The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-10-19
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1927.
IMPULSION VS.. CONFUSION.

IMPULSION VS.. CONFUSION.
~ IZPAH MITCHELL, writing on Women
* and Public Affairs for the Duluth Herald,
takes the following slanting shot at one
of Americas most cherished cure-alls, the max
ing of compulsory laws. 1t was originally writ
ten for women-but there is no law against men
also grasping the kernel of truth in Mrs. Mitch
ellis little dissertation.
"Mrs. Mildred McMurray of Winnipeg, speak
ing before the Minnesota Federation of Womens
Clubs at Crookston few days ago, said Gas
cure-all l think the power of legislation has
been greatly exaggerated. Your problem IN
enforcing the Eighteenth amendment lies not in
the quality of the legislation, the need Of
more policing, but in something far deeper, a
question more of impulsion' than compulsion 4"
On the same day Congressman Walter Newton,
in addressing the same audience Of clubwOmen,
said: 1--WE are attempting to cure too many ills
by legislation" Similar remarks are being maze
to womens organizations in all parts of the
country, showing that we have at last awakened
to the fact that working for remedial legislation
is not the end and aim of women's organizations.
at seems bit difficult for some women to
realize that you cannot legislate decency into
human beings The compulson of the law seems
powerful weapon to women, but after ALL an
ounce of "impulsion" as preventative is worth
pound Of compulsion as a cure. The diction-
airy tells US that compulsion is "the application
of a superior force" and that "impulson" is a
moving influence on the mind. 1t seems far
easier and more attractive for organized
group of women to ask for legislation that will
compel the state to furnish the compulsion, than
for each individual woman to stay in her own
home and exercise the patience, prayerful think
ing and the wisdom that will give her children
the impulsion toward right thinking and fine
living that will some day make compulsory laws
unnecessary.
ANY honest mother, who has ever tried to
experiment, will tell you it is far easier to spend
an afternoon at a peace meeting, passing resolu-
lions and hearing about the numerous organic
ed efforts for world peace, than it is to stay at
home and teach her belligerent children how to
maintain peaceful relations during an afternoon
of play. Yet all experts agree that world peace
will come whenever individual human conscious
ness has learned to master its desire to possess,
to dominate and to control To 90 a step farth-
or, example is worth far more than precept in
teaching this lesson. Another reason why at
tending a peace meeting is pleasanter and sends
one home with the glow of satisfaction that
comes from having taken part in a fine work
We can all get that glow frequently when we
work in organizations and from the legislative
angle that is going to compel men and women to
do the right thing.
"This questioning of the value of legislation
does not mean that women's organizations should
drop their interest in civic affairs. Giving the
children and youth of city proper environ
ment, putting beauty into their lives and hold
ing fine ideals before them are all a part of the
'impulsion" toward the finer things of life that
is worth so much more in guiding youth than the
compulsion method When a musical organiza-
ton of community makes it possible for chill
dren to hear finer music. when an art associa-
ton makes it possible for them to see beautiful
pictures when other organizations keep alive
some fine bit of local history or tradition for
an inspiration to youth, or opens any channel
that leads to a more wholesome and orderly ex-
preston of activity, that organization is having
q part in this good work of making the world
better by impulsion rather than compulsion."
f-t-f