Chicago Daily Journal
PROF. THOMAS IS PET
‘DADDY,’ WOMAN SAYS
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Wife of Army Officer Cries to Oblige Clyne and Admits Relations.
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A story of the illicit love affair carried on between the young wife of an army captain, now on duty at the French front, and the professor of advanced thinking at the University of Chicago was told today unhaltingly by Mrs. R. M. Granger, taken into custody Thursday night by federal officials while registering with Prof. William Isaac Thomas, noted for his startling theories of sexology, at the Hotel Brevoort.
"I love Prof. Thomas," the girl cried, "but I love my husband better. He’s the finest man in the world.
The girl lifted the mystery concerning the positive identity of the fashionable couple arrested in the hotel by admitting that her stately, scholarly companion of fifty-five years was actually the noted University of Chicago scientist, whose books and lectures on sex problems have repeatedly shocked the entire country. Prof. Thomas is married and lives with his wife and two grown sons at 6132 Kimbark avenue.
The woman, who is 23 years old, refuses to reveal her home city or further identify her soldier husband other than to say he is an American Army officer, "somewhere in France."
"I met Prof. Thomas in New York last December," she said. "He fascinated me from the moment we first met; Almost immediately we became sweethearts."
Thereafter during the interview the girl referred to Prof. Thomas as "daddy" or "dad."
"My husband left with his regiment in February," she continued. "I decided then to join "daddy" in Chicago.
"I did this because I wanted to be near ‘dad’ and also because I wanted to enter the University of Chicago as an ‘unclassified student.’ I was schooled in a convent in the south, and have the equivalent of a high school education.
Live Near "Daddy"
"I arrived here two weeks ago with my sister — she is 18 years old, and is attending a school here. We immediately registered at the Colonial hotel, 6325 Kimbark avenue, which is near daddy’s house.
"Then began a delightful existence with my wonderful daddy. One must know him to realize why such an experience was possible. He is the possessor of all the wisdom of the ages. He knows the mind, he penetrates into one’s secret chambers, into one’s very heart.
"We met every day. Sometimes I would visit him at his office in the university. Then when the intruders would leave the Harper Memorial library, we would wander through those wonderful halls and choosing a great, darkened corner, we would bare our hearts.
"Other days daddy would prefer to visit me at the hotel. Then my professor and I would sit for hours in the sun parlor. We were happy. But both daddy and I love the woods. We grasped upon Jackson park as a bit of nature. Our walks through there will ever be memorable to me."
Wife Not Considered
There was no trace of sadness in the girl’s eyes as she gazed through the windows of the federal building. Her eyes are large and brown and calm. Artists prefer models of her type for their "soulful studies."
"Did you ever consider Mrs. Thomas?" she was asked.
"Not particularly," she admitted readily. "I don’t think you understand. Mrs. Thomas and the professor had separate interests. Theirs was simply a matrimonial alliance. Their romance contained no passion."
"What are your feelings today. Are you sorry?"
"No, humiliated, worried about my husband; I did cry several times when I thought of him today," she answered. "But no sorrow because of my love for Dr. Thomas.
She laughed nervously as she suddenly remembered something that to her was comic.
Cries to Oblige Clyne
"I must tell you," she bent over confidentially. "When we were taken into custody I was taken before District Attorney Clyne. He was very mournful, very much like a preacher. He wanted me to go down on my knees and pray for forgiveness from God, my mother and my husband. He wished me to wear ‘sackcloth and ashes.’ You have heard Billy Sunday, I presume. I really believe District Attorney Clyne tried to imitate Rev. Billy. He asked me if I wasn’t penitent. When I refused to droop my head and tremble, he became angry. Finally he became so insistent that I showed my penance by crying. I cried just to oblige him.
She became serious again.
Afraid of Husband
"I hope my husband doesn’t hear of this," she almost whispered. "I know he’ll desert and come over. Then there will be shooting, ghastly shooting, and no German will be the victim. My husband is the finest man in the world. I love him more than I do my daddy. I would never give up my husband for daddy and I know daddy doesn’t want to give up his wife and family for me. We are in perfect accord on that. Our love is not so desperate that we would abandon the world for the wilderness because of it.
"You know there’s no reason for [my] husband worrying about this," she said defiantly. "When he comes home I will abide in happiness with him and him alone. The real terrible part of this is the fact that daddy and I were caught. It would never have happened had I not looked so young. They doubted I was 18 and questioned us merely about that."
