Federal Federal GovernmentGovernment

VS.VS.The Appeal to The Appeal to

ReasonReason

11stst Amendment Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitionassembly, and petition

Title XII of Espionage Act of 1917Title XII of Espionage Act of 1917

Violated 1Violated 1stst Amendment rights Amendment rights

Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason

Produced weeklyProduced weekly

Socialist newspaperSocialist newspaper

Subscriptions up to 500,000 in 1917Subscriptions up to 500,000 in 1917

FounderFounder

Julius WaylandJulius Wayland

18951895

Girard, KansasGirard, Kansas

PurposePurpose

Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason

Brought public attention to actions of rich Brought public attention to actions of rich and powerfuland powerful

Fred WarrenFred Warren

Fred Warren joins Fred Warren joins Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason staffstaff

June 1901June 1901 28 years old28 years old Within one year took over editorial directionWithin one year took over editorial direction

Eugene DebsEugene Debs

Eugene DebsEugene Debs

ContributorContributor

Ran for president five times on the Socialist Ran for president five times on the Socialist ticket ticket

Government AttentionGovernment Attention

March 1906March 1906

Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason gets attention of gets attention of governmentgovernment

Beginning of EndBeginning of End

Government looking for ways to keep Government looking for ways to keep

Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason from being circulated from being circulated

11 stst Court Case Court Case

May 3, 1909May 3, 1909 Suit against Warren (editor)Suit against Warren (editor)

Sentenced to six months in jail and fined Sentenced to six months in jail and fined $1,500 plus costs$1,500 plus costs

More CasesMore Cases

Government brings multiple suits in court Government brings multiple suits in court over next few yearsover next few years

U.S. District Attorney Harry J. Bone U.S. District Attorney Harry J. Bone unrelentingunrelenting

Even hired “secret” spiesEven hired “secret” spies

Sad NewsSad News

November 1912November 1912

Founder Wayland commits suicideFounder Wayland commits suicide

BeliefsBeliefs

Staff of Staff of Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason believed that believed that 11stst amendment rights were being violated amendment rights were being violated

Fought to keep those rightsFought to keep those rights

Espionage Act of 1917Espionage Act of 1917

July 1917 Espionage ActJuly 1917 Espionage Act

Appeal to Reason Appeal to Reason lost mailing privilegelost mailing privilege

Sold to Emanuel JuliusSold to Emanuel Julius

Renamed Renamed New AppealNew Appeal Supported totally different ideologiesSupported totally different ideologies

Timeline of events for Timeline of events for Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason

Founded

1895

Warren joins staff

19011907

Warren’s firs

t indictment

Grand Jury meets in Ft. Scott

Wayland commits suicide

Contempt charges filed

Warren, W

ayland, Debs, S

heppard indicted

19111912

19121912

Appeal to Reason denied

mailing privileges

Contempt charges dismissed

Bone ordered to drop indictments

191319171913

Appeal Sold

1917

Kansas State StandardKansas State Standard

The student uses a working knowledge and The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of significant individuals, groups, ideas, understanding of significant individuals, groups, ideas, events, eras and developments in the history of events, eras and developments in the history of Kansas, the United States, and the world, utilizing Kansas, the United States, and the world, utilizing essential analytical and research skills.essential analytical and research skills.

1. The student uses a working knowledge and 1. The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of individuals, groups, ideas, understanding of individuals, groups, ideas, developments, and turning points in the era of the developments, and turning points in the era of the emergence of the modern United States (1890-1930)emergence of the modern United States (1890-1930)

3. (A) explains the significance of the Girard 3. (A) explains the significance of the Girard newspaper newspaper Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason to the Socialist to the Socialist movement in the United Statesmovement in the United States

CitationCitation

Sterling, David L. “The Federal Sterling, David L. “The Federal Government v. The Government v. The Appeal to ReasonAppeal to Reason.” .” Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains 9Plains 9 (1986): 31-42 (1986): 31-42

Created by Chyna MundyCreated by Chyna Mundy History 479 Fall 2008History 479 Fall 2008