A PROTEST FROM AMERICAN WOMEN
In their annual convention in Cleveland American women of the International League for Peace and Freedom mildly protested against attacks upon them and their efforts by patriotic organizations, including even the American Legion, which these women think misled by militaristic propaganda in such an attitude. Miss Emily G. Balch, formerly dean of women at Wellesley College, declaring that this League is "traveling the road of highest patriotism and Simon-pure Americanism," felt that the Legion particularly should be in sympathy with its labors.The women's League for Peace and Freedom is strong for Senator Borah's proposal of legal [page 2] outlawry of war and is a fighting [antiwar] and antimilitarist organization. Consequently it comes in for considerable denunciation from numerous so-called patriotic organizations, and often in the rather scurrilous terms used by them in militarist propaganda. It will not turn them from their purpose or their program, but such distinguished American women as Miss Balch, Miss Jane Addams and others identified with the League are entitled to more courteous treatment than to be assailed by epithets for carrying on their patriotic propagandism according to their own convictions and views. This is all the more so when the American attitude for a century and a quarter was that of these American women today rather than of the new-fledged militaristic protagonists, and historically they have all the best of it in their claim of representing Americanism.
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