I found an archive of period newspaper articles on the armed rebellion of socialist farmers against the draft in 1917 Oklahoma and thought I'd make them into a little minifeature
he Ada Weekly News Aug 2, 1917:TO RESIST DRAFT LAW Organization Thought To Exist In Several
Counties In OK That there is a wrong organization in Pontotoc,
Seminole, Pottawatomie and perhaps other counties, the purpose
of which is to resist the draft law, is the opinion of Pontotoc
Count officials. Acting upon evidence collected by the office of
Sheriff Bob Duncan and County Attorney A.L. Bullock the federal
authorities today took into custody Sam Bingham, Geo. Norman,
Ernest Johnson, Jim Hammett Sr., and a Mr. Wilson, all of
Francis or near that place. These will probably be lodged in the
federal jail at Holdenville or Muskogee. Sheriff Bob Duncan and
Deputy U.S. Marshall Frank Whally made the arrests. The men
charged with trying to incite young men in the draft age to
resist the call to arms, urging the young men to defend
themselves with weapons. A large meeting, it is said, was held
Saturday night in a grove not far from Francis. and the attended
was something like one hundred men and boys. Some of the boys
refused to enter into the plans. The county officials know of
many meetings that have been held in various parts of the county
within the last few days, and are keeping an eye on all
developments. They have a list of practically all those who have
been attending the meetings. Arrests of dozens of these
participants may be expected at any time. A meeting of the
organization was to have been held in Seminole county Sunday
night, but the News was unable to learn whether this meeting
materialized or not.It is not the boys who are opposed to the draft measures, the
officials declare. Three of the five men arrested today are more
than sixty years old. The other two are more than forty years
old. Just how many boys have consented to go into the organized
resistance has not been learned.Some of the agitators, it is alleged believe the time has come
to strike for a different form of government. They believe that
all of those not contented with things as they are now will rise
up in a common cause and overthrow the powers of the government.It is possible that this organization has spread to other
counties. Mr Bullock thinks. Rumors of it have been reaching Ada
for several days. Quietly the officers have been watching
developments. Officials in other counties are doing the same.
Arrests have been made in Pottawatomie county. Arrests in
Seminole are looked for any time.One member of the organization who has not yet been arrested is
said to have remarked that a few days would see some startling
developments. The officers know who he is and is watching him.












