Waban, Mass.
Jan 25, 1915
My dear Miss Addams: --
Permit me to call to your attention the enclosed letter, by Lucy W. Peabody, published this morning (the 25th) in the Boston Herald.
It is my earnest hope, as a member of the Peace Party, and a suffragist, that you will ask the Executive Committee to reconsider the suffrage plank in the party platform, because antagonism has had time to crystalize. It is my belief that the situation offers a great opportunity to the [page 2] suffragists. If the suffrage plank is dropped, all women will find it possible to join in the movement. On the other hand, if the present party platform remains inflexible on this point, the bitterness between the two groups of women will be intensified, and the cause of peace as well as the cause of suffrage will be hurt.
If women work together in this commanding movement, is it not inevitable that many will come to see the need for the ballot?
In the discussion at the Boston meeting on the 23rd, it was pointed out that women [page 3] who cannot accept the suffrage plank are free to join other peace societies; but this would prevent the Peace Party from becoming a great woman's movement.
We say of the warring nations, "If they could only get together, they would at last realize that the good of all is the good of each."
It will be sad indeed if women cannot agree to work together, when we are urging peace. Let me plead that the Executive Committee reconsider the matter, before it is too late.
Personally I am most grateful to the forceful women leaders [page 4] who are opening the way to us, the rank and file of women, to join the peace army.
Believe me,
Sincerely yours
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