Frank P. O'Hare letter to Theodore Debs - May 19, 1922
Transcript
May 19, 1922. Theodore Debs, Terre Haute,[Indiana] Dear Theodore: Yours of May 18 is at hand, and it was kind of you to write to me at such length. I just got a letter from Kate dated May 17th, saying that a letter had been received from Gene announcing the death of Mrs. Bauer. When in Washington, I assured everyone that Gene could not possibly go to Washington, but they all felt that they should send him the invitation anyway, even at the risk of giving him pain in being compelled to give a negative answer. Dear old Mother Bauer has lived her life fully and completely and sweetly, and there can be no sorrow in our hearts at the thought of her passing on to her long rest, after the years of ill health and travail. But this will not heal the wound to the hearts of those who loved her and have become so accustomed to caring for her that the whole tenor of their lives is altered. Kate and I and the Crusaders will not permit ourselves to grieve over the opposition from those to whom we have a right to look for cooperation, for the sweet far outweighs the bitter in the history of the Crusade. We had faith that we could carry the Crusades through to Washington and return them to their homes, that their homes and spirits would be good, that there would be loving cooperation among the women and children, that it would bring happiness into the prison where the men are confined; and in all of these expectations we have succeeded, and we feel that forces have been released that will hasten the day of a general freedom. My letter from Kate is disturbing, for she had apparently permitted herself to work too hard on this, and seems to be on the edge of a physical collapse, and I am now trying to frame a telegram to her that will take all the pressure off and permit her to breathe freely and return home. I feel that the farm women and children have done wonderfully well in sticking it through so solidly, but they cannot be expected to feel at home in a city, no matter how loving the friends are, and it is too much to ask them to stay when it becomes intolerable. So I believe it will be well to have the entire body of Crusades start west within a few days, and go to Leavenworth so that they may see their fathers and
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T. D. 2 5-19-[1922] husbands, and then let them decide whether they wish to return to their homes or remain in Leavenworth. My own idea is that the American Labor Movement and liberals should support these families in Leavenworth as long as they want to stay. The cost would not be great, not to exceed 175 a week for the whole outfit. I am sorry that I had to leave Washington, where I could be of assistance in keeping Kate from going to pieces, but Kathleen was sick, and Covington Hall and Dick really could not handle the Rip-Saw, for it is a rather complicated thing, after all. I wanted to stop over in Terre Haute on my way home from Washington, but time did not permit. I do hope that Gene and Katherine will be able to take a little trip some place and rest, and come back to normal condition again, for it is constant pain to think of them as being ill. Don
Details
| Title | Frank P. O'Hare letter to Theodore Debs - May 19, 1922 |
| Creator | O'Hare,Frank P. |
| Source | O'Hare, Frank P. Letter to Theodore Debs. 19 May 1922. Frank P. O'Hare Papers, 1850-1960. A1152. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | In 1912, Frank O'Hare became editor of the Rip-Saw, a socialist monthly issued from St. Louis. He was married to the prominent socialist Kate Richards O'Hare, who was imprisoned during World War I (April 1919 |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; Socialism--United States--Periodicals; Political prisoners--Government policy--United States; Political prisoners--United States; Espionage, American; Sedition--United States |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Children's Crusade for Amnesty; Rip-Saw |
| Site Accession Number | A1152 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | May 19, 1922 |
| Language | English |