RD07566

Woman's Committee
Council of National Defense
South Dakota State Division

Dell Rapids, Jan. 14, 1918

Madam Chairman:

Ian Hay, the English writer, in an article written to American women says:
''In the early days of the war our women's work, like men's, suf-
fered from too much individual zeal and too little collective effort.
There was overlapping, wastage and uneven distribution of both burden
and benefit. The same thing happened in France. But with the hard ex-
perience of the older Allies as a guide, the women of America should
have no difficulty in recognizing the need of organization and co-ordi-
nation of their noble efforts. This done American women can present a
united front to the great and glorious task that lies before them.*'

In a recent letter on the organization of the So. Dak. Division of
the Woman's Com. C. N. D., Mr. C. H. Anderson, State Chairman of the
Council, said: "The united effort of the women of our state is neces-
sary for the successful promotion of every war activity or relief meas-
ure that may be presented during the coming months. To this end it is
highly essential that organization be perfected so that all effort be
utilized to the best advantage. We, the Council, are confident that the
ladies selected as county chairmen for the Woman's Committee will suc-
ceed in organizing their territories so completely that each unit will
become a strong and effective force in the state. The Woman's Committee
is now needed and should remain in existence until the conclusion of the war."

Mr. Anderson has asked for a report on the county organization of
the Woman's Committee at the meeting of the State Council to be held in
Sioux Falls, Jan. 22. Madam Chairman, have you sent in to me your reply
as to number of towns and townships organized? If not, please answer so
that I may have the complete report here at Dell Rapids, at the very
latest, Monday Jan. 21st. The report of the counties could not be given
to the press this week as planned. The Executive Committee of the Wo-
man's Committee C. N. D. of our state consists of Dr. Helen S. Peabody,
Chairman, Sioux Falls; Mrs. John Howard Pyle, Vice Chairman, Huron; Mrs.
A. J. Williams, Treas., Watertown; Mrs. S. A. Christensen, Sec, Sioux
Falls. The above have appointed Mrs. K. Zetlitz, of Sioux Falls, State
Chairman of Registration. Mrs. Zetlitz is a woman of splendid person-
ality, great ability and a tremendous worker. You will all like her I
know. Registration State Headquarters are to be opened today in Sioux
Falls, on the ground floor of the Elks' Building. Everybody is enthusi-
astic over the coming campaign.

A township chairman said to me yesterday: ''With three good as-
sistants, it will not be difficult to register the women of my township.*'
A County Chairman wrote: "We are so enthusiastic we can scarcely wait
for the cards to come.*'

Ask your Publicity Chairman to send to State Headquarters inci-
dents or stories regarding registration or the progress in your County,
that may be used in State Press work.

Mrs. E. C. Perisho, of Brookings, appointed by Mrs. Wm. G. McAdoo
as State Chairman of the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee, has asked me to
enclose a greeting from her to the County Chairmen, and state that she
plans to send them a letter in the near future. Mrs. Perisho is a mem-
ber of the State Committee of the Woman's Committee.

This is my last letter as Organizer. My work from now on, on the
Woman's Committee, will be as Chairman of the Finace Committee.

I have enjoyed meeting you. It has been a pleasure to work with
you, and the splendid patriotic spirit shown in taking up the work of
the Woman's Committee has been of great help to me.

In closing may I quote the lines of our State Chairman, Dr. Helen
S. Peabody: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I
can do something. What I can do, I will do." Fraternally yours,
Mrs. [Judith?] Campbell
State Organizer.

P. S.—(a) Be sure to state in your city paper that thru registra-
tion contributions local expenses are to be defrayed as well as railway
fare of County Chairman to the State Meeting. We must have the State Meet-
ing ! (b) One of the Sioux Falls society women gave $10 to the Registra-
tion Committee a few days ago. She said she had heeded the request of the
Government and was raising hogs. The $10 represented some of her profits.