4 May, 1926
Dear Miss Addams:
Your kind note of April 30 deserves my hearty thanks. The information sent with it convinced me that the League of which you are President is the power which could best counteract the ages-old, worldwide influences which sow the seed of will to war.
Would not the League cut directly and deeply at the vital root of those influences, were it to work to lead women of all races to oppose the planting and the cultivating of such seed, by the written, or by the spoken word?
My own experience justifies my belief that the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom could, at small cost, quickly gain a mighty following for such purpose as I advocate.
More than forty years ago I began an effort to obtain enactment of a Federal law, and was told by friends that the attempt would be hopeless. A few weeks of work won aid, and complete success resulted. In a number of instances I killed, by a single article in each, schemes for defrauding a nation.
The world wide power of your League could do more than any other of which I know, to educate the peoples of the world and thus to offset the hereditary tendencies kept active by laudation of warriors.
Have we reason for fear that the peoples shocked by the World War into a longing for world peace, are yielding again to inherited tendencies toward conquest?
What could check and turn this tendency better than education by the fireside, in school, in shop, in office, and in the street. Could any other means give this education more quickly than the press could?
Surely your W.I. League could quickly induce the public press to help such a movement, by favoring it, or by assailing it. And attacks may be made to help the cause. Would it not have some of its workers begin the work now, before the people lose the determination they may have now, to favor a lasting world peace.
In confident hope that you will give your influence for adoption of this kindred form of work for the great cause, I have pleasure in being at your service, sincerely,
Edward Perry. [signed]
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