Evening star., 1921-12-01
ny WILLIAM r. ELLIS,

SoS POpull' has come to Washing
ton-with a megaphone. After per-
sonal observation of masses of the
communications upon armament that
are collected here l am prepared to
say that one good reason. perhaps the
best of all. for believing that this
conference will not be shunted from
its main track to any sidings of mere
seneralizations or incidental. tech
nical accomplishments, is to be found
in the unprecedented number of let
ters, kilograms and resolutions that
have reached the President and the
American delegates American pub
lie sentiment, the thinking of the
folks back home. has made itself felt
directly, as is shown by these docu-
ments-"bales of them as one man
responsible for appraising their con-
tents declared despairingly.
After making the rounds of the
three White House secretaries re-
sponsible for correspondence. the
Offices of all of the American dele
quarters of the advisory committee
and sounding out congressmc ,
have an impressive picture of how
the American people. when really
aroused, go about expressing them
selves. Veteran officials. whose mem
a
tions, say there has never before been
anything approaching this outburst
of public sentiment. No wonder Pres
ident Harding and Secretary Hughes
act like men holding an unmistakable
mandate from the nation.
100000 Women Sign Petition.
Where these messages come from,
who sent them, and why and what
they say constitute one of the most
1ltrr, ,ft,.,
First and most imposing, physically,
is the armament petition of the w. c.
T. u, signed by 100000 American
women. These huge rolls of sigma
lures. tied with broad white silk rib
bohs, bulk larger than any other COL
thoughts of the tireless labors of
women, in all parts of the land. who
went from door to door. travelling over
all sorts of country, in every kind of
weather, massing the sentiment of the
mothers of the country against war.
Added to these must be the 10000
names written in Japanese, which the
w. c. T. U. of Japan sent by it's ven-
erable messenger, Nine. YAKIMA, whose
eighty-nine years have not dimmed
her ardor for. world at peace.
Women are responsible for the sec
ond largest classification of letters and
memorials. First place belongs to the
churches. Religion has found her
voice in America. and no mistake. One
single item of the mammoth collec-
tion of documents Is an album con-
tanning the names of $4,000 minister
ial signers. Clearly the conscience
of the country has been aroused on
the major issue that confronts the
delegates. All Protestant denomina-
tions, and Catholic churches, Jewish
synagogues. Christian Science
churches. theosophical gatherings and
l,f-
avalanche of mail matter, whereby
the government. has heard from the
people. The physical appearance of
the documents Is suggestive. ! chanced
to handle an exquisitely prepared
Episcopal communication, and also a
laboriously penciled minute from a
country congregations.
Number Up In Millions.
Many of the ecclesiastical communica-
tionS represent congregational or de-
nominational meetings. and they give
| figures for the number Of individuals for
whom they speak. The number is up in
| the millions. 1 saw wireless message
from the Presbyterian Church in Scot
| lard that spoke for million members.
Next in volume are the opinions from
women's organizations. Some of these
are in telegraphic form, and they speak
| in mandatory fashion, as if the women
| were fully conscious Of the authority
given them by the ballot. A widespread
organization of college trained women
provided it's members with printed
blanks to be signed. The human and
| individual note is struck by many of
the womens letters through which I
glanced Indeed there is some remark
ably exalted writing in this overwhelm-
ing collection of expressions Of public
\ opinion.
| Labor unions, which are the third
largest classification represented. fire.
quently use printed forms, after the
fashion Of the college women. By con-
trast, some of the resolutions are elabo.
rately engrossed. One formal parch-
ment, from the Grand Lodge Of thirty
third degree members of the Masonic
order. southern section, was a work OF
! art, even to the bow of purple ribbon