The Pittsburgh Press (January 5, 1943)
CANDIDLY SPEAKING —
Place for woman at peace table
By Maxine Garrison
These are days of strange and splendiferous happenings. It has even been suggested in all seriousness that there might justifiably be a place for a woman at the table which will follow this war.
Let us quickly pass over any small remarks about the wonder being that no one’s thought of it before. The notable feature is that the suggestion has been made and, forsooth, approved by men.
The justification is pretty obvious. Women share with men the responsibility for the current mess. Although they did not win the vote until 1920, and are therefore technically absolved of responsibility up to that point, they certainly had their share of fostering the “Eat, drink and be merry” philosophy which lulled national and international conscience.
The catch in that philosophy is that you aren’t nearly so likely to die tomorrow as you are to have to live through the mess of your own making.
Women are sharing with men the job of fighting the war. They are enlisted in all branches of our armed services. They are building war machines and making war supplies.
Women, side by side with men, will endure the duration and whatever may follow.
It seems only natural that they should have a place at the peace table.
Leading nominees so far seem to be Mrs. Roosevelt, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek and Clare Luce.
I will stick my neck clear out to here, and suggest a woman’s panel including Mrs. Roosevelt, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, and Dorothy Thompson. The enthusiasms and knowledge of such women should fuse into a definite influence for good.
The general inclusion of women as members of the human race in good standing will spur individual women everywhere to increased and even prouder effort.