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Winter 1998 Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 13 Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War Peggy Brierton, The war's effects reached beyond the William J. Smith and fields of France to Main Street, USA. Suddenly a per- Steven L. Wright son of "foreign" origin became suspect, and the cher- ished American right, freedom of speech, came under attack. Some of the worst reactions against German- Staff and volunteers from the Americans, German sympathizers and German cul- Collections and Research Division curated an exhib- ture occurred in Cincinnati. it in the Library commemorating the eightieth The Cincinnati School Board stopped anniversary of the end of World War I.1 Sponsored by teaching German in elementary schools. German lan- the Disabled American Veterans, Southwest Ohio guage books were banned from the public library. Chapter — American Civil Liberties Union and Taft, Ernst Kunwald, a native of Austria and music director Stettinius &) Hollister LLP, the exhibit offered a of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), was broad overview of the contributions Cincinnatians under government surveillance as an "enemy alien." made in Europe and at home. After being forced to resign from the CSO, he was Archival materials used in "Over There, interned at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Numerous Over Here" came from the manuscript holdings of "Germanic" names of streets and businesses were the Historical Society Library. Some collections were "anglicized." German Street became English Street, donated decades ago while others were given as Bremen became Republic, and Berlin became recently as 1996.1 Woodrow. German National Bank was renamed The meaning of World War I is more sig- Lincoln National Bank. The German Mutual nificant and its impact on American society is more Insurance Company became the Hamilton County enduring than often realized. The war thrust America Fire Insurance Company, and its icon, "Germania" into the uncertain future as a leader of the world in was changed to "Columbia." the twentieth century ... a legacy which endures today. However, to many Americans the "Great War" remains nostalgic images of soldiers wearing tin hel- mets and gas masks or catch phrases like "The War to End All Wars," and "How you gonna keep'em down on the farm after they've seen Paree?" Cincinnatians, from all walks of life, served in the military, fought the battles and undoubt- edly made great contributions to ending the war in 1918. They were not alone. Many other Queen City residents went "Over There" to help make the world safe for democracy, from the corridors of power in the palaces of Europe to the numerous "Y" Huts in France. Whether a diplomat, soldier, nurse, YMCA worker, or progressive minded citizen, the war and their wartime experiences had major impact on their lives. Peggy Brierton, a William J. Smith, a Steven L. Wright, Archivist, Manuscript/Business Manuscript/Business Business Historian, Cincinnati Archives volunteer for over Archives volunteer for over Museum Center has a M.A. in two years, has a B.A. in four years, is the former Vice history from the University of history from Marquette President of Human Cincinnati. University. Resources for Quantum Chemical Company. Queen City Heritage Edward F. Alexander the position of city solicitor and, only after launching a vigorous fight, was he appointed the assistant solici- tor. He ran unsuccessfully for judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1930 and for U.S. Congress from the Second District in 1932. Political opponents never failed to shed a negative light on his work for civil lib- erties during the war. Alexander remained assistant solicitor m m* •:.:'ti',.-' until 1947 when city leaders appointed him special counsel. He served in this capacity until he retired in 1957. He continued to practice law until a few years before his death in 1967. DOWN WITH CONSCRIPTION The 1st Amendment to the Federal Constitution. CongreBS shall roake no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or ftl>rid»cing the freedom of SPEECH, or of the prom; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Govetnment for a redress of grievances. Tlie 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads: A native Cincinnatian, Edward F. Alexander was born in 1877 and grew up in the Mohawk/Brighton area. He attended "Old" Woodward High School and graduated in 1895 as class valedictorian. His valedictory address ironically was titled, "The Unreasonableness of War." He continued his education at Harvard, graduating in 1899 with a BA and earning his MA degree in 1900. Alexander returned to Cincinnati and taught Greek and Latin at UC while studying for his law degree, which he earned in 1906 from the College of Law. In addition to practicing law, Alexander was one of the founders of Cincinnati's Charter Party in the early 1920s, and the key organizer and support- er of incorporating Proportional Representation (PR) into the