The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-09-24
WoMAN's ATTITUDE ON THE
LEAGUE or NATIONS
Miami, Fla. Sept. Is, 1920.

In an editorial Women and the Lea
que" in Sundays edition you observe
'Just what is to be the attitude of the
new women voter toward the League
of Nations is. of course, difficult to
say" That statement is doubtless
true concerning childless women and
young mothers. They must, as you
suggest, acquaint themselves with
present conditions in Europe and the
workings of the League of Nations in
that war torn country, if they really
desire to vote, mot according to emo
ton, but according to their common
sense"
But there is another class of women,
about whom, Judging by maternal in
stinct, there will be no uncertainty in
their attitude toward the League Of
Nations. refer to mothers who sent
sons to the late war. and there must
be at least million such mothers,
many Of whom have other sons who
are now, or soon will be, just the age
for cannon fodder" These same
mothers, with grief stricken hearts,
but with smiling faces, babe their sons
God-speed, as they went forth to battle
for God and humanity" and how did
these boys come back? With senti-
mentalism knocked out of them by the
vicissitudes Of war, the two million A..
E. F. came home, weary, homesick,
disguised.
Do you think any mother who had a
son overseas in the late war would
knowingly vote for a League of Ma
tions wherein the United States pledg-
es itself to again go with troops to the
aid OF foreign country?
Here is one that would not. She
sent three sons overseas to help
make the world safe for democracy"
That one experience is enough for the
writer. Maternal love is common in
stinct. Therefore, my opinion is that
the mothers of the A. e. F. boys will
vote for no League of Nations unless
it be one that entirely does away with
war. And as long as human hearts
are so wicked, how can wars be end
ed?
For one woman's vote l can vouch.
1t will be cast not for this or that
political party, but locally and ma
tionally, for the benefit and better
ment of humanity-''for God and home
and native land"
MRS. M. w. SOMMERS.
Ocala, Fla, Sep. 10th, 1920.
Mrs. NJ. w. Sommers,
Miami, Florida.
My dear Mrs. Sommers:-
Ancient history is but a repetition
of interminable wars and since the
advent of the Christian religion there
has been no cessation to human
slaughter. The "dove of peace" rarely
finds resting place and then only
for little while.
Since the formation of our republic
our government has been involved in
armed disputes with the Mother
Country" with France, our ally in the
revolutionary struggle. with the Bar
barry States, and within a single life
time we have been engaged in a war
with Mexico, with Spain, we have sent
armed troops into the very heart of
China, and lastly, we have participat-
ed in the Great World War.
If all the things have enumerated
had been the result of a League of
Nations your complaint, which + find
in a recent issue of the Miami Herald,
would be entirely just but as they all
came about without a League of Ma
tions, the establishment of which is
to prevent just such outbreaks and to
bring about universal peace, l hope
you will not think the less of me for
saying that your complaint seems to
me to be entirely untenable.
1t does appear to me that the Lea
que of Nations is at least worth trial
and until it mas trial should not be
condemned
II it proves failure any nation has
the right to withdraw from 1t.
| have advocated woman suffrage
for more than firty years because /
believed that the mothers of the
land. would aid US in doing every
thing possible to ward OF wars.
! do not want to see my hopes shat
tered.
With great respect am very truly
yours,
FRANK HARRIS.