The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-27
LADY ASTORa SPEAKS
TO OVERFLOW THOUSANDS

thousands OF women hackers in the
United States.
1--WE want your help inside the League
to bring on backward countries, whether
1t be to protect the world from war or
from plague. or TO protect young girls
from what is worse than plaques.
but I have not come here as for
eigner TO tell any one--be 1t man, SEN
ator or woman voter-what To do. You
have invited me to an American conven-
ton. You have not asked me because |
am an English legislator. But you have
invited me back to the land of my
birth--to the homo OF my father. And
like the returned prodigal. you over
whelm me with love.
Yes. It's true / have been in a far
away country. ! believe / have been
fighting there for the same ideals as
Mrs. Gait has worked so successfully for
here. ] am deeply grateful that you
should have asked me TO come and dis
cuss with you questions which interest
all women.
las I understand 1t. you are not
creating a new party-a woman's party
to run sex candidates In opposition to
the Democratic and Republican party
candidates. Some people fear you want
to do this. I am sure you are right
not to do SO. I did not stand for Par
lament as a sex candidate. I represent
Plymouth, one of the most important
naval ports Of England. Thousands OF
my supporters are English sailors, but
this does not prevent me fighting, and
fighting hard, for questions where there
is woman's point of view, questions OF
morality. the protection of young girls.
Best Men Support Her.
"Some men don't like It, But the
best men--a growing number OF men, ]
flnd--are supporting me.
You are right not to make a new
political party. You are equally right
in trying to improve the platforms or
both the big political parties by joining
them. See that you send neither wind
bags nor carpetbaggers to represent you.
That's the thing to do.
The big contribution you can make
to politics and national life is to face
and tackle the moral standards. insist
upon the single standard of morality,
not by lowering our standard, but by
raising the mems standard to that of
women. Do that in America. We are
working for 1t and we are going to do
it in England. If America and Eng
land do 1t, then all countries must fol-
low. In some countries women are
still looked upon too much as mere
physical companions instead Of mental
companions. 1t is partly the fault of
the women.
There always will be that situation
until they get higher sense Of com
partnership. The right minded women
want to be companions in the truest
sense OF the word and the right minded
men want to have them So 1T Is EASY
enough to attract men; it Is harder to
help men. The single moral standard
not only helps women; it helps men;
IL helps nations.
You see it in Europe to-day. I do
not believe that IL the mothers of
france, who have suffered so much
mad the vote and had learned to use
IL you would have the amazing French
attitude at Genoa. That is one Of the
tragedies of France and threatens TO
De one OF the tragedies of the world.
roor france. blinded by her suffering,
saht see that the only way out is to
look forward and not Backward
You cannot be material in your
domestic life and be spiritual N yo,,r
national life. You cannot be ratar;a,
IN your national life and ideaIistic in
your international relations. Lust Gre
ates the spirit of war; it is incom-
patipie with the spirit Of peace. The
material lustful man lives and dies,
y Is the spiritually moral man who
never oies. SO with nations. so with
iiaterial war, like lustful nations, how
ever powerful. has ever survived
'Ihe peace which the world wants
IS not the peace which comes from q
smashing conquest. That sort of peace
IS apt to sow the seeds of Vengeance
! believe that women can help to bring
10 the world the real peace. the snir.
itual peace. the peace which passeth
all understanding.
Always remember st. Paul's words
they apply particularly to women:
God hath not given us the shirt Of
rear but OF power and or love and Of
sound mind'n