Racine County, Wisconsin - Chapter 11: Women's Committee of the Council of Defense, 1920

ABOUT the middle of April, 1917, Mrs. /-\ F. R. Pettit obtained authority to or- -^ ganize in Racine a branch of the National League for Women's service. She called a meeting of women at the public library April 26, 1917, and this group endorsed the plan and immediately elected officers, as follows: Chairman, Mrs. F. R. Pettit; vice-chairman, Mrs. E. P. Kastler; Mrs. Martin Clancy and Mrs. D. H. Flett; Recording secretary, Mrs. John W. Owen; corresponding secretary. Miss Katharine Lewis; treasurer, Mrs. Paul Ostergaard; committee chairman, Registi-ation, Mrs. John W. Owen; Social and Welfare, Mrs. E. P. Kastler; Red Cross Co-operation, Mrs. Emil Podlesak; Food Conservation, Mrs. J. Welti; Motor Service, Mrs. James W. Gilson.

This was the beginning of an organization which eventually developed into the Women's Committee of the County Council of Defense, and as such became officially responsible for the organizing of the women of the county for whatever work might be required outside of the Red Cross, and for cooperation with all branches of the government during the war. Like most war-time associations, this one went through a period when a good deal of its energy was exerted in trying to And out what was wanted of it; this being followed by strenuous efforts to keep up with all the tasks assigned to it, and then a reorganization and decentralization plan was adopted which enabled it to fulfill every requirement at about the time the first year of the war came to an end.

The promoters of the plan realized at once that they could accomplish nothing without the support of the women of the community, and they first set out to ask the women's clubs to assist, and also to register as many individuals as possible who would signify their willingness to cooperate.

Office rooms were obtained through the generosity of I. Friedman, and Miss May Burgess was appointed chairman of the office administration division. In May, note was made of the fact that the County Council of Defense was willing to assist in meeting expenses of organization, and considerable advertising was done. There was a plan made to have a series of "mass meetings to inform women of the necessity for activity in war work," but this was called off at the suggestion of the National Council. It is doubtful whether it was necessary. The women merely wanted to know what to do. Attention was then centered upon the big Patriotic parade to be held on May 29, and which was one of the big affairs of the year. Nearly ten thousand men and women took part in it.

The Central Council of Women, composed of representatives of various clubs, discontinued its meetings and the clubs and societies gradually turned to the League for leadership in war work outside of the Red Cross activities. Several committees were added, including: Home Economics, Mrs. E. J. Stormer, chairman; Comforts Committee, Mrs. Ella Lewis; Ward Organization, Mrs. S. L. Phippen; War Orphans, Mrs. Stuart Webster; Baby Welfare, Mrs. John Reid, Jr.

Funds were raised to provide for many orphaned French children, and yarn was provided for women desiring to knit sweaters, etc., for men in service. On July 2 silken guidons were presented to Battery C and Battery F, prior to their leaving for mobilization camp.

In July Mrs. Pettit resigned as chairman, and Council of Defense selected Mrs. John W. Owen to succeed her as presiding officer of the League and as member of the County Council of Defense. Mrs. Stuart Webster was chosen secretary.

A committee consisting of Mrs. John Reid, Jr., Mrs. Harry Mann and Miss Lydia Fuller was appointed in July to arrange for dances and other entertainment for enlisted men visiting Racine. One was held in September as an experiment, and later on they became regular events. The boys from the Great Lakes

Word was received in August that the boxes of clothing collected for French war sufferers had been lost at sea when a freighter was torpedoed.

Following the request of the National Council of Defense the league c?ianged its name to the Women's Committee of the County Council of Defense in November, and became an integral part of that organization in name as well as in fact. By this time the work of the various departments had become somewhat systematized and through the ward organizations assistance was rendered to the Red Cross work and public movements such as the Liberty Loan and Savings Stamp drives. Strict attention to duty was required of members of the executive board and several were dropped because of failure to attend meetings without sending satisfactory excuses. Among the new members added were: Mrs. Fred Osius, Mrs. Merrell, Mary L. Thomas, Mrs. B. E. Nelson, Miss Helen King, Mrs. E. E. Lewis, Mrs. I. B. Grant and Miss Helen Gorton.

Much attention was given to the truly feminine problems of cookery and food conservation. War recipes were prepared and distributed, canning was encouraged and various devices found and put into effect for effecting economies in the kitchen. While each family's share in this work was small, it resulted in the saving of millions of tons of food in America during the war and was a great factor in keeping all the Allied peoples and armies in comparative comfort.

On March 6. 1918. Mrs. John W. Owen resigned as chairman and was succeeded by Mrs. Stuart Webster. As some minor difficulties and friction had developed by this time, as was natural in such a large organization with such a multiplicity of objects, it was decided that all committee chairmen should resign, and leave the new chairman free to entirely reorganize the Women's Committee. Mrs. Owen remained as an active member of the committee and did remarkable work as organizer of the county women in the Liberty Loan drives.

One of the innovations soon established was the "Thrift shop," a store where people could donate cast-off articles of all sorts, and have them sold for the benefit of the war work.

The report of Mrs. Webster, on October 1, 1918 six weeks before the close of the war, indicated the scope of the tasks accomplished. The committee was divided into nine major divisions under a chairman, and the following shows the lines of work followed :

Division 1. Ward Organization. - A general chairman was named in each ward, and she had as assistants eight department chairmen to carry out the work planned by the chairmen of the corresponding division of the Women's Committee. The ward chairman was responsible to the Women's Committee executive board for all the work done in her ward. The ward chairmen met each week with the executive committee. One thousand women were active workers in these organizations. The ward chairmen and one member in each ward acted as sugar deputies to enforce food administration regulations.

Division 2. Social Service. - This department studied the problems of health and recreation for girls in the community, and provided dancing parties and other clean entertainment for visiting sailors from the training station. It worked in hannony with the War Camp Community service.

Division 3. Soldiers and Sailors Canteen. - Mrs. Paul Ostergaard had offered her home on College Avenue as a canteen in 1917, and the committee helped her to make it a real home for visiting service men, to whom "Mother" Ostergaard greatly endeared herself. Thousands of meals were served there in addition to the free distribution of lunches, cigarettes, etc. The Patriots fund and many citizens contributed directly to this work.

Division 4. Thrift Shop. - This was conducted at 804 Villa Street by Mrs. J. G. Williams. It showed a profit of more than $1000, part of which went to the Social Service committee.

Division 5. Home Economics. - Every effort was made to teach housewives the value and best uses of wheat substitutes, and to do all possible to conserve the nation's food supply. It urged the reduced use of sugar in baking and canning and various displays, lectures and meetings were held throughout the county in the interest of the movement. Mrs D. E. Callender arranged with sixty-two merchants to have potato exhibits in their windows in one week and a great increase in the sales of this food was the result. A corresponding reduction in the demand for breads resulted, the city bakers reported. Miss Helen Gorton arranged to have ministers preach on the merits of the potato as food. More than 19,000 women were supplied with literature regarding war cookery. About 200 women devoted many hours each week to the work of "winning the war through food."

were raised by this department in the drives, as will be shown in subsequent pages. Women speakers made dozens of addresses regarding war work throughout the county.

Division 7. Child Welfare. - A census of children was taken and 90 percent of them were weighed and measured, 10 percent beingexamined by physicians and nurses. Classes were established for mothers and newspapers, moving pictures and other agencies were utilized to interest people in child welfare as one of the big war time problems.

Division 8. Motor Corps. - Twenty-one girls, fifteen of them driving their own cars, enrolled and were put in active service with distinctive uniforms provided. They took a course in automobile mechanics. They were at all times ready to answer calls from County Council of Defense, Red Cross, Home Service department or the secret service. They rendered most excellent service and devoted many hours daily to their arduous tasks.

Division 9. Cooperation With Red Cross. - Through the co-operation of ward chairmen, this department provided the Red Cross with several hundred sweaters, socks, wristlets and knit helmets for the army and navy.

On October 6, 1918, Mrs. Webster resigned as chairman on account of leaving the city, and Mrs. Robert S. Preble was chosen to carry on the work. Mrs. Webster was made honorary chairman in recognition of her excellent service. Mrs. Preble proved to be a very capable and tactful executive.

Owing to the ban on public meetings during the epidemic of Spanish influenza, little work could be done in the following month excepting relief work for the victims of the epidemic. The canteen was utilized to provide soup for sufferers and the motor corps rendered splendid assistance during the crisis. Clothing and bedding was gathered to aid sufferers in emergencies. A girls, bicycle corps was also organized for messenger service. The announcement of the armistice found the Women's Committee prepared to meet any demands that might be made upon it. It had already accomplished great things in assisting every phase of civilian war work.

The following roster gives an idea of the size and strength of the organization. Owing to occasional resignations, etc., no such list can be completely accurate, but it shows the active workers at a period shortly before the