The Benson signal., 1919-04-12
Every Worker Must Remember
She Is Valuable to Economic
Life of the Nation.
ASSIST IN FOOD PRODUCTION
Should Utilize Household Experiences,
Employ All Their Human Affec-
ton and Exert Whole Capac-
ity of Understanding.
BY MISS JANE ADDAMs.

OOA AA6 IACOO OFCAtAOA OOJO WhNA
the awakened minds and aroused con-
sciences Of the entire civilized world
are turned towards measures of re-
construction, it Is we'll for women to
ask themselves what distinctive part
they will bear in this tremendous un-
dertaking which involves not only the
welfare Of all living women but the
future Of their children.
1t is obvious that the women of
America have most advantageous
position in this task. Women in this
country have always had unique
freedom from traditional restrictions
and unusual opportunities for higher
education in schools. American women
have become organized into social and
educational clubs, into mutual benefit
societies, into religious and nationals
tic groups whose membership counts
into the millions. Many of these or
gaMizations reflect the cosmopolitan
composition of American society and
all of them register the relatively high
intelligence and independence Of
American women. The courses Of
as well as their cosmopolitan member
ship, have prepared thousands of
women to take a disinterested, far
sighted view of public affairs. In
those states in which women have
been voting and in many other states
through their suffrage organizations,
women have long been studying polit-
ical questions. AT this tumultuous
moment when the fall of Russian and
German autocracy has so momentous-
ly changed the world outlook, 1t Is
hoped that these women have a sense
Of historical perspective, and that
they may be able to capitalize our
political history for the benefit Of 9th
er nations, urging the experience Of
this country in the abolition of legal
barriers between the several states,
the giving Of equal rights to all citi-
zens, the establishment Of federal
supreme court, and the necessity of
federal control over the common high
ways Ol COIuIuOrCo.
It is also hoped that they will be
able to hold fast to that good will so
desperately needed for the healing of
the nations, by remembering the valu-
able contributions to American life
made by people who have emigrated
here from every country In Europe.
Already a desire to help nations less
fortunate than our own has expressed
While congress has been advocating
restriction Of immigration for the next
four years, have heard American
women urge that wOmen's OrganiZa-
tions of various sorts might well offer
to take care Of war widows with lit
tie children who wished to emigrate
to the United States, by guarantee.
ing to the government that such FAM
lily groups should not become public
charges. Women would undertake
such a task in all humility of spirit,
realizing that the United States has
been subjected to the strain of war for
shorter time than the other powers.
Women Have Had Much to Do.
American women as a whole have
also enjoyed higher standard Of living
than those Of any other country, and
through the invention of machinery
and labor-saving devices have been
relieved of much Of the drudgery
which women in other countries have
borne in their households. They have
been able to respond in overwhelming
numbers to the service under the Red
Cross for the preparation of hospital
supplies, and clothing for war refu-
gees. Women of all sorts have met in
groups under nationwide auspices to
respond to these demands, and have
found not only a heightened patriot
ism, but a new sense of comradeship
in the mutual tasks. The results of
much Of this activity will remain in
America itself, in the establishment of
country nursing and Of community
councils, or in the development of
those war activities instituted by the
children'S bureau, which resulted in
more accurate knowledge of the
status OF the children in the nation,
and in the provision for adequate care
for all maternity cases, even when the
mothers live in remote pioneer parts
Of the country.
The women responsible for 22,OOO,-
600 kitchens who were asked during
the war to modify their accustomed
ways, to make a technical study Of
resources to conscientiously conserve
food, will be obliged to continue such
effort if the worlds immediate needs
are to be met. Fortunately thousands
of American women have so stretched
their sympathy and sense Of respon-
sibility to include the care of children
in Belgium and in Armenia, that they
can never again become Indifferent to
them. These women have also real
ized that If at the end Of the war,
whole populations are left depleted by
malnutritiOn and their national vital
ity thus permanently lowered, such ma
tions will be able to make little use Of
Tho 0roat Gifts Of DOlitica1 freedom