edings. This work may best be examined under two
headings: 1. War Service of the National American Woman Suffrage
Association; 2. War Service of suffragists as a whole under the
direction of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense.

On Feb. 5, 1917, the president of the association, Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Catt, issued the following Call to its Executive Council of One
Hundred to meet in Washington on February 23-24 to confer upon the
approaching crisis in national affairs:

"To Members of the Executive Council:

"Our nation may be on the brink of war. To those who live in the
interior war may seem a long way off but in the East, where
public buildings, water works, forts, etc., are now under
military guard and where some of the regiments of the National
Guard have been called to duty, it comes as a sad realization
that our country is facing a far more serious crisis than most
of us have ever known. A few days may determine whether our
people are to be drawn into war at once or whether the break can
be patched up and the more tragic circumstances postponed or even
averted.

"If the worst comes, very serious problems confront us. Our
suffrage work would unquestionably come to a temporary
standstill. How shall we dispose of our headquarters, our
workers, our plans? How shall we hold our organization and
resources meanwhile, so that our movement will not lose its
prestige and place among the political issues of our country?
These are questions we must not leave to answer themselves. If we
are 'not the hammer, our cause will be the anvil.' Women not
connected with any particular movement are calling meetings in
order to pass pointless resolutions of the promised service of
women if required. The big question presents itself, shall
suffragists do the 'war work' which they will undoubtedly want to
do with other groups newly formed, thus running the risk of
disintegrating our organizations, or shall we use our
headquarters and our machinery for really helpful constructive
aid to our nation? The answer must be given _now_.

"Because this unexpected turn of public affairs creates an
unprecedented condition, the majority of the National Board
avails itself of the provision of the constitution which permits
the call of the Executive Council on a two weeks' not