The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-17
Club Worker Thinks
Disarmarnnt Way to
Solve War Question

Mrs. William Fl. Hart OF Benton,
former president Of the state feder-
alton of wornen's clubs. and chair
man OF the public welfare commit
tee of the federation, spoke on
public Welfare at the April
meeting of the Rock Island Wom-
ans club Saturday.
II believe we will have another
war unless we insure against 1t by
a oernanent peace" said Mrs.
Hart. who emphasized the force
club women can bring to bear in
insurfng a lasting peace. "Agftat-
ing and creating public opinion TOT
disarmament will mean that we
have no more wars. We women
want to begin now to get strong
enough to insure such an outlook.
Every reform movement has re-
quired years and years or aglta-
ton. Create great waves OF opin-
ion before making the final step IN
such a matter. Its a long, long
trail, but we women are used to
travelling long, long trails. There
is a good deal of unrest today In
the world, we know. We know that
eastern countries are still warning,
and we do not know how soon We
will be inveigied into it. And If
we have another war it will mean
the end of civilization.
Money is the least question in
war" continued Mrs. Hart, al
though if we would decide to dis
arm and not have any more wars,
our federal tax question would De
solved. We all know that taxes
are getting TO be a serious ques-
ton. Statistics show that taxes
amount to $50 per capita, and
$49.50 of this amount goes for
war. This leaves only so cents for
everything else. Can we in the
face of the war expense figures
propose not TO disarm? If we go
on as we are now going. this will
soon. be a military country, the man
of war will be crowned instead OF
the Man of Calvary. l am in favor
of settling all national questions by
arbitration, but not before the
close of war There are now two
peace arches, one in South Amer
lea and the other between this
country and Canada In this age
when we are planting trees as me-
MORALS TO the veterans of the
World war and building monu-
ments to them, why not dedicate
them to lasting peace instead of
to the war lords.
I'VE mothers have the right to
decide the question of war. Many
things happen today which would
not happen If the people were al
lowed to vote on them. Great is
sues are now handled by politi-
clans. We speak loud and long of
"A country of tie people by the peo-
pie and for the people, but 1t is
fast getting to be of the politicians,
by the politicians and for the poll
ticians.' When my children were
small / had all the worries you
mothers have, fearing that some
thing would happen to them at any
time. But / never once thought
that war would imperil their lives.
l thought we were too far remov-
ed from barbarism for that. But it
came and my two sons went over
the seas to hight May We as wom-
en- keep this banner of ours from
ever again being stained with hui
man blood. Let. us in the future
admire emblemS of peace. And
may this flag go into all countries
with the message of peace. But in
the meantime let us not forget the
boys who fought in the recent bat
ties. When they left us they were
the pride of the land, and nothing
was too good for them. Aren't
we forgetting them just little?
While remembering these men,
think especially of the wounded
There was time when l did not
think the country could afford to
pass bonus BILL but l say now We
can.
1T is not part of women's
work to enter into strike issues,
but We want to do all we can 10
prevent anything which affects pub
lie welfare. Strikes do not af-
feet workers and owners as much
as the general public
Mrs. Hart spoke briefly on the
federation and politics and WON
ems part in the great political
parties, before closing her talk. She
left during the late afternoon 10
return to her home in Benton
During her stay in the city she was
the house guest of the club presi-
dent, Mrs. Charels Il THOMPSON.