Arthur Garfield Hays facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Garfield Hays
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Hays in 1924
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| Born | December 12, 1881 |
| Died | December 14, 1954 (aged 73) |
| Education | Columbia College |
| Alma mater | Columbia Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Years active | 1905-1950s |
| Organization | American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) |
| Known for | civil liberties lawyer |
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Notable work
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defense in Scopes trial, Sacco and Vanzetti case, Scottsboro case, Reichstag trial case |
| Movement | Progressive Party |
| Spouse(s) |
Aline Davis Hays
(m. 1924; died 1944) |
Arthur Garfield Hays (born December 12, 1881 – died December 14, 1954) was an American lawyer. He was known for fighting for people's rights and freedoms. He helped start the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and was one of their main lawyers. He worked on many important court cases, like the Sacco and Vanzetti trial.
In 1937, he led a group that looked into a sad event in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Police had shot at people, killing 19 and hurting over 200. His group decided that the police acted like a mob and caused a massacre.
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About Arthur Garfield Hays
Arthur Garfield Hays was born on December 12, 1881, in Rochester, New York. His name was chosen because of two US presidents, James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. His parents came from German Jewish families who were successful in making clothes.
In 1902, he finished his studies at Columbia College. He then went on to get his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1905. After that, he became a lawyer in New York.
His Work as a Lawyer
In 1905, Hays started a law firm with two friends from college. During World War I, he and his partners became well-known. They helped people of German descent in the US who were treated unfairly. This was because Germany was an enemy during the war.
Arthur Garfield Hays was very active in protecting people's civil liberties. These are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person. Around 1920, he became a main lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). From then on, he worked hard to defend people whose rights were being taken away.
Important Court Cases
Hays was involved in many famous court cases. He defended people in the Sweet segregation case in Detroit. He also worked on the Scopes trial in 1925, often called the "monkey trial." This case was about a teacher in Tennessee who was put on trial for teaching about evolution.
He also helped with the American Mercury censorship case in 1926. He was part of the Sacco and Vanzetti case in 1927. In this case, two Italian men were found guilty and executed for a murder they said they did not commit. Hays also worked on the Scottsboro case in 1931. Here, eight Black men in Alabama were sentenced to death after being accused of attacking two white women.
In 1933, Hays went to Berlin, Germany, for the Reichstag trial. He defended Georgi Dimitrov, a Bulgarian Communist. Dimitrov was accused by the Nazis of setting fire to the German parliament building.
Hays also defended workers and their rights. He helped coal miners in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He fought for their right to strike. He also defended the Jehovah's Witnesses and argued for people's right not to salute the American flag.
The Ponce Massacre Investigation
In 1937, Hays was chosen to lead a special group called the "Hays Commission." This group investigated a tragic event in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Police had shot at people who were gathering for a parade. The parade permits had been taken away at the last minute. The police actions led to 18 deaths and over 200 injuries. Hays's commission concluded that the police acted like a mob and committed a massacre.
His Political Involvement
The Progressive Party
In 1924, Arthur Garfield Hays was the chairman for the Progressive Party in New York State. This party aimed to make society better and fairer for everyone.
Speaking Out Against McCarthyism
In 1951, Hays spoke on a TV show called Longines Chronoscope. He shared his thoughts on the actions of US Senator Joseph McCarthy. Hays believed that Senator McCarthy was very dangerous to freedom in the United States. He said McCarthy was "smearing a lot of respected and highly decent people" without enough proof. Hays was worried about McCarthy's methods of accusing people.
His Life and Death
Arthur Garfield Hays married Blanche Marks in 1908. They had a daughter named Lora before they divorced in 1924.
Later in 1924, he married Aline Davis Fleisher. They had a daughter named Jane. Aline Fleisher Hays passed away in 1944.
Arthur Garfield Hays died from a heart attack on December 14, 1954. He was 73 years old.
His Legacy
Arthur Garfield Hays left a lasting impact. In 1958, New York University started the Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Program at its law school. This program helps students learn about and defend civil liberties.
Princeton University also keeps many of Arthur Garfield Hays's important papers. These papers help people study his work and ideas.
His Writings
Hays was a talented writer and speaker. He wrote many books and articles about civil liberties. His books shared his views on important issues of his time. His autobiography, called City Lawyer: The Autobiography of a Law Practice (1942), tells interesting stories about his most famous cases.
- Let Freedom Ring (1928, updated in 1937)
- Trial by Prejudice (1937)
- Democracy Works (1939)
- City Lawyer: The Autobiography of a Law Practice (1942)
Images for kids
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Hays in 1924
