English: 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).

Transcription:

Copy St. Louis Mo [February] 26 1918 Dear Kate:- I have several letters from Frank which you no doubt know about informing me that he is going to keep you in the East during the month of April to work for the Defense Committee. I have been wanting to write to you for some little time in regard to this and tell you that I do not think it fair to me to break up our plans. When Frank first wrote me about the defense committee he was working on I agreed that it was a good thing to do and especially not only to raise money for your defense but the defense of every other comrade who may be in trouble, but I do not think that he ought to try to put this proposition across at my expense which it will amount to if you insist on doing what Frank wants you to do. Edwin has sufficient dates for April which cannot very well be postponed. In franks’s letter of the 23 he writes: “ So there is no worry about filling April full up This may necessitate Kate’s going direct from the East to St. Paul [Minnesota]. I presume he means that your case will come up some time in May. I have received enough matter rrom Frank to fill an edition of Social Revolution in regard to the defense fund, but after thinking the matter over very carefully, I do not see where the Social Revolution is going to ferive any benefit in the matter. You have enough business ability to know that we cannot get subscribers to the Social Revolution and at the same time get money for the defense fund and you know that it is subscribers that we must have. Frank’s original idea to establish defense committees in one hundred large towns I thought was very clever, and it is possible that he will be able to put across his present idea. But I do not believe that he should ask me at the expense of the publication to put this proposition over. You know well enough that it has been hard enough for me to keep this thing going the last six months, and now Frank Com3s along and wants to knock the props from under us. Do not think for a minute that I want to knock Frank or his ability in organizing a proposition of this kind, but I am convinced that had his Florida proposition been a success he would not have thought to go into this proposition. You know well enough that I did not complain about the expense that the trial has put me to and I can assure you that I am not making any complaint at this time. But I only think it is fair you fulfill the dates that we now have for you during April. [ms illegible: 2 wds] Frank no doubt will be able to fulfill any dates that may have been made for you in the East as he no doubt knows enough of your case and is able to present it in a convincing way. Kindly give this letter your immediate attention and let me hear from you in regard to the matter by return mail. Hoping this finds you in the best of health, I remain, as ever yours Phil. Wagner
Title: Copy of letter signed Phil Wagner, St. Louis, Mo., to Kate [Kate Richards O'Hare], February 26, 1918