city's new charter. However, his defense of the Socialists during World War I and close friendship with Herbert Bigelow took their toll. He was denied "In coming before this court In preparation for the local days. A few days later, feder- with an argument for the Socialist Party's protest rally al agents arrested Burke and reversal of the conviction and against the Selective Service Thomas Hammerschmidt, sentence, counsel feels Act on June 4, 1917, Lotta former Socialist candidate for somewhat as they imagine Burke had handbills printed mayor, and charged them lawyers might feel who were similar to ones distributed in also with treason. called on to argue before the Cleveland. On June 1, 1917, courts of Massachusetts for a while eleven party members reversal of the Salem witch- were distributing handbills craft cases." Edward F. throughout Clifton Heights, a Alexander's opening remarks triad of U.S. Secret Service to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Agents, American Protective Court, 1923 League members and plain- clothes policemen arrested them, charged all eleven with treason and placed them in solitary confinement for three Winter 1998 Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 15 Lotta Burke was transferred Feeling overwhelmed, to the Montgomery County- Alexander sought legal Jail where she encountered advice from the Socialist some abuse. Alexander's Party of America. assistant wrote to him, imploring Alexander to doing something: "Unless she is furnished the security of female companionship with the consequent peace of mind, she is going to die or go insane." i6 Queen City Heritage Bolin's predisposition Judge Howard C. Hollister, Constitution is being virtually The American Civil Liberties towards linking the thirteen whose son served with the suspended during the time Union (ACLU) became Socialists with Communism U.S. Food Administration in when Americais facing this involved in the case from the is quite apparent in his letter Lithuania and Poland, tremendous crisis." outset and offered support to Alexander regarding the presided at the District Court Prosecuting Attorney Stuart throughout the seven year appeal process. hearing. It was a dreary R. Bolin summarizing the legal ordeal. episode of repression, witch- government's case. hunting, character denigra- tion and intolerance. "Our courts are not permit- ting persons who have taken a stand against the Government in this war to seek shelter behind the Constitution. The Winter 1998 Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 17 Alexander's closing argu- Encouraged by Denison's dis- Act was not in effect when ments summarized the real sent and determined to see the Socialists were arrested, issue of the District Court justice prevail, Alexander (it became law on June 15, trial: filed for a review with the 1917) no law prohibited them "The first thing in this case U.S. Supreme Court. from expressing their that you will note is that it is opinion. a case of political conspiracy, In his dissent, Appellate the sort of case that flouishes Judge Arthur C. Denison in every country where tyran- argued that the defendants ny and despotism rule. These believed both that the men are not here for larceny Selective Service Act was or murder or any other unconstitutional and that charge involving self-seeking. their rights of free speech They are here for their politi- permitted them to voice their cal views and activities." dissent. Denison believed their ideas were "unsound," but because the Espionage i8 Queen City Heritage al, reform-minded church for fifty-four years. Bigelow Herbert S. Bigelow left matters of theology and philosophy to individual members, all that he desired was a "brotherhood of Herbert S. Bigelow was born in 1870 on man in a world of social justice." a small farm near Elkhart, Indiana. He attended Soon Bigelow's interests reached beyond Oberlin Preparatory School and, in 1894, graduated the pulpit to politics and reform: 1902 — unsuccess- from Western Reserve University. He moved to ful candidate as Ohio's Secretary of State; 1912 — Cincinnati to attend Lane Theological Seminary. president of the Ohio Constitutional convention and After he was ordained in 1896, Bigelow was appoint- representative to the Ohio House; 1935 — Cincinnati ed pastor of the Vine Street Congregational Church. City Councilman; 1936 — representative to the U.S. His experience working in the settlement houses in Congress. the basin area of Cincinnati convinced him, however, Whether in or out of office Bigelow con- that a "less traditional answer" was needed to fight tinued to crusade for the causes in which he believed: poverty, crime and social injustice. initiative and referendum, city charter reform, pro- By 1900, after conservative church portional representation (PR), old age pension law for members had tried unsuccessfully to remove him, Ohio, and the municipal ownership of utilities (tele- Bigelow formed his own church, "The People's phone, gas and electric).

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