Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-30
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS SPEECH
DELIVERED BEFORE SENA TIE ON
BEHALF OF WOMAN SLFERA GE|

had before refused it, the strange
revelations OF this war having
made many things new and plain,
TO governments as we'll as to peO-
pies.
Give Service and Sacrifice.
Are we alone to refuse to learn
the lesson? Are we alone to ask
and take the utmost that our
women can give-service and sac
riffce of every kind-and still say
we do not see what title that gives
them to stand by our sides in the
guidance of the affairs of their ma
tion and CURSE We have made
partners of the women in this war;
shall we admit them only to part
nership of suffering and sacrifice
and toll and not to partnership of
privilege and right? This war could
not have been fought, either by the
other nations engaged Or by Ameri-
ca, If it had not been for the serv-
ices of the women--services rem
dered in every sphere-not merely
in the fields of effort in which we
have been accustomed to see them
work. but wherever men have
worked and upon the very skirts
and edges of the battle itself We
Shall not only be distrusted, but
shall deserve to be distrusted if we
do not enfranchise them with the
fullest possible enfranchisement, as
it is now certain that the other
great free nations will enfranciise
them. We cannot isolate our
thought and action in such a mat
ter from the thought of the rest of
the world. We must either conform
or deliberately reject what they
propose and resign the leadership
of liberal minds to others.
The women of America are too
noble and too intelligent and too
devoted to be slackers whether you
give or withhold this thing that is
mere justice; but I know the magic
it will work in their thoughts and
spirits if you give it them. l pro-
pose it as l would propose to admit
soldiers to the suffrage, the men
fighting in the field for our liberties
and the liberties of the world, were
women lie at the very heart of the
war, and know how much stronger
that heart will beat if you do this
just thing and show our women that
you trust them as much as you in
fact and of necessity depend upon
them.
Vital Issue in War.
Have I said that the passage of
this amendment is vitality neces--
Sary war measure, and do you need
further proof? Do you stand in
need of the trust of other peoples
and of the trust of our own wom-
en-? Is that trust an asset or is it
: not? 1 tell you plainly. as the
r-in-chief of our armies
and of the gallant men in our
l,4 -
this people in our dealings with
the men and women throughout
the world who are now our part
ners, as the responsible head of a
great government which stands
and is questioned day by day as to
its purposes, it's principles, its
hopes, whether they be service
itself, and who must himself an
swer these questionings or be
shamed, as the guide and director
of forces caught in the grip of war
and by the same token in need of
every material and spiritual re-
source this great nation possesses
Il tell you plainly that this meas
ure which l urge upon you is vital
to the winning of the war and to
the energies alike of preparation
and of battle.
And not to the winning of the
war only. 1t is vital to the right
solution Of the great problems
which we must settle, and settle
Immediately, when the war is over.
We shall need then in our vision
Of affairs. as we have never needed
them before. the sympathy and in
sight and clear moral instinct of
the women of the world. The prob 3
lens of that time will strike to
the roots of many things that we
have not hitherto questioned, and
1 for one believe that our safety
in those questioning days, as we'll
as our comprehension of matters
that touch society to the quick,
will depend upon the direct and
authoritative participation of
women in our counselS. We shall
need their moral sense to preserve
what is right and fine and worthy
in our system of life as well as to
discover Just what 1t is that ought
to be purified and reformed. With
out their counselings we shall be
only half wise.
That is my case. This is my ap-
peal. Many may deny its validity.
ii they choose. but no one can
brush aside or answer the argu-
ments upon which it is based.
The executive tasks of this war
rest upon me. I ask that you
tighten them and place in my
hands instruments, spiritual in
struments. which do not now
possess, which sorely need. and
which have daily to apologize
for not being ahe<o employ