of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 765

course that has been visited upon so many countries to be a permanent visitation
upon the whole world. America as leader among the free nations of the world,
has a responsibility that she cannot shirk, and that no true American would ever
wish to shirk.

We are in this war because as decent, God-fearing people, we wish to pre-
serve those individual rights which our Constitution proclaimed to be God-given.
WE ARE IN THIS WAR TO WIN because only through complete, mashing
Victory by the United Nations can freedom and justice and humanity be re-
stored to the millions and millions of suffering peoples throughout the world,
and preserved for our children and for future generations. And the women of
America, be it said to their everlasting credit, have answered the call nobly, and
are standing shoulder to shoulder with the men of America in the fight for
freedom.

The recurring annual celebrations of Business and Professional Women's
Week undoubtedly have had a cumulative effect in a wakening the women of
America to their opportunities in business and in the professions. Now that
the purposes of this movement have been realized in such striking fashion, and
women are engaged in every field of American life far beyond any hope or ex-
pectation the sponsors of this week ever could have had in mind, the question
might well be asked: "What now? Where do we go from here?"

Progress always brings with, it new problems, and women's progress in
these crucial war years will raise many perplexing questions, upon the solution
of which will depend the continued security of the active place in our National
life which women now hold.

The business and Profession Women of America have assumed the leader-
ship in the past. More important than ever is it now that they justify this
claim to leadership by supplying a thoughtful, workable to insure the integra-
tion in industry and in all the various fields of National and community life of
the great numbers of women who now for the first time, find themselves actively
engaged in gainful occupations. Under such leadership, and with such a pro-
gram, the Women of America can look with confidence to a future whose possi-
bilities have no liminations.