The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-02-08
URGES LEAGUE
FOR PROTECTION
Mrs. Wilson Starts Move of Al.
lied Women to Keep Sol
dierS' Morals High.
MESSAGE DISPATCHED
Mothers, Sisters and Daughters of Sol.
diers Are Included In Plan
Says Responsibilities Are
Tremendous

Washington, Feb. z. An interna-
tional move has been launched by
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife of the
president, to throw about the fighters
in Europe and their mothers, sisters
and daughters, the highest moral in
fiuence during the war.
Speaking of the mothers OF Amer
lea, Mrs. Wilson dispatched the mes.
sase, jointly signed by Mrs. Anna
Howard Shaw, chairman of National
Defense Council, woman's committee,
to all embassies abroad.
The message follows:
Cooperation Pledged.
ITO the women of the Allied ma
lions of the world Dear Friends:
The unparalleled struggle for democ.
racy and permanent peace which
binds our nations to cooperative SER
vice is shared by men and women
alike, in the yearning of the mother
heart of the world for the highest
moral and spiritual welfare of chill
dren there is deeper and more subtle
bond which makes all women akin.
Out of the mutual agony and love of
the mothers of America this message
was sent to the Allied mothers of
Europe, pledging our interest and our
cooperation in the protection of our
sons and daughters in this time of
temptation and danger.
I'm all our countries mothers are
willing and proud to give their sons
to defend the ideals which underlie
this supreme sacrifice which their
government demands of them and to
accept with fortitude and calmness
their death. But they shrink from the
greater sorrow which comes from the
lack of moral fiber which robs them
of health and manly vigor''
at is no wonder that their hearts
fail them when they realize the temp
tations which beset their sons, re.
moved from home and family ties, liv-
ing the unnatural life of the camp, ex-
posed to the excitement and fierce
passions of conflict; all of which inn
pair their powers to resist temptation
that under happier and more healthful
circumstances would easily be con.
quered.
Women's Lives Unnatural.
''The same is true of our daughters
who are fled out of the home into
world service with the glamor of war
and emotional phases of society which
war tends to foster and which lead to
the breaking down of restraint that
has hitherto been their safeguard
These abnormal conditions place
upon all women tremendous RESPONSE
bility and urge the closest union in an
effort to conserve the moral forces of
society, to protect our young men and
women that they may be kept pure
and chivalrous, so that after the con-
flict is ended we may look with hope
to the future home life of our peoples
for that health of body and mind,
that purity and nobility of individual
character and that righteousness in
government which alone can insure
permanence and prosperity in any ma
ton.
"If We fail in this, then have our
struggles and sacrifices been in vain
and future generations will rightly
charge the women of our time with
failure to meet the great responsible
ity which must always rest with the
mothers of the race.
Faithfully yours,
EDITH BOILING WILSON.
GAMMA HOWARD SHAW.
Chairman of the Women's Commit
tee of the National Council of De-
foOcev