South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-10
Walska Wrong,
Writers View
By Leila B. Rostiser

- superiority OF one sex over the
other and vici-versa. or all subjects
this particular one seems 20 have
"a perennial Interest. Madame Gan
na WaIska Cochran Mccormick Is
the latest person 20 stir the ashes
over this well worn but never worn
out theme, for tactlessly she has
chosen 10 say in a Paris interview
that American men, not women,
make this the worlds greatest coun-
try"
Do you agree with the much-mar-
ried Madame? Nine chances out Of
z o you do not 1 say this because
have asked women OF all CLASSES, all
sfges, and I have found none who
agree entirely with the woman who
came 20 America 70 conquer the OPP
cratic world. and who failing. sue
ceeded in annexing to her name,
those OF two American milHonaires.
The first among the feminist lead
ers approached was the wife OF
Mayor Seebirt Literally educated
both In this country and Abroad
woman whose intellectual faculties
are far beyond commonplace, made
interesting. Quoted one easily dis
Germs a student OF the higher order.
Elizabeth Gum Seebirt says: 1T
. seems 10 me that the foreign singer s
$Opinion OF the greatness Of Ameri-
can men might be somewhat biased.
Perhaps her IDEAS on the subject
have been somewhat influenced by
the glamour Of wealth. One might
aEume 50 at any rate since she Is
at the present time spending her
honeymoon with a second noted
American millionaire husband. At
ter careful consideration my opinion
IS that this quotation from Madame
Gamma Walska Mccormick in which
she says that men, not women,
make this the worlds greatest coun-
try" seeks 10 raise an issue which
cannot in the very nature OF things,
exist. One might tell OF the many
achievements OF women alone or men
alone in our wonderful land. but one
is always confronted with a return
10 the same idea-that is, national
achievement cannot be classified &C
cording TO sexes. Many examples
and instances might be ennumerated
wherein the lives and works of good
men and women by their united eff
forts have made our country great
from its very infancy. Men and
women are dependent upon the in
fluence and cooperation OF each
other in order 10 attain success in
any OF the many accomplishments
which make our country the great
est leader OF the world in religion.
philanthropy. politics and finance.
Therefore. l believe that equal honor
Is due 10 the noble men and women
who have gone before whose lives
are inspirations and examples TO
those men and women left to carry
on. keeping the United States OF
America the greatest country in the
lworld."
Though club presidents hesitated,
though business women asserted that
they were not prepared, while others
frankly admitted that they were not
equal TO the task of expressing Tor
publication an opinion on the sub
jet without careful preparation.
Mrs. Warren IL. Miller, prominent
club woman and art student and
patron. responded nobly TO the re-
quest. ] present TO you her answer
as she graciously gave it 10 me. Mrs
Miller said: In reply 10 Gamma
Walska McCormick's remark, l
would say nothing is truly great un-
less its foundation is sound and
eood. At Americas heart are her
homes-women rule the home in
America as in no other country, so
lit is the old law of cause and eff
feet. Behind every great mans
achievements is the influence OF
some wOman's love and devotion. If
Gamma Walska has found only our
men wonderful enough to make this
the worlds greatest country, she has
overlooked the cause-American wo-
ufen."
Reviewing the career of the for
cign singer who once aspired and
was defeated in her desire 10 be
come an operate star on the Ameri-
can stage. and considering the fact
that she succeeded in marrying two
Of this countrys millionaires, it Is
perhaps without wonder that such a
remark should be made by her.
Each and every woman who owes
er fame. her riches, her name in
1he head lines of metropolitan news
papers. TO a man or men. naturally
would be inclined 10 think that men
rather than women. make this coun-
try great. Her narrowed vision, her
limited knowledge and her lack OF
interest IN the accomplishments or
her own sex. accounts UndOubtedlS
toV her opinion.
M Is said that Madame McCOr-
luick's aim Is again 90 try for oPer-
attic honOrs-hkely she will be sur
.rised 20 know that the first Mrs
Mccormick has been fit 10 control
The grand opera interests in Chicago
~ here the singer first attempted TO
establish her claim 10 stardom. Per
haps this and the fact that Madame
..uella Melius has applied TO the fed
sral court Cor an injunction 10 re-
strain Gamma Walska Mccormick,
from singing IN the United States,
alleging that her manager. George
Jules Daiber has broken his con-
tract with her and has engaged the
Polish beauty naming Harold r. Nc
Cormick in her suit alleging that he
ded his wife in getting 4 contract
from Mr.. Daiber. may cause the for
signer who talks so gibly OF man >
superiority over women in this coun-
try. TO take notice that women are
factors in every unit Of American
life and that she may find them SER
lous obstacles in her path OF achiev-
ing prestige in that small and exclu-
sive circle 10 which she so ardently
aspires
Greatness has never been an at
.-.bute OF sex. Every human being
y as q certain degree OF intelligence,
according 20 sex but according