416 " State Papers and Addresses

as a result of education directed to this end by ambitious rulers, to a point
where they believe anything they do, no matter how dastardly, no matter how
it contravenes the rights of others, is perfectly justifiable, in so far as it serves
the purpose of that, insatiable something which they call "The State. "

Throughout the world nationalistic ambitions and greed are running ram-
pant, and we see strong nations not only willing to subjugate, but ruthlessly
destroying, any nation or national group that offers the slightest obstacle to
their ambition.

Briefly, that is the kind of world into which the graduates of today, you
young women among them, are stepping. What you, or anyone, can do to
better this situation is at the moment a serious question.

Worthy ideals, if. expressed at all in the totalitarian countries today, would
find little acceptance, and probably would insure unpleasant treatment for those
advocating them. However, the inescapable record of history has been that
even the most violent attempts to overthrow, or to dominate, the accepted order
have, in the end, come to naught. Decent, right-thinking men and women of
today can, at the moment, only look forward with hope and confidence to the
ultimate prevalence of "right over might. "

With respect to our own Country, however, a very much more definite con-
tribution can be made, must be made, by educated womankind among our
citizenry, if we are to be preserved from the fate that has befallen so many
other free peoples, -and if, being so fortunate, we are to chart a safe course
along the rocky path that still must be ours.

Standing as we do on the brink of international chaos we must be supremely
well-reasoned in our national decisions if we are to avoid the disasters that
threaten to engulf us. Fortunate it is, therefore, that there are splendid institu-
tions of higher learning, such as this, to bring to the support and guidance of
our government thousands of educated, thoughtful young persons. For the
culture and education that are theirs will be sorely needed in meeting and
solving the tremendous problems that now face, and undoubtedly will continue
to face, the Country for many years to come.

A decade, two decades age, graduates of such institutions as this had few
worries to confront them! There were then comparatively few things that a
college woman could do besides taking her place in society and preparing for a
future in her own home as the mother of a family. The professions were closed
to her, and a woman in business and industry was a rarity. Today we are most
fortunate in America, in that there is hardly a single sphere of activity, where
the assistance of educated women is not eagerly sought. Not only in the pro-
fessions, but in industries as well, and particularly in the creative phases of
industry, those phases that ultimately may decide the fate of the world conflict
now going on, are the hand and mind of women becoming increasingly more
potent.

Furthermore, in our system of democratic government, the influence of
thinking women is being reflected more and more in candidates and officials,
to the increasing elevation of standards therein and to the definite betterment
of administrative procedures.