Document 7: The Daughters of the American Revolution to Jane Addams, ca. July 1924, Swarthmore College Peace Collection, WILPF Papers, Correspondence, US Section (Jane Addams Papers Microfilm reel 16, frame 958)
Introduction
Between 1924 and 1926 the Daughters continued their lobby for
a strong national defense. Articles from the Magazine claimed that America needed
adequate armed forces in the event of an invasion by a hostile power. Other documents,
however, including this statement on disarmament by DAR chapters from the Chicago area,
suggest that the Society was being overtaken by the Communist hysteria. Instead of
locating enemies abroad, the patriotic organizations looked within their own borders.
The WILPF continued to be the focal point of
DAR hostility. When the International Congress met in Washington D.C. in 1924, League
members, both American and European, became victims of a more vicious DAR attack.
Following the conference, the US Section of WILPF had charted a railway coach to take some
European delegates to a summer school for peace activists in Chicago. American Legion and
DAR chapters publicly attacked the delegates riding on the "Pax Special,"
accusing them of acting as foreign spies. Both patriotic organizations pressured cities to
cancel public meetings and lectures with the WILPF delegates.[M] In light of
these actions, the Daughters' claim in this letter that they desire "to further
complete understanding and cooperation between all nations of the world" rings
somewhat hollow.
Miss Jane Addams
Pres. Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom,
Hull House
Chicago, Ill.
The Daughters of the American Revolution in Chicago and vicinity makes the following statement:-
"We are absolutely opposed to the disarmament of the United States until such time as all class A nations will disarm.
"We are fully aware of the insidious forces now at work within our borders attempting to undermine our Government; therefore, regardless of the possibility of attack from other nations, we believe that this condition necessitates an adequate national defense.
"We are therefore in favor of doing all possible to further complete understanding and co-operation between all nations of the world, that the causes for war may be eliminated."
(Signed)
Chicago Chapter
Gen. Henry Dearborn Chapter
Kaskia Chapter
De Walt Mechlin Chapter
David Kennison Chapter
George Rogers Clark Chapter
Fort Dearborn Chapter
North Shore Chapter
or
Document 8: Letter, Emily Greene Balch to the Kaskia Chapter of the DAR, July 10, 1924