New-York tribune., 1918-01-13

/
/ containing these lines:
"Apd euefv 'rord its ordor Auno
From Of its Jubuant i1op tongue
Was 'IVor. War War
| hadn't thought of that poem for years.
but those three lines suddenly popped into my
mind the other afternoon as l sat listening
to what a charming English woman had to
tell ME of the work that her country women
are doing to help win the war"
The charming lady was Miss Helen Fraser
prominent suffrage leader and a member of
the executive committee of the National Union
Of Womens Suffrage Societies. who has come
10 this country at the invitation of President
McCracken of Nassar College to lecture on
the war work that is being done by the women
of Great Britain.
| had gone to interview Miss Fraser on
quite different subject. My purpose was to
find out something of the plans of the English
sufragists. Now that they had really been
given the vote. I wanted to know what they
proposed to do with it. Remembering the
long and exciting campaign that they had
carried on by way of getting the franchise I
felt sure that their future plans would be
fully as spectacular, and here was golden
opportunity to learn from one of the fountain
heads, as it We're, what kind of fireworks
were to be set off, and how, and when
But. goodness. gracious mes 1t wasn't the
slightest in the world! At my first ques-
ton | found myself plumb up against a
stone wall on which was written in capital
letters just one short word-"WAR!7
Now that you English women have re-
ceved the franchise.' | began in my cheeriest
manner, how are you going to use it? How
are you gong to educate the great rank and
hle OF women to vote intellgently and for
the best interests of all concerned9~
Miss Fraser looked at me with pitying
KIND OF smile. as who should saw:
The poor. benighted heathen! Doesn't she
know that we are at WAR? What price
the vote nolr?-
But what She really sad was:
We are not thinking of suffrage With US
the War is the Supreme Thing All our ener-
sies are directed toward winning this war
and everything else must watt
But YOU hore the franchise" | said
What are yon going to do with it when the
Time comes for you to vote?'
We shall do the best we can" she an
S"ered, but our war work cannot be dis
'uroed by any suffrage agitation. You are
surprised to hear me say this. | know but
walt until your wounded begin to come home
and YOUR women really wake up to the seri-
.@sness of this world war and you will feel
S&cty the same. ou will know, then, that
Mhng else matters"
get very impatient sometimes" she went
on' with the calm manner in which the
women of this country are taking this war.
and then ! remind myself that it was the
same with own women at The beginning
but our awakening came quicker than yours,
'o' 1t was barely month after the beginning
VI nosuities that our first wounded came
back to us.
AISs Fraser paused d moment and | put
another question, determined to "stick to NV
text"
But what has become Of your Suffrage
'0cety''' ! asked. Has it disbanded for
ever"
Not by good deal" was the reply. 1T
"aS been kept intact for war work. You see
"'eh war was declared the suffrage society
aaa ,.a trained organization ready for work
'"S organization has been of the greatest
wee to the government
us ilrst job was caring for the first Bel
.Neu TO look after these poor wretches, and
~ OUT call for interpreters and volun-
w workers. In less than a week every one
"''S multitude of homeless beings was
r"Neu IN home on institution where he
"'''u DC properly cared for The suffrage
s'ie'y instituted a system for this work
""'ch proved so efficient that it was i'm
rN'"'eiv adopted by the government, which
,aS 'ook over the secretary of the associa-
'Vn to direct the work.
e.. o"lts have gone from the London Suf-
,.S se society to France and Russia; the lat
~. ~, winch is called The Miicent Fawcctt
st'. S'.' mas become really famous because of
srs. '''~" "'''
mere isn't the slightest question but that
was This very thng--thc dropping of all