A photograph of Kate Richards O'Hare a strident advocate and supporter of women's rights and the Socialist Party. She was born in Ada, Kansas, on 26th March, 1876. After a brief schooling in Nebraska, she became an apprentice machinist in Kansas City. While working in a machine shop she was introduced to labor unions. She came to believe that trade unions were vital to the welfare of the working man. At this same time, O'Hare joined the Socialist Party. She later moved to Girard and became a regular contributor to the Appeal to Reason, a Socialist newspaper. Her articles focused on the plight of workers and children. In 1902 Kate Richards married Frank O'Hare. They began a career of lecturing for the Socialist Party across the nation. As the war in Europe intensified, Socialists campaigned to keep America out of war. During a speech in North Dakota, O'Hare was arrested for disobeying the Espionage Act and speaking out against the war. She was sentenced to five years for violating the anti-sedition act but O'Hare only served 14 months.