Chapter 28

1. Chapter 28 Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt

2. Progressive Roots • The Progressives had their roots in the Greenback Labor Party of the 1870s and 1880s and the Populist Party of the 1890s. • The purpose of the Progressives was to use the government as an agency of human welfare. • The Progressive movement fought against monopolies, corruption, inefficiency, and social injustice.

3. Progressive Roots • Progressivism was a middle class movement that sought to correct capitalism not destroy it. Progressive feared socialism and the ultra wealthy , they were not fans of conspicuous consumption but were also not believers in the welfare state.

4. The pen is sometimes mightier than the sword. • It may be a cliché, but it was all too true for journalists at the turn of the century. What appeared in print was now more powerful than ever. Writing to Congress in hopes of correcting abuses was slow and often produced zero results. Publishing a series of articles had a much more immediate impact. Collectively called muckrakers, a brave cadre of reporters exposed injustices so grave they made the blood of the average American run cold.

5. The muckrakers • In 1894, Henry Demarest Lloyd exposed the corruption of themonopoly of the Standard Oil Company with his book Wealth AgainstCommonwealth, while Thorstein Veblen criticized the new rich (those whomade money from the trusts) in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899).

6. The muckrakers • Other exposers of the corruption of trusts, were Jacob A. Riis, writer of How the Other Half Lives, a book about the New York slums and its inhabitants, and novelist Theodore Dreiser, who wrote The Financier and The Titan to attack profiteers.

7. The muckrakers • Beginning about 1902, a group of aggressive ten and fifteen-cent popular magazines, such as Cosmopolitan, Collier’s, and Everybody’s, began flinging the dirt about the trusts.

8. Raking Muck with the Muckrakers • In 1902, Lincoln Steffens launched a series of articles in McClure’sentitled “The Shame of the Cities,” in which he unmaskedthe corrupt alliance between big business and the government. • Ida M. Tarbell launched a devastating exposé against Standard Oil and its ruthlessness. • These writers exposed the “money trusts,” the railroadbarons, and the corrupt amassing of American fortunes, this last partdone by Thomas W. Lawson.

9. Raking Muck with the Muckrakers • David G. Phillips charged that 75 of the 90 U.S. Senators did not represent the people, but actually the railroads and trusts. • Ray Stannard Baker’s Following the Color Line was about the illiteracy of Blacks. • John Spargo’sThe Bitter Cry of the Children exposed child labor. • Dr. Harvey W. Wiley exposed the frauds that sold potent patent

10. Raking Muck with the Muckrakers • The muckrakers sincerely believed that cures for the ills of American democracy, was more democracy. • Progressives were mostly middle-class citizens who felt squeezed by both the big trusts above and the restless immigrant hordes working forcheap labor that came from below. • However, Socialists and feminists gained strength, and with people like Jane Addams and Lillian Wald, women entered the Progressive fight. Jane Adams

11. Political reforms of Progressives • The Progressives favored the “initiative” so thatvoters could directly propose legislation, the “referendum”so that the people could vote on laws that affected them, and the“recall” to remove bad officials from office.

12. Political reforms of Progressives • Progressives also desired to expose graft, using a secret ballot(Australian ballot) to counteract the effects of party bosses, and havedirect election of U.S. senators to curb corruption. • Finally, in 1913, the 17th Amendment provided for direct election of senators. • Females also campaigned for woman’s suffrage, but that did not come…yet.

13. Progressivism in the Cities and States • Urban reformers tackled “slumlords,” juvenile delinquency, and wide-open prostitution. • In Wisconsin, Governor Robert M. La Follette wrestled control fromthe trusts and returned power to the people, becoming a Progressiveleader in the process. • Other states also took to regulate railroads and trusts, such asOregon and California, which was led by Governor Hiram W. Johnson. • Charles Evans Hughes, governor of New York, gained fame by investigating the malpractices of gas and insurance companies.

14. City managers • Progressive cities like Galveston, TX either used, for the firsttime, expert-staffed commissions to manage urban affairs or thecity-manager system, which was designed to take politics out ofmunicipal administration.

15. Progressive Women • Women were an indispensable catalyst in the progressive army. They couldn’t vote or hold political office, but were active none-the-less. Women focused their changes on family-oriented ills suchas child labor.

16. Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire • Progressives also made major improvements in the fight againstchild labor, especially after a 1911 fire at the Triangle ShirtwaistCompany in NYC which killed 146 workers, mostly young women.

17. Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire Relatives identifying victims At the morgue

18. Just a list of names • List of Victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireNAME OF FIRE VICTIMAGECOMMENTSAberstein, Julia 30   Adler, Lizzie 24   Altman, Anna 16   Ardito, Anna 25   Astrowsky, Becky 20   Bassino, Rosie 31   Belatta, Vincenza 16   Bellotta, Ignazia  Father identified by heel of shoe. Benanti, Vincenza 22   Bernstein, Essie 19   Bernstein, Jacob 28   Bernstein, Morris 19   Bernstein, Moses   Bierman, Gussie 22 Parents complained body stripped of rings. Binevitz, Abraham 20   Brenman, Rosie   Brenman, Surka (Sarah)   Brodsky, Ida 16   Brodsