"We published your declarations among those whom we represented and as a result,
there was a substantial addition to the strength of your following from the Liberals of Massachusetts [...]
These people all over the state are now looking to you [...] at this critical moment in the nation's life."
This open letter to Senator David Ignatius Walsh of Massachusetts was addressed to him six months into his term in office – September 12, 1919. It was signed by two prominenet figures:
Demarest Lloyd – son of Henry Demarest Lloyd (the famous muckraker and progressive activist) and a prominent journalist. Lloyd was on the executive committee of the short-lived National Party, a non-partisan organization founded by pro-war defectors from the Socialist Party. Other members of the Party included Upton Sinclair and John Spargo.
Chester R. Lawrence – Progressive candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 12th District, 1914; Prohibition candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1916, 1917.
Senator Walsh, the son of Irish Catholic immigrants, is documented as being a strong supporter of Irish independence (see below) and argued that the Treaty of Peace favored the British (as many Irish Catholic and German Americans maintained at the time). Given his staunch isolationist/anti-interventionist sentiments, this letter brings up questions of why Senator Walsh would tease an alliance with a pro-war socialist group whose platform values, besides prohibition, he claimed to support.
there was a substantial addition to the strength of your following from the Liberals of Massachusetts [...]
These people all over the state are now looking to you [...] at this critical moment in the nation's life."
This open letter to Senator David Ignatius Walsh of Massachusetts was addressed to him six months into his term in office – September 12, 1919. It was signed by two prominenet figures:
Demarest Lloyd – son of Henry Demarest Lloyd (the famous muckraker and progressive activist) and a prominent journalist. Lloyd was on the executive committee of the short-lived National Party, a non-partisan organization founded by pro-war defectors from the Socialist Party. Other members of the Party included Upton Sinclair and John Spargo.
Chester R. Lawrence – Progressive candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 12th District, 1914; Prohibition candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1916, 1917.
Senator Walsh, the son of Irish Catholic immigrants, is documented as being a strong supporter of Irish independence (see below) and argued that the Treaty of Peace favored the British (as many Irish Catholic and German Americans maintained at the time). Given his staunch isolationist/anti-interventionist sentiments, this letter brings up questions of why Senator Walsh would tease an alliance with a pro-war socialist group whose platform values, besides prohibition, he claimed to support.
"Walsh Pleads for Reservation." Boston Daily Globe, October 10, 1919, 1. Proquest Historical Newspapers (503836526).
"'Walsh Assails, Nelson Defends League in Senate." New York Times, October 10, 1919, 1. Proquest Historical Newspapers (100470188).
"'Walsh Asks For Test." New York Times, January 19, 1920, 8. Proquest Historical Newspapers (98246580).
"'Calls Treaty Outrage." The Sun, May 3, 1920, 22. Proquest Historical Newspapers (538010471).
"Walsh Sees Cox; Urges Home Issues." New York Times, July 30, 1920, 2. Proquest Historical Newspapers (98138305).
"'Walsh Assails, Nelson Defends League in Senate." New York Times, October 10, 1919, 1. Proquest Historical Newspapers (100470188).
"'Walsh Asks For Test." New York Times, January 19, 1920, 8. Proquest Historical Newspapers (98246580).
"'Calls Treaty Outrage." The Sun, May 3, 1920, 22. Proquest Historical Newspapers (538010471).
"Walsh Sees Cox; Urges Home Issues." New York Times, July 30, 1920, 2. Proquest Historical Newspapers (98138305).
Lloyd and Lawrence write that Senator Walsh promised that he would "support President [Woodrow] Wilson in the battle which after the cessation of hostilities would inevitably ensue between him and his opponents in the Senate over the determination of the character of the peace." We now know that Article X of the League of Nations' Covenant called for assistance of member nations under external aggression; all the Allied nations signed except the United States because President Wilson was facing strong objection from other U.S. politicians.
How did HWLD feel about all of this and how might he have been involved as a socialist pacifist?
How did HWLD feel about all of this and how might he have been involved as a socialist pacifist?
Box 1 [Reel 71.1] Folder 1, Page 150: Open letter to Senator Walsh of Massachusetts regarding action on Peace Treaty
in the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana Papers (DG 011), Swarthmore College Peace Collection.
in the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana Papers (DG 011), Swarthmore College Peace Collection.
