The Washington herald., 1922-01-15

enccnt or maiiciOuS, according 10
mind. The result is always flood
Of written and printed material
which II Is utterly impossible for
delegates working on a selected
properly to digest. Now the
board was the natural
place to deal with this material
and to report back to the delegates
II they found In 1t some new and
fruitful idea. some bit Of genius OF
vision. the kind of thing that gen.
orally in this world has. come from
the unrecognlzed many and which
SO often has such difficulty In Sc
curing recognition.
Serious study Required.
But the board was not satisfied
to spend its time passing on public
opinion. They desired to have a
based on a. fresh study
Of the questions before the confer
ence. Such a background they felt
erly to evaluate the soundness of
that which came to them from the
outside. 1t was to make this study
that thay divided themselves into
and with the help OF
experts went to work. It certainly
was not an easy undertaking for
all OF them.
For instance, II you have been
for the greater part of your life a
leader in labor matters, like Mr..
Gompers. and you find your
self a member of a committee on
Far Eastern affairs. II means some
serious special effort to fit yourself
as a contributing committee mem
Der. Mr.. Gompers did not shirlS
he effort. GIVE me all the books
that you ind that are of any
value" was his order to his secre-
tary. Tell me where I can get
any information" was his sugges-
ton his friends. When there's
going on 1 want to be in
It." and have II from his associates
that on these Far East questions
he was Gin it''-one OF the hardest
most attentive and coop
erative members OF the advisory
board.
Women Share in Work.
Now It was into this organization
that the four women were fitted.
that they have more than proved
their willingness and capacity TO
serve on an important pioneer or
like the advisory board
is universally conceded by those
who have been closest to the Or
Each of them has
served on at least two committees.
and one of them has acted as sec
rotary to the body. They have had
an equal part with men in shaping
this new diplomatic instrument.
and If It should be continued. as is
probable. in future conferences.
women will as a matter of course
be included. That is. they have
''-ealized on this advisory board the
..'emand of thoughtful and serious
women that women should be al
owed to do yeoman service in the
'aeld OF diplomacy.
One possible function OF the ad-
visory board not tried out was the
hearing. publicly or privately, OF
people who had special information
on matters connected directly or in
with the agends. One of
the questions which might very
well have been taken up by the. ad-
board was that OF opium. A
hearing before 1t was sought by a
woman who knows more about this
sad business and has its proper
control more deeply at heart than
any woman in America 10 not in tie
world. and that is Mrs. Hamilton
Wright.
Continues Work Of Husband.
She has come naturally into her
leadership. All those familiar with
the struggle to restrict the opium
traffic know the work OF her hus-
band, DR.. Hamilton Wright, who
was in charge OF this question for
the United States through three
successive administrations. being
appointed by President
in 1908. DIR. Wright rep
resented US at the Shanghai Com
and the succeeding inter-
national opium congresses held at
The Hague, and was really more
than any other indI-
vidual for the success of the move
ment, his leadership being inter-
nationally recognized.
By the summer of 1914 all but
Two OF the nations of the world
had united in support of the opium
Then came the war.
Its problems for the time being
put all thought of control of drugs
tut of the mind of tho nations.
interests promptly
took advantage of the situation to
break down all international
pledges and particularly those that
had been given to support China
in her efforts to protect herself
rom opium. Smuggling from India
and Japan began. The culture of
he poppy. which had been largely
stopped. was resumed under the en-
of the Chinese Tuch-
rms themselves who claimed that
hey might as well have the profit
'f the business as foreigners.
Placed In League Hands,
In 1917 DR.. Hamilton Wright
lied 1t left the movement, which
had been So largely directed by
lin, without a leader. Mrs. Wright
'elt there was danger of his entire
lie work disintegrating, and to
prevent this she threw herself into
the struggle. undertaking to re-
awaken international interest. With.
he signing Of Che Versailles treaty
III embarrassing situation arose.
By that document the Jurisdiction
V the opium question. was placed
n the hands OF the league Of ma
ions. At the time this was done
{ was, OF course. assumed that
he United States would be a party
, the league. When she failed in
his 1t became impossible for her
10 send a representative to any
gatherings to consider opium which
he leagua rniVht call Tba frst -