The Menace was a weekly newspaper published in Aurora, Missouri, that developed a circulation of 1.5 million nationwide with a virulently anti-Catholic editorial stance.
"[1] The Menace was founded in 1911 by Wilbur Franklin Phelps within the first three years there were a million subscribers.
Publishing was moved to Branson, Missouri, and the newspaper's name was changed to The New Menace.
[4] Roman Catholic leaders took notice and clipped articles from the paper that alleged lewd behavior by priests, leading to federal prosecutors indicting the editors on suspicion of mailing obscene materials.
The Menace won the obscenity trial held in Joplin, Missouri, in 1916.