The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-12
WHY NATIONAL LEAGUE
FOR W0MAh'S SERVICE
Experience OF Two and Half Years
In Europe Has Taught
Lesson.
REGISTRATION is IMPORTANT
Organization Must BE Divided Into
Its Proper Classes IL Its Activities
Would Be of Real Value in Time
of Stress.

What 10 this National League for
Woman's Service? What does 1t ex-
pect women to do? Is 1t associated
with the Red Cross? These and In
Vulnerable other questions have aris-
en- since the Richmond branch OF the
National League for Woman's Ser
vice was organized a few weeks ago
with Mrs. Frank D. Williams chair
man. and Mrs. w. w. Sale state chair
man.
Two years and half experience
In Europe has shown what work wo-
men are capable of In times Of war
or any national distress
The mistakes made by the women
of England before there was any or
gantzed plan for their work showed
the women OF America how necessary
1t was to band together and be pre-
pared in case OF any emergency to
provide systematic help in the many
lines of work which III unusual times
are thrown open to women
Lack of Registry a Handicap.
One OF the great handtcaps which
complicated the Intelligent use OF the
woman power Of England was the
lack OF any registry OF women ana
women's resources when war was de-
clared. Such a registry has been
made since, but meantime there has
been much maladjustment OF wo-
mems labor and women's resources.
Based upon the experiences OF Eng
land and the needs OF our own coun-
try. a program for co-ordinating the
work and developing the resources OF
the woman power OF America was pre-
scented at the Congress for Construc-
tive Patriotism. held In washington.
d. c., January Is. rs and ~. This
program was endorsed by the con-
gress. A woman's session was held.
at which over FIVE hundred women
from all sections Of the United States
we're present, representing many ma
tional. state and local organizations
At this session . resolution was passed
endorsing the program and authorfx-
ing the chairman OF the session. Miss
ganization committee of not less than
fifteen members, this committee to be
/ national In representation, and to
formulate plans for an organization to
promote the program for woman's
work in America Thus the National
League for Woman's Service came
into being in Washington, .. c.. on
January az. 1917.
! Object of Organization.
| The object OF the organization, as
stated in its constitution. Is: ITO CO.
ordinate and standard!ze the work OF
women OF America along lines of con-
structive patriotism; to develop the
resources and to promote this efficien-
! cy of women in meeting their every
day responsibilities to homo. to state,
to nation, and to humanity: to pro-
vide organized. trained groups in ev-
cry community prepared to Cooperate
with the Red Cross ami other agen-
cies in dealing with any calamity
fire, flood, famine. economic disorder.
etc, and In time of war to supple
ment the work of the Red Crosse. the
army and navy. and to deal with
questions OF womens work and wo-
mems welfare" The slogan of the
organization Is: For God, for coun-
try. for home"
The program on which its work is
based Is First. to develop a clearing
| house OF information regarding wo-
mems organizations working along
lines Of constructive patriotism: sec
ond. to coordinate the work Of wo-
mems organizations and to develop
tho resources of women through q
standardized, nationalized program OF
activities; third. to recommend to the
proper governmental agency: (a) a
registry OF the woman power Of Amer
lea; (b) a woman's bureau under the
federal government t.. deal with wo-
mems work and women's welfare.
Into Eleven Divisions.
+ The responsibilities Of women are
divided into eleven national divisions
Home economics, social and welfare
health. civfcs. agricultural. Industrial
medical and nursing. motor driving
signalling and map reading, genera
service and camps. Each division /.
organized with officers and definite
programs Of procedure.
The National League for Woman.
Service is working in close co-opera-
ton with the Red Cross. and all regis,
tratons for medical. nursing. and hos
pital work-room work are referred
Immediately to that organization.
The national headquarters OF the
National League FOR Woman's Service
are at 10b West Fortieth street. New
York city, from which complete in.
formation may he secured
Organization Committee.
Appointed in Washington. d. C.
January 81, 1917:
Miss Maude Wetmore. Rhode Is.
land, chairman.
Miss Anne Morgan. New York
treasurer.
Miss Grace Parker. New York, ma.
tionai con1mandant.
Mrs. Charles f Edison. California
Mrs. +. V Hammar, Missouri.
Mrs. F. X, Hewitt. New Jersey.
Mrs. George Hoadley, Ohio.
Mrs. George s, Isham, Illinois
Mrs. J. willis Martin, PENNSYLVANIA
Mrs, Thomas Ow Alabama.
Mrs. Lindsay Patterson. North Car.
olina-
Mrs. william W. Sale. Virginia.
Mrs. c. A. Severance Minnesota.