Document 16: Eleanor St. Omer Roy to The Nation, 8 May 1928, The Records of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section, Swarthmore College Peace Collection (Scholarly Resources Microfilm, reel 47).
Introduction
Eleanor St. Omer Roy was one of the principal DAR members to protest the organization's redbaiting, including its willingness to investigate WILPF on behalf of the House Naval Affairs Committee (see document 14). She also protested against the DAR’s list of "doubtful speakers," more popularly referred to as the blacklist. This reply to an invitation to The Nation’s Blacklist Dinner shows the ability of those under attack to express humor about their common plight.[10]
May 8, 1928
The NATION
20 Vesey Street,
New York, N. Y.
Attention: Blacklist Dinner
Gentlemen:
It is with the deepest regret that I must miss the Blacklist Dinner, tomorrow night. I am the Office Secretary of the W. I. L., not only listed, but discussed at length in "The Common Enemy."[A] But that is not the half of it. I am that perverse, impertinent and incorrigible D.A.R. who refused to be bluffed or frightened into silence, but insisted upon and persisted in presenting to the Continental Congress a resolution asking for free speech--a crime for which I have been officially reprimanded by the National Board of Management of the D. A. R.
Please accept my greetings. I shall be "sitting in" with you in spirit and envying you your good time.
Sincerely and "humorously" yours,
(Mrs. J. A. St. Omer Roy)
Office Secretary. W. I. L.,
Member of D. A. R.
A. A pamphlet circulated
by the DAR and probably written by a member. It discusses the objectives of
Communism and lists numerous organizations in America that, the author feels,
follow the doctrines of Communism, including WILPF.
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