interpretation of
democracy--seen old governments like that of Great Britain, which did
not profess to be democratic, promise readily and as of course this
justice to women, though they had before refused it; the strange
revelations of this war having made many things new and plain to
governments as well as to peoples.

Are we alone to refuse to learn the lesson? Are we alone to ask and
take the utmost that our women can give--service and sacrifice of
every kind--and still say we do not see what title that gives them to
stand by our side in the guidance of the affairs of their nation and
ours? We have made partners of the women in this war. Shall we admit
them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not
to a partnership of privilege and right? This war could not have been
fought, either by the other nations engaged or by America, if it had
not been for the services of the women--services rendered in every
sphere--not merely in the fields of efforts in which we have been
accustomed to see them work but wherever men have worked and upon the
very skirts and edges of the battle itself.

We shall not only be distrusted, but shall deserve to be distrusted
if we do not enfranchise women with the fullest possible
enfranchisement, as it is now certain that the other great free
nations will enfranchise them. We cannot isolate our thought or action
in such a matter from the thought of the rest of the world. We must
either conform or deliberately reject what they approve and resign the
leadership of liberal minds to others.

The women of America are too intelligent and too devoted to be
slackers whether you give or withhold this thing that is mere justice;
but I know the magic it will work in their thoughts and spirits if you
give it to them. I propose it as I would propose to admit soldiers to
the suffrage--the men fighting in the field of our liberties of the
world--were they excluded.

The tasks of the women lie at the very heart of the war and I know how
much stronger that heart will beat if you do this just thing and show
our women that you trust them as much as you in fact and of necessity
depend upon them.

I have said that the passage of this amendment is a vitally necessary
war measure and do you need further proof? Do you stand in need of the
trust of other peoples and of the trust of our own women? Is that
trust an asset or is it not? I tell you plainly, as the
commander-in-chief of our armie