January 24, 1927.
My dear Mr. Fay:
I have been given a yellow paper (yellow in more ways than one) called a "Spider Web" at the bottom of which it says "Compiled and Printed by Charles Norman Fay." This spider web I find most amusing and have had a good laugh over it. It is most [ingenious] and would make a good game for children. Was it originally intended for a puzzle or is it supposed to call attention to the many distinguished personages who are mentioned in the first column and their services in the many fine organizations listed in the second column? In either case it hardly seems of enough importance to send to men interested in public affairs. Why shouldn't a woman who has had wide experience and whose advice is eagerly sought, serve upon the directorate of any one of the organizations you have mentioned, if in her opinion that organization was engaged in good work? There are one or two organizations mentioned with which you have connected Miss Addams and of which she is not a member, but there are others with which she is affiliated whose work for the protection of women and children and the preservation of peace, merits the highest commendation.
In the letters signed by you and accompanying the spider web, there seems to be a desire to particularly call attention [page 2] to the activities and affiliations of Miss Jane Addams. I remember the last Summer you wrote me that you had never been at Hull House and that you did not have the honor of Miss Addams' acquaintance. Possibly this accounts for the inaccuracies which seem to be displayed in the spider web. I cannot understand the listing, under different headings, of the organizations mentioned in the web. Is it possible that in Boston people do not, for example, know that the National Child Labor Committee could not by any chance be called pink, nor the American Federation of Labor, The National Consumers League and the National League of Women Voters be called either red or rose colored?
What object (unless it be one of malice, with which I am loath to credit you) could anyone have in attacking a group of people such as you have mentioned? Miss Jane Addams, Miss Julia Lathrop, Miss Mary McDowell and Mrs. Florence [Kelley] are women whose contributions to Social Welfare are known throughout the world and who have been honored in many countries as among our nations most distinguished citizens.
Perhaps you have not heard that Chicago has recently given Miss Addams a dinner, in order to show the appreciation of its people for her life and character. Not only did fourteen hundred people acclaim her as the first citizen of the United States, but one thousand were unable to be seated. She had messages of congratulation from many Governors, among them your own Governor Fuller of Massachusetts, and even from the President of the United States who closed his letter by saying he hoped she might have "Renewed strength and courage to carry on her work of peace and good-will." [page 3]
Because of foolishness and ill-advised criticism such as yours, Miss Addams has been advised by some nationally known lawyers to take legal measures to prevent this annoyance. Possibly you would not care for any action of this kind.
In one of your letters to a member of Congress, an admirer of Miss Addams, I note that you speak of the influences brought to bear upon Congress in the Nicaragua and many other widely differing controversies. I do not know whether Miss Addams has had anything to do with the Nicaragua affair but I was under the impression that any citizen of the United States had a right to express their opinion if he or she cared to do so.
Will you permit me to give you a warning; it is not always wise to call people names which do not fit. There is, in this country, a redress which is not different to obtain. There is so much wrong in the world; so many affairs to be righted; so much injustice done that it is disappointing to find a man of your attainments spending his time trying to cast discredit upon people, especially women, who have spent their lives in the cause of humanity, rather than taking up cudgels against the many wrongs which need to be righted.
I am enclosing a couple of editorials from the Chicago News and Chicago Post concerning the recent tribute to Miss Addams. Perhaps they may enlighten you as to the estimation in which she is held.
Very truly yours,
(Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen)
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