Lucia Ames Mead to Jane Addams, October 13, 1921

My dear Miss Addams,

Of course no one who campaigned for the League of Nations as I did going with Prof. Irving Fisher out to the Pacific west and speaking in many cities en route would stand any possible chance of appointment to the Advisory Committee.

I wrote to President Harding asking for your appointment but I have no doubt he will put on safe Republicans -- like Mrs. Winter and Harriet Taylor Upton.

As to my going to Washington, [page 2] if my expenses there and back and a modest boarding place were provided I would arrange my engagements so as to be there from Nov. 16 to Christmas, provided that I gave my time almost wholly to matters relating to the Conference and did not have the responsibility of the detail of an executive secretary of the W.I.L. and the correspondence, filing, etc incident to that.

I would see the newspaper men, members of the Advisory Council, members of Congress etc. and speak at parlor meetings and gather together the old members of the local branch [page 3] and perhaps write letters to N.S. ↑papers↓ [personally]. I should be very glad to do this if it were thought worthwhile. Everything in Washington is horribly expensive and I can not estimate the cost, but I should be content with a small room and restaurant meals.

Whether it would be worth while for me to go back after Christmas, would be made clear after the first experience.

I am to speak in the Public Evening lectures in New York ten times and soon must fix my dates and I have various other engagements which are contingent on the Washington trip and some definite ones for [page 4] which I should have to arrange to send a substitute.

I am to speak at Atlantic City Nov. 8, at Girard College Nov. 13th and be between times at the Biennial of the National Council of Women where I should have to dash back to Massachusetts for a lecture on the 15th but I could reach Washington on the 16th. I should try through Mrs. Post to get a room engaged before that and then settle [down] to spend most of my time at the headquarters of the federated associations. I fear the money cannot be raised for the [Brandesgoe?] house which would be so very useful as headquarters of all the organizations and the foreign newspaper men.

From Washington papers sent [page 5] by Mrs. Post I see certain sinister influences are at work: "Zeal Perils Parley; Emotional Demand for Limitation might convince representatives of foreign nations that American group could be forced to yield vital points to ensure agreement to satisfy opinion". Mrs. P. says "Notice what an effort there is in this article to reduce the public to the status of being [clogners?] to the Administration program, and how that program is based on the bargaining power of the greater security of the W.I.L. as well as its wealth which may be used in buying a Pacific domination. The other powers have got to reduce armaments to save their governments; we will reduce if they [page 6] meet our demands. This article shows that the American public will ↑not↓ interfere with this bargaining, by showing too great a desire for disarmament". Fox who wrote the article "seems to be usually officially inspired".

The Washington atmosphere is better than that of Paris was and I have strong hopes that something will come out of it but lessening arms, while a splendid beginning is merely dealing with symptoms and we must get at the root causes of war.  

In the Rush Bagot agreement we merely took battleships out of the great lakes; but naturally and logically, the ships being gone and our fear ended we [page 7] then tore down our fortresses and built no more. If we can cut our naval programs in two now, it may likewise lessen tension and lead to much further curtailment. I am hopeful. We simply must make everyone see that this is the last call for dinner.

Yours affectionately,

Lucia Ames Mead