Clarence Smedley Thomas was a Progressive who founded the American Defense Society. Earlier in his career, he headed the Authors Syndicate Bureau with muckraker Will Irwin for the Progressive Party in 1912, worked as a publicist for the Commission for Relief in Belgium, and focused on publicity efforts to improve hygiene. Thompson's interest in national defense began with his work with the National Security League as one of its publicity heads, but he was irritated that the NSL's founder, Solomon Stanwood Menken did not want to expand the NSL’s publicity tactics or criticize Wilson. Thompson wanted to include parades, speakers, and exhibits in publicity campaigns. The NSL did not comply, so a small group of urban professionals splintered from the NSL and created the American Defense Society. Thompson was joined by Cushing Stetson and John F. Hubbard, and they officially created the ADS on August 4, 1915.