Clarence Smedley Thomas
Encyclopedia
Clarence Smedley Thomas was a Progressive
who founded the American Defense Society
. Earlier in his career, he headed the Authors Syndicate Bureau with muckraker
Will Irwin for the Progressive Party
in 1912, worked as a publicist
for the Commission for Relief in Belgium, and focused on publicity efforts to improve hygiene. Thompson's interest in national defense began with his work with the National Security League
as one of its publicity heads, but he was irritated that the NSL's founder, Solomon Stanwood Menken
did not want to expand the NSL’s publicity tactics or criticize Wilson. Thompson wanted to include parades, speakers, and exhibits in publicity campaigns. The NSL did not comply, so a small group of urban professionals splintered from the NSL and created the American Defense Society
. Thompson was joined by Cushing Stetson and John F. Hubbard, and they officially created the ADS on August 4, 1915.
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
who founded the American Defense Society
American Defense Society
The American Defense Society was a nationalist American political group founded in 1915. It advocated American intervention against Germany during World War I and opposition to the Bolsheviks when they came to power in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917.-Formation:Clarence Smedley Thomas,...
. Earlier in his career, he headed the Authors Syndicate Bureau with muckraker
Muckraker
The term muckraker is closely associated with reform-oriented journalists who wrote largely for popular magazines, continued a tradition of investigative journalism reporting, and emerged in the United States after 1900 and continued to be influential until World War I, when through a combination...
Will Irwin for the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
in 1912, worked as a publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
for the Commission for Relief in Belgium, and focused on publicity efforts to improve hygiene. Thompson's interest in national defense began with his work with the National Security League
National Security League
The National Security League was a nationalistic, militaristic, and eventually quasi-fascist nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supported the naturalization and Americanization of immigrants, Americanism, a strong military, universal conscription, meritocracy and government regulation of the...
as one of its publicity heads, but he was irritated that the NSL's founder, Solomon Stanwood Menken
Solomon Stanwood Menken
Solomon Stanwood Menken was an attorney in the United States best known for having founded the National Security League.Menken was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1870 to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Menken, who owned a dry goods store. The family moved to New York City when Menken was a boy...
did not want to expand the NSL’s publicity tactics or criticize Wilson. Thompson wanted to include parades, speakers, and exhibits in publicity campaigns. The NSL did not comply, so a small group of urban professionals splintered from the NSL and created the American Defense Society
American Defense Society
The American Defense Society was a nationalist American political group founded in 1915. It advocated American intervention against Germany during World War I and opposition to the Bolsheviks when they came to power in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917.-Formation:Clarence Smedley Thomas,...
. Thompson was joined by Cushing Stetson and John F. Hubbard, and they officially created the ADS on August 4, 1915.