Document 19: "D. A. R. Drops Mrs. Bailie, Accused of Injuring Good Name of Body in Blacklist Charges," New York Times, 23 June 1928, p. 1.Introduction
The New York Times covered Helen Bailie's hearing before the DAR's National Board of Management. A DAR member, Bailie produced a pamphlet that protested the blacklisting of speakers and the organization's participation in activities that supported anti-red propaganda aimed at other women's organizations. Helen Bailie's expulsion from the DAR for this pamphlet reveals the organization's inability to tolerate dissent within its own ranks on the redbaiting question. The following year, Bailie wrote another pamphlet, Perverted Patriotism: A Story of D.A.R. Stewardship, to protest D.A.R.'s red-baiting.
D. A. R. Drops Mrs. Bailie, Accused of Injuring Good Name of Body in Blacklist Charges
Special to The New York Times. WASHINGTON, June 22. - Mrs. Helen Tufts Bailie of Cambridge, Mass., was today expelled from the Daughters of the American Revolution by unanimous vote of the National Board of Management, according to its announcement.
The statement was made that she admitted authorship of a pamphlet, "Our Threatened Heritage," which contained statements "derogatory to the good name of the society, belittled its work, falsely accused its officers of unauthorized acts, stated that its officers were duped and hypnotized and contained propaganda contrary to the expressed policy of the society in regard to its patriotic work."
"Evidence adduced through the testimony of Mrs. Bailie, under cross-examination by Mrs. Burton, thoroughly eliminated the so-called 'blacklist' from any connection with the national society, officials of the D. A. R. stated," the statement added. "Mrs. Bailie, in response to questions by Mr. Burton, admitted that she had never seen a copy of the 'list' outside the State of Massachusetts and that she had never known of any national officer of the D. A. R. possessing such list."
"We regret very much being compelled to inflict such drastic discipline upon a member," said Mrs. Alfred J. Brosseau, President General of the D. A. R., "but the good name of the organization is above my personal feelings and we rejoice that the fact that no such thing as a 'blacklist' has ever been authorized by the national society has been so thoroughly proved.
"The question of free speech is not an issue. Without restraining that of others, we reserve to ourselves the right of inviting to our platforms and listening to whom we please."
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 22 (P). - Mrs. Helen Tufts Bailie, when informed tonight of her expulsion from the D. A. R., said that she expected such action and that it would only make her fight more vigorously. She said she would carry the matter before the National Congress at the annual meeting next year."
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