The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-01-02
WOMEN MUST Will
TO OUTWIT WAR"
(By ALICE AMEs WINTER)

(By ALICE -AMES WINTER)
There is probably no one subject
In which women are so universally
interested as in doing away with war
But the question continually rises
What can we do about it? The age
old tradition of the world holds ia
war. Can we build new and finer
tradition, and substitute a higher
standard? 1t is not local or even
q national problem, but world prob
lem.
War cannot be abolished or outlaw
ed by wishing alone. We must will
land that will involves: first, greater
intelligence; second, determination;
third, persistent and pertinent ac-
tivity.
The General Federation therefore
recommends that club women inform
themselves. A great statesman re-
Gently said that what America needs
most is a seasoned intelligence
not the kind that ripens in night,
but an intelligence that has deep roots
in the mind and spirit. Make your
selves familiar with world conditions
and with what has already been done
or is under way looking toward rails
ing international relations to the
standard we demand from individuals
in their human contacts. Study the
psychology of peoples. 1t makes no
great difference what we do mechan-
lea ',olish the engines of war
If we leave international hatred be-
hind. Hatred will rebuild its own
war engines. We have to create UNI
derstanding, sympathy, desire for
justice. We have to substitute law
For lawlessness, fair play for greed,
4 knowledge of the common human
mind for ancient prejudices and an
tagonisms. This is long program
Of understanding. But we must make
a thousand beginnings, each in our
own group.
The General Federation of Wo--
mems Clubs is essentially group
that believes in stability and power
for the United States Government.
Realizing that the fight against war
can be made kind of camoufage
Behind which the enemies of govern
fnent can work to undermine both
stability and power, it wishes to fight
shy If agencies. But it also believes
fn the idealism of the United States,
and holds that the democracy and the
struggle toward higher human rela-
lions that have characterized our ma
tioiial life make our country legit-
innate prepayment in the world move
ment toward higher international
standards. For this reason it holds
that our attitude toward the questions
involved in very large one-not the
withdrawing of ourselves into ma
tional aloofness that looks like self
ishness or cowardice or inadequacy,
but the fearless charging of both
mind and energy in a true leadership
of the world War and Peace are not
national questions. They are inter
national questions and can be solved
only by great international move
ments in which we must play our part,
and that part one that must be both
idealistic- and vital, wise and construc-
tive.
As huge group of women and as
citizens we must prepare ourselves
in wisdom and we must unite on a
program of correlated activity that
shall make US effective.
What can we do?
First we can demand, two million
strong, that the question of the in
ternational movement toward Peace
be kept above and out of partisan
on a plane higher than personalities
and above rancour or party animosl-
ties. If welfare measures, public
health, education, suffrage, can be
discussed on their merits alone, still
= 4.