of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 681

Because of this, therefore, it is highly desirable that your efforts be in-
tensified to crystalize and make vocal the feeling of the women of our Country
with regard not only to the immediate matter of new legislation, but likewise
to all the pressing problems of life in this Country today. So many new prob-
lems are being created with regard to women, to the home, and to all women's
points of contact with the life of the Nation, that it is imperative that our ap-
proach to the solution of these new problems find us guided by a definite ex-
pression of the attitude of American women towards them.

America and the world are on the verge of momentous happenings. The
decisive phases of the great wars in which this Country now finds itself, may
be much nearer than any of us have been inclined to believe up to this time.
War moves at a faster tempo nowadays, because of the tremendously increased
speed of movement made possible by the airplane and other mechanized equip-
ment. The recent decisive air-naval battle off Australia, and the long-expected
spring offensive of Germany in Southeastern Europe, may herald the ap-
proach of decisive actions that will result in a turn of events in connection with
the assaults being made upon the free people of the world..

Whether or not, however, the war be a matter of months or of years,
certain things are definitely indicated. Each coming development will affect
most genuinely the women of America.

First, the proposed increase of the United States Army to 6, 000, 000 men
will require approximately 2, 600, 000 additional men drawn from the homes
of America. 2, 500, 000 fathers, brothers, husbands and sons, each one of whom
will leave behind one or more women-folk.

As a concurrent development, we learn that Congress has passed a Bill
authorizing a Women's Auxiliary Army Corps of 160, 000 women, and it now
goes to the President for signature. These would be for non-combat duty, and
would be available for a great variety of services even in the danger areas.
A new field for the active participation of women in the war, a field in which
the ultimate possibilities can not now be estimated is thereby provided.

On the home front, rationing will leave its impress very definitely, too, on
the great masses of our women. The application of sugar rationing regula-
tions already has given the women of America a drastic example of what war
economy can mean. Serious as has been the shock, however, to the every-day
life of the average woman, it is not as severe as the new regulations on gas-
oline are likely to be.

Underlying the rationing of gasoline is a deeper reason than the mere
scarcity of gasoline. Apparently, the real purpose of gas rationing is to limit
the use of cars so as to conserve the one million tons of rubber in car tires, to
make sure that this rubber is used only for essential work.

When this gas rationing really makes itself felt, and that time will not be
far distant, our American way of living will be changed as few of us ever ex-
pected to see it change. Social habits will be changed, and shopping habits.
Vacation plans will have to be altered, or abandoned entirely. The very com-
fortable mode of existence that permitted life in the suburbs, with daily com-