Location: Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana
On May 31, 1918, Burton K. Wheeler, then a prominent Montana attorney and later a U.S. Senator, was questioned before the Montana Council of Defense regarding his handling of the Frank Little case. Frank Little, an Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organizer, was lynched in Butte in August 1917, an event that sparked national outrage and highlighted the intense anti-labor and anti-radical sentiment prevalent during World War I. Wheeler, known for his defense of civil liberties, had been critical of the state’s aggressive prosecution of alleged seditionists and his involvement in the aftermath of the Little lynching drew the scrutiny of the powerful Council of Defense. This questioning, which extended into early June, was a significant moment in Montana’s wartime history, showcasing the tensions between civil liberties and national security during a period of heightened patriotism and fear. Wheeler stood his ground, defending the right to free speech and due process, even in the face of strong opposition. This day underscores the challenges to civil liberties in Montana during the "Red Scare" era and the courage of individuals like Wheeler who championed constitutional rights amidst widespread repression.