Document 5: "Socialists Denounce U.S. Entry Into War," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 12, 1917.

Introduction:

On April 7, 1917 the National Socialist party began its national convention to formulate its wartime policy a day after the U.S. entered the war. O'Hare was an integral part of the convention, serving as one of three St. Louis delegates and as Chair of the Committee on War and Militarism, the committee which wrote the resolution denouncing the war. O'Hare strongly influenced the decisions made at the convention and threw her support behind the Majority Report. This formulation of the Socialists wartime views and policies was very much in line with International Socialist thoughts and policies at the time. However, it sharply diverged from the actions of other peace groups which now refrained from criticizing the war and instead focused on post-War planning. O'Hare's important role in formulating this resolution shows her willingness to stand apart from other peace activists and criticize the government.

Socialists Denounce U.S. Entry Into War

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Thursday Evening, April 12, 1917

Resolution Adopted at Party Convention Here Urges Fight Against Conscription

The Socialist party, in national convention at the Planters Hotel last night adopted resolutions proclaiming its "unalterable opposition to the war just declared by the Government of the United States."

The majority support of the Committee on War and Militarism, containing the resolutions, received 140 votes. An even more radical minority report by Louis Boudin of New York received 31 votes. The conservative minority report of John Spargo of New York, declaring that Socialists should support the war, received only 5 votes.

The vote was taken after hours of speech-making. Thomas William of California was hissed when he said he was an American, charged the delegates with being pro-German and declared they did represent the true sentiments of American Socialists.

Mrs. Kate Richards O'Hare of St. Louis defied the Government and the civil authorities. She declared that Socialists would not be molested in St. Louis for what they said because the city was against war and the authorities were afraid to molest them.

Would Withdraw Support

The majority report called upon the workers of all countries to refuse support to their Governments in war. The sacrifices in the European struggle were declared to be "wanton offerings upon the altar of private profit."

The report pledged the Socialists to opposition to the war by all means within their power, unyielding opposition to conscription, resistance to censorship of the press and mails, restriction of free speech, assemblage and organization, and to compulsory arbitration and limitation of the right to strike. It advocated propaganda against military training and militaristic training in the public schools, organization of workers to shorten the war and establish lasting peace, education in the relations between capitalism and war and organization for destruction of the causes of war.

Touches on Food Situation

Demand is made that food exports be restricted and miximum [sic] prices be fixed. Socialization of the industries concerned with food and other necessaries, and socialization of all agricultural land now held out of use for profit, are also requested.

Elected representatives in legislative bodies were instructed to vote against appropriation or loans for war purposes. The National Executive Committee was instructed to extend the propaganda among women. The National Executive Committee was instructed to initiate an organized movement of Socialists, workers and other anti-war worces [sic].

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