The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-05-03
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.
Observation-Disclosures rank is to be
asked for American army nurses
Ella Phillips Crandall, secretary of the
committee Of nursing of the council
or national defense, goes so far as tC
say that in future wars women will
refuse TO serve as nurses unless they
are given commissions.
There is reason. although IL may be
that the military authorities will deny
that it is an adequate one. for the po-
sition which the women nurses take
in this matter. There have been re-
ports of many cases in which the
women have been unable 10 get GER
tain things done in the hospitals near
the front because they did not have
the insignia of rank which entitled
them 10 give orders to service men act
ing supposedly under them.
1t is understood that an attempt
| will be made TO get at the demands
| from the viewpoint of absolute justice
In the case. and if it shall be found
that efficiency will be best served by
granting the nurses wishes the thing
probably will be done.
In 1915 1 was In Europe as a CORE
spondent and stayed some time in Eng
land before leaving for the French
front | was stopping at hotel in
the English metropolis when 75 Cana
dian young women army nurses ar
rived. They were to be distributed to
the various Canadian hospital camps
in the field. Every one Of these wom-
en- was an army officer TO the extent
that she held a commission as second
Lieutenant. This gave her the right
within certain restrictions to issue or
ders to noncommissioned officers and
enlisted men of the Canadian service.
Canadian Plan Worked Well.
Afterward was told that this plan
worked for the good of the service.
Each of these young women was
trained in her profession and this
meant that in nine cases out of ten at
least she would know better what to
do in certain eases in the hospital than
would the only partially trained man
or nOncommissiOned officer on duty
with her. 1t Is known that in some
cases soldiers disliked and OCCASION
ally even refused to take orders, even
In emergency cases, from women who
had no emblem save that given them
by a badge Of nursing which they
wore. the outward and visible sign of
training.
The women nurses of the United
States who went abroad TO serve their
country did heroic work. They not
only served frequently under fire, but
they were compelled time after time
to do body-breaking and heart-break.
ing work. because in war there are
times when all thoughts Of self must be
given over and all limitations Of hours
Of work and kinds of work must be
set at naught.
Anarchy and Americanisrr.
Anarchy under the guise of bolshey-
ism has been treated constantly In the
press from the viewpoint of possible
action by congress to avert its dangers
TO and nthe United States.
What congress may do or attempt
to do still is problematical. The sub
Ject Is charged with T. N. T.. not so
much because men in Washington be-
lieve 1t really Is a potential danger.
as because they fear that in getting
after what they think is anarchy they |
may be getting after something which !
Is harmless and which has been mis- |
Consequently it is easy !
enough to see that there are what |
might be called personal political dam
gers in any attempt by individuals to
start legislation, unless definite knowI- |
edge is in hand that the thing assaiIed
Is anarchy and not merely a remote
of IL.
There are thousands of men in the
city of Washington not in congress
who take as deep an interest in the
signs Of anarchy here and there as do
he legislators themselves. 1t is
known that the sporadic manifesta-
ions Of anarchy in the United States
nave been a heart burden of specuIa-
ion and even Of anxiety to men high
n public Office in this city. They have
studied them, and are continuing their
study, but thus far study has been car
red on largely, so to speak. in the
'lOset, because open Acknowledgement
" anarchy as a danger means that
Iuch anarchy as there is will profit bv
he publicity of using it for its own
,nds.
Rely on Education.
Men in public life, and who have
'een long years in II, do not think that
he United States Is in danger of any
UGH overthrowings as have been &C.
omplished in the vexed countries ,
cross the water. Scores of reasons ,
ave been advanced for the belief of ,
rudious Americans in Washington. I
7here touch with national life Is DOS !
ible, that anarchy is not a sharp 1
eaded spear of danger to this coun- :
~, but the one real reason for disbe- 7
eff is to be found In the word edu- I
alton. BY this education which Is TO '
ONE in the future Is not meant, but
ne education which here is present.
There are all grades Of education.