
for the world, no matter what socialls-
tic theorists may say, to throw the
women into industry by the side of
men, giving them the same wages and
offering them all inducements to be-
come cogs IN the machine Of industry.
That fbrneopAe nf thgvp ar forced N
turn their activities into this channel
is quite true, and in such case simple
justice demands that they be not dis
eliminated against.
But the we'll worn argument that
"woman's place is the home" however
much il may be ridiculed by the rad
icals, is. after all, founded upon the
most fundamental conception of our
social life. Whatever adjustments we
may be forced 10 make out Of neces-
sity, the fact will remain that the ideal
life for the woman is in the home.
From this standpoint we will digress
at our peril.
Now. the preponderGnce OF women
over the men will necessarily force US
10 make wide DEPRESSION from this
IDEAL. Many thousands seem to be
barred from the home life to which
they are attracted by instinct and by
training. But an Industrial occupation
cannot change human nature or eradi
cate the deepest instincts of life, while
the association and competition with
men on a common basis will neither
give men deeper respect for the
Women nor strengthen their own moral
conscience. Hence it seems certain that
immortality will result from the new
situation