of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 107

and are entitled to a place in the catalogue of those who have done great
things for the race.

Woman by these changes did not obtain a place and position in the sense
of something completely new—she had always had place and position. These
changes merely gave added significance and power to her place and position.
From time immemorial she had been the conceded guardian of the conscience
and the children of the race. Without her and her influence, even under the
restrictions of thousands of years of custom, the progress made by man in his
slow struggle for civilization and liberty would probably never have been
achieved.

In the never ending struggle to succor and protect the young and the weak,
the contribution made, and being made by women in the exercise of their
new freedom, has been of a value beyond estimation. In the arts and sciences
—in business and professional life, she has assumed and is repeatedly enlarging
a position of real importance. In chemistry, biology, law, medicine and litera-
ture, her contributions have been so great and frequent as to make the con-
tinuance of the same a matter of common expectation.

From our stand in the world of today, looking back observantly over the
range of human, and especially American affairs, to the point of one hundred
years ago, it is hard to realize the change that has taken place in the relation
of woman to the world in which she lives. As before stated, she had always
been controlling, and had exercised, a far reaching and shaping power. Sur-
rounded and impeded by the prejudices of the ages, she had put forth sincere
effort without demanding, expecting, and very seldom receiving any credit—
and always, except in extremely narrow circles, she had been treated as a
stranger to the conference. Except in rare instances, and then only by process
of indirection, had she ever been admitted to have the right or the ability to
make any real contribution. The change in her status worked during the past
one hundred years served to break the shell of her confinement, and to turn
loose for the common good, not only a hundred and one abilities equal to any
of man, but a hundred and one other abilities, without name, and only to be
described as those qualities peculiar to woman.

So great has been the change wrought, that in addition to various acts of
recognition by scientific bodies, by the business world and professional bodies,
government has given recognition to woman's change, and her achievement, by
entrusting her as its selected agent in the performance of some of its highest
functions.

A record of achievement thus evidenced, carries with it, however, the
burden of added responsibility. Women because of their achieved position
are thereby put under obligation to address themselves to the further strength-
ening and maintenance of the benefits and institutions under which they live.
This is especially true at a time when the surrounding world is literally aflame
with influences which endanger, and if not checked threaten to destroy the
system and way of life under which both women and men of America have
so far been enabled to live and grow great. Each and every woman, as well
as each and every man in the United States of America, must, if they love
and appreciate their Country, its Government, and its ideals, take thought
persistently as to how best to protect and preserve that Government and those
ideals.