Socialists champion cause of tenant farmers

Obeying a direct order from Washington, the postmaster at Hallettsville confiscated the latest edition of The Rebel on Jun. 17, 1917. What prompted the suppression of Texas’ leading socialist newspaper by the Wilson Administration? The official story was publisher Tom Hickey’s outspoken opposition to the president breaking his campaign promise to keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe. But some…