Nelly Hall Root to Jane Addams, March 1917

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My dear Miss Addams:

Enclosed please find one dollar for membership of the Peace Party. The money was sent me for this purpose by a Hinsdale (Ill) friend knowing my sympathy with the peace movement and also the scarcity of dollars.

I took the literature enclosed in her letter to a neighbor (who is so [illegible] at all [illegible] resistance as to be unable to speak calmly on the subject) hoping she and some others would add from their plentiful supply of dollars, to my one dollar. But although the word and literature were passed along, no money has come; and having no other address than yours since the literature has not been returned, I am using you as vicarious treasurer.

Even if the human race is as yet too young, to have outgrown the instinct to fight out or at, the solution of problems international and otherwise, the splendid work done by the maturer natures in the interests of world peace must count eventually. The time will yet come when the waste, foolishness and wickedness of war will become so clear to the majority of thinking people, that warfare will cease. [page 2]

Upon Dr. Scott's return a few days later we were enlightened still more, but the main issue [with] Dr. Scott has become educational preparedness in order that suspicion and surmise leading to animosity and war, may be displaced by information.

So you can think of one modest group of citizens, earnest, thoughtful people, who are working to bring about the era [prophesized?] by Emerson when education will supersede politics. We meet in a modest cafe -- have a fifty cent dinner at 6 P.M. and then the subject [for] the evening is presented by some one who has made a thorough study of it. The purpose of our academy is to prepare speakers and provide literature to be used whenever groups of people wish to have education along these lines. We hope to have a room in L. Angeles where with books, pamphlets and necessary paraphernalia of a librarian's office, we may provide the speakers with desired data for their subjects. It is of course an experiment -- and the finance question must come up in connection with the office activity. But we are working to meet a real need, and with no fuss nor feathers [allowing] as yet no newspaper publicity. [page 3]

You may be interested to learn that some of us here are working along the line of educational preparedness in governmental matters.

In the Woodrow Wilson Independent League campaign, when I had charge of the headquarters here, I became a coworker with George Winfield Scott, PhD. and ex-professor of International Law of Columbia University. After the election, which was won by the hard work of the Independents, and in spite of the apathy of the Democrats, here, we compared campaign experiences. We have become convinced that educational methods were the methods for future efficiency in the new civics; and that the quest for information from authentic sources was not only a conscious need of some voters, but a conscious and expressed desire as well. The problem was how to provide for the welcome and prophetic hunger of this portion of the electorate. We each consulted Norman Hapgood, Father of the Wilson League; but he was just on the eve of departure for Europe and could then do nothing to help us in a matter which he said was very near his own heart and would receive [page 4] his attention upon his return.

Dr. Scott being a stalwart and courageous nature, ↑it↓ was not discouraged from making some effort though we were left to shift for ourselves. Accordingly we tried the experiment of a weekly round table where matters of vital interest in Congress were being legislated upon such as Immigration and the Literacy Test and our own Alien Land Law; Federal Reserve and Child Labor Acts together with a presentation of Armed neutrality according to International Law. Dr. Scott went to Washington just as Wilson had [announced] the ultimatum to Germany and ↑he↓ has just ↑returned↓ oozing Washingtonian procedures from [illegible] ↑the↓ pores! We had also an instructive and illuminating address from Senator Walsh of Montana who was here only a few days when recalled to the special session. He made clear, from his direct contact with the war situation in Congress, some of the points upon which even our college professors here were very much nonplussed; and we all hoped that armed neutrality would prove sufficient in the present crisis. His attitude was that of arming ships for protection ↑and↓ safety only. [page 5]

Being myself an old woman; with my nestlings all grown and flown and in faraway nests of their own, your book -- "The  Long Road of a Woman's Memory" has a great value to me.

I may not return to the winters of the eastern climate, but must abide here alone where, in a little bungalow near the beach, I can manage to keep from being a burden to my children. The kindly climate enables me to live upon the annuity of $150.00 left me by Juniata Stafford; and I am even able to take some part in public affairs such as helping at intervals in some educational campaign.

But there are many days like this lovely Easter day, when having overdrawn on energy, I must keep very quiet physically; and then beautiful and sacred memories throng through mind and soul. The service you rendered me, when, in my effort to get on my own feet financially, and at the same time remain the home-maker as well as home-earner, I made so many mistakes that not every one was so patient as well as helpful as you, is one of the most comforting of all those reflections. In these twilight [years], they will many times return to me and radiate the shadows of life. [page 6]

May the blessedness which has come through you upon my dear ones; and upon many another I -- read missing mother's dear ones, return to your memory and make sweeter and richer all the days of your life.

The Stehmans are very brave under the bereavement of Henry's death and Doctor is bearing the physical strain better than was hoped even.

Very Gratefully Yours

Nelly Hall Root

373 Carroll Park West
Long Beach Calif.

On the bush in my back yard are some red roses which, although no bigger than a man's hand! would smell ↑sweet↓ and look well could I only get them to you in time. But theirs is a life of a day only!