125 East 37th Street, New York
April 24 1921
My dear Miss Addams
This is going to be a scrappy letter for there are a number of perfectly disconnected things I want to discuss with you this Sunday morning.
There is a big movement afoot to combine all organizations working for disarmament, or interested in the reduction of armament, and all work together. I have been to Washington and had a conference with the women of the National Womens Party -- I tell you frankly I think they will be hard to work in harmony with. I have also been in touch with the returned and enthusiastic members of the League for Women Voters. All think that Chicago has done the cooperating act better than any other city so I am writing to Mrs. Mathers today for more details of your work. But what worries me is, how am I to be the chairman of your U.S. section of the W.I.L. and still skip off to Europe for two months in the middle of Summer when workers are scarce at best? If this cooperative plan goes through would you not rather have me stay here on the job? I have, as I wrote you, passage on your ship, so it means now going with you or not going at all.
We have on hand at the present time something over $270.00 in international dues. Shall I not send this money to you, as you seem to be collecting money from different sources for international business. In your note of April 21 you say "Miss Royds presses for one dollar packets" don't forget that I looked that up and what she really means is ten dollar packets. I think Miss Crook can and will appeal to the college group for money for the school at Salzburg. Do you know what I really want to do and what I am much more fitted for than my present U.S. [Chairman's] job? that is to help you as assistant in these International [page 2] matters. My heart and interest is there. I have not the publicity instinct for this National work, nor the something that goes with a politician. If I could work with you for the International questions of the W.I.L. I really believe I could help you and an up and doing young person, who likes to speak and likes the front page of the news paper (and knows how to get there) would be the one for this ↑national job↓. Think this over!
I will have the plates for the two pictures, (the W.I.L. head-quarters and the Salzburg castle) on Tuesday. Then as soon as I get your letter the printer will rush the leaflets through. We have so few of the Summer School ones we must have these.
I have heard that Mary, not Ellen Winsor, is to be the delegate for Vienna. This is a disappointment to me but it was left to them to decide. I think there will be some few places to fill among delegates, have you any suggestions?
It is natural I suppose, but unfortunate, that the U.S. Section as a whole has so little interest in the International situation. I feel that every time I put any enthusiasm or energy into the work here it makes us more self satisfied and American absorbed. You have no idea how I am jumped on if I try to get money for Miss Balch. Such act is always spoken of as "taking it from us." I do not think you should have this larger work to do alone with the section pulling, not consciously, against you, but it amounts to that. Think of my suggestion that I assist you and we'll get another U.S. chairman.
Affectionately
Mabel H. Kittredge [signed]
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