The department of justice announced that the district attorney’s office would be asked to prosecute the couple on charges of violating the Mann act. After the girl was questioned today Dr. Thomas was brought before Mr. Clyne. As they passed he grasped her hands and whispered to her.
Meanwhile, social and literary leaders looked with active curiosity at Mrs. Wil-
( 3) -liam Isaac Thomas, noted pacifist, betraying the unspoken question: "Is it your husband ?"
The couple were arrested shortly after they had registered as Mr. and Mrs. C. Roland of Gary, Ind. Thurlow B. Horner, the hotel clerk, became suspicious and refused them a room. They checked their baggage at the hotel, and went out. When they returned federal agents were awaiting them and they were taken before District Attorney Clyne.
Mrs. Thomas Agrees
When Prof. Thomas shocked society by accusing women of pursuing the same sexual propensities of the primordial women with the added quality of coquettish cunning, and declared a married woman often became chattel or a "house cat," Mrs. Thomas stood by his side and laughed contemptuously at his critics.
"Of course all those things the professor said are true," she declared. "To the people sufficiently advanced in thought or research the utterance of Prof. Thomas may even be trite. Only the cult will understand. For the rest — pooh!"
"Any girl, mentally mature, has the right to motherhood," he declared. "What is needed in the world is more sexuality. The world has grown no better since the days of so-called savagery. There are two types in the Morals court — the imbecile and the genius. Pope was right, ‘women had no character at all."
Such were a few of Prof. Thomas’ expressions. To him the world was the same as the primordial era when strong men hunted their women where they willed, tapping them on head and carried them in gibbering glee to their caves.
Book Stirs Women Worshipers
Prof. Thomas’ sex philosophy as expressed in his daring book "Sex and Society" several years ago startled society and has particularly annoyed the candle burners bore the shrine of womanhood.
Return to the United States after years of studies in universities in Berlin and Gottingen and association with the work of the literary rebels such as Baudelaire, Strindberg, Oscar Wilde, Nietsche, Rabelaise, Hearn, Prof. Thomas devoted his talents to dealing with sex relations as fundamentally a biological proposition.
Although assuming the chair of sociology at the University of Chicago, which he has occupied since 1900, Prof. Thomas seemed to conduct most of his research among the labyrinths of sex.
The publication of "Sex and Society" brought a flood of indignant protests to the university directors. Gallantry, old-fashioned courtliness to women, to Prof. Thomas were merely indications of superiority on the part of the male. In his book, woman is a pagan enjoying the same primal instincts that moved the heavy-hipped earth rovers of the beginning of time.
Woman’s Mind Like Savage’s
"The mind of woman is on the same level with that of the savage," he said, "and it is neither possible nor womanly for her to improve her condition."
"The morality of woman is an expediency rather than a virtue.
"Most American women are merely house cats, reduced to a condition of parasitism.
"Woman has no object in life but to adjust herself to the personality of man.
"Any girl, mentally mature, has the right to motherhood, the right to limit the number of her children, and the right to know how to restrict the size of her family."
The professor’s philosophy seemed to contain a softening note when he added that woman was man’s equal and possibly man’s superior, but again he left the woman wondering when he cited the queen bee as proof.
"Marriage Approaching Immorality"
Other selections from "Sex and Society" which stirred the women were:
"Women are better off for having had their fling by leading irregular lives. Dissipated women often make uncommonly good wives.
"Chivalry is the persistence of the old race habit of contempt for women.
"Man’s business is largely carried on for the gratification of woman’s love of dress.
"The foolish and disrespectful customs of courtesy which men practice toward women are a product of woman’s dress."
"The most romantic periods in history are those characterized by tight lacing and purposive fainting."
"Instead of decreasing morality, the wearing of clothing rather detracts from it.
"The most suggestive use of clothing is the use of just a sufficient amount to call attention to the person without completely concealing it.
"As far as modesty is concerned, clothing had re-enforced the already great suggestive powers of the sex.
"Marriage as it exists today is rapidly approaching a form of immorality.
"Matrimony is often an arrangement by which the woman trades her irreproachable conduct in perpetuity for irreproachable gowns.
"Most women have accepted marriage as a means of luxury or at least livelihood.
"Children are not the result of marriage, but marriage is the result of children.
"In Chicago, the old maid is the most interesting thing we have outside of the stockyards."
