The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-09
Mrs. Gait Comes Back

Mrs. Gait Comes Back
In the current issue of the Woman Citizen Carrie
chapman Gait addresses an 'open letter to the
Daughters of the American Revolution, in which she
prefers serious charges against that patriotic body
of women. She says:
"You accused of being active distributors of
literature that ISLANDERS other women as well edu-
Gated honest and Loyalty American as you--lit-
erature subty designed to throw suspicion upon and
impair the reputation of other women's groups and
organizations quite as high minded as your own
1.-THE campaign, directed and financed by parties
unknown that your leaders assisting processes to
aim at the destruction of an alleged Boshevk plot
to overturn this Government, and to rally public
opinion to our common defense when and if the con-
spracy eventuates.
These would be worthy purposes provided Cd
that the campaign had brought forward one single
proof that such plot exists and co that it really
rallies public opinion 1t has done neither. 1t has
not unearthed single Boshevik nor discovered anv
evidence of plot that the newspapers had not pre-
viousy given the public. Instead it has made SLAM
derous mendacous attacks upon thousands of Ameri-
cans who never saw Bolshevk in their lives. It
has charged them with direct or indirect connection
with Moscow, with plots and plans to overturn the
Government, until veritable wave of hystera is
sweeping the country"
Mrs. Gait then charges the D A. R. with respon
sibility for pamphlet called 1.-The Common Enemy :"
in which liberalism and ultra pacifism are linked
with Communism Bolshevism and Socialism in an
alleged plot to destroy the Government of the United
States. In the list of fourteen liberal and pacifst"
organizations Mrs Gait found 1.-THE Women's Inter-
national League for Peace and Freedom" of which
Jane Addams of Chicago is president
While not member of this organization herself.
Mrs. Gait comes to the defense of Jane Adams and
her associates. Mrs. Gait says:
II have asked her and upon her word I will take
my oath that Miss Adams is not Boshevik. She
is not Communist. She is not Revolutionst She
Is not Red She is not even Socialist. She is not
favorable to the six aims of the Communists or any
one of them. When she says she is none of these
things and the literature you have circulated says she
is, who is to be beleved?ncJ rF p aat1T fgg sdl9.
: Inther defense of Miss Addaus Mrs Gait refers to
testimonial dinner given in Chicago where she lives;
on Jan. 20, 1927, at which was read letter from
President Coolidge, from which we quote the follow
ing:
1t was but short time ago that Miss Adams
called at my office, when was very much impressed
by the fact that she had given her life and strength
w Wiz oOA'AO0 VI uuSC CnaC Cne CeSCl-
monal of affection and regard which you are about to
offer her may give her renewed strength and cour-
age to carry on her work of peace and good will"
Mrs. Gait makes vigorous defense of two other
victims OF the D. A. r. campaign. One is Florence
Kelley general secretary of the National Consumers
League and Rose Schneiderman, president of the
National Women's Trade Union League, is the other
1t appears from her open letter that other organiza
tons included in the list attacked are the League
of Women Voters the General Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs. the Womans Christian Temperance Union
and the Young Womens Christian Association
you oppose them," says Mrs Gait, because all
have expressed the hope that peace will one day sup
plant war; that children will be taken from factorfs
and sent to school; that mothers and babies will not
die by preventable causes; that this country may at
least have high per cent of literacy as Japan"
While Mrs. Cats defense of the various womens
organizations attacked by propaganda dstri-
button Mrs. Gait charges to the D. A. R.-is quite
complete, a controversy has been opened up that
ought to and probably will go to finish
If the Daughters of the American Revolution feel
free to make such sweeping charges against so many
representative womens organizations, certainly they
ought to go farther than charges and present proof
they can't prove their charges they should withdraw
them and make proper apology.
If they have been duped then it is time to get back
of the scene and find out what influences are respon-
sible for the propaganda that seems calculated to
create a Red hysteria throughout the country.
tha mho1 truth, aoo1