Helen Todd to Woodrow Wilson
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A few weeks ago you were kind enough to give me an interview at which I represented a group of mothers of the working class. My object in seeing you was to bring to your attention the suffering that was being caused on the East Side, New York, arising from fear and distrust regarding the motives for this war. This, as I pointed out, arose because of lack of terms which the working women can understand, and also because of a most energetic propaganda for the purpose of convincing them of the cruelty and ugliness back of the necessity of war.
You did me the honor to believe that I could be of service in making the issues of the war clearer to the women and referred me to Mr. Creel to perfect plans in that direction. Mr. Creel referred me to Mr. Gompers, and at Mr. Creel's request I came down to see Mr. Gompers regarding the details of this propaganda.
The result of my conference with Mr. Gompers will be seen in the letter to Mr. Creel, copy of which I enclose. In response to this letter Mr. Creel tells me that Mr. Gompers is in entire control of all speakers who will be sent out to form public opinion on the war, and that he, Mr. Creel, feels he must uphold Mr. Gompers in the stand he has taken, viz: to discuss no terms of peace and to continue the war to its finish, its finish being, according to Mr. Gompers, "until the German Emperor and his war party are forced by the Allies to abdicate", regardless of how long it may take or at what price of human life it may be gained.Mr. President,Mr. Gompers says that we are "willing to pay the price", but he cannot speak for the masses of the millions of mothers of this country. They are not members of the American Federation of Labor, they are in their homes, bearing, nursing, and rearing their children, and they are furnishing the flesh and blood that goes into this war. Mr. Gompers is not paying the price, although he says he is willing to do so, he could not do so. He is sitting in a very beautiful office with hammocks and roof garden to rest in and seems to be entirely out of touch, not only with the suffering, but with the intelligence of the women of this country. He either could not conceal his impatience and contempt for the point of view which I was a representative, and which was the same that I expressed to you, or else he made no effort to do so. I cannot but feel that to go before women with no finer or more constructive message than Mr. Gompers furnishes would be a grave mistake. I feel, too, Mr. President, that every business interest has been listened to with respect from time to time here in Washington. The business of the majority of women is bearing and rearing the boys who go to the front. Why should not their point of view be listened to with at least as much consideration as if they were the breeders of cattle or creators of steel rails. Why should we, who represent a large body of women, feel when we go to Mr. Gompers that our wishes are unworthy of consideration or discussion?
I met this same attitude in Mr. Charles Edward Russel, whom I met by accident in the hotel where I am stopping. Being an old friend I spoke to Mr. Russel about this matter, as I am speaking to you. His anger and contempt were far greater than Mr. Gompers'. He said that any woman who wished to discuss terms of peace at this time was a traitor to her country, that all of us belonged in the German camp, and that he had come to believe that women had no feeling for democracy, and that I was only disturbing and harassing you by trying to see you.
Mr. President, if this is true and the endeavor to bring before you the point of view of the average woman is not of service to you, you have only to let me know. I was West during the last Presidential campaign and I saw the entire machinery of the Republican party swept away like a straw before the Western woman's vote. As one of the Republican leaders said to me, "You can't talk to those women, they don't listen or reason, they just sit and say, 'He kept us out of war'". I was in almost every voting state at that time and I have never seen so great faith and loyalty to any man expressed as in the overwhelming vote of women for you. The men believed that it was the phrase "He kept us out of war", that won you this devotion of women. I, who have studied the situation very carefully, know that this great woman's vote was caused by the fear that we would have to get into war, and the women desired as the head of our Government in such a crisis, the man who had expressed the opinions as to peace, justice, and humanity, which you had made public. Women fear above all things the passion of men when aroused to consider it their duty to conquer and punish. They felt in you a greater capacity for "love and fine thinking", and voted for you.
This same trust has reached to the women of the East Side of New York, and they have asked me to see you and try to explain to you how they feel about this war. It is because of this great and beautiful trust of women in you that I am staying in Washington, refusing to believe that Mr. Gompers' and Mr. Russell's view or the expression of some of the members of your Administration, reflect your attitude toward this war.
I am asking for this interview only that I may bring before you the fact that a great body of women who have followed you loyally in agreeing to any sacrifice which their country requires, now believe that the time has come when America's terms of peace should be considered and stated in terms which all women can understand. Already the youth of the old world has been a blood sacrifice for the sins of European Governments. Must we add to that the life blood and youth of our own land? Since we cannot exterminate the German nation and would not if we could, we must eventually have recourse to arbitration. Can you not, Mr. President, open the door to this opportunity, and avert years of slaughter by reaffirming your former statement of "peace without victory", and offering to the world America's terms of a just and lasting peace? Representing New York Mothers' League.
Yours sincerely,Helen Todd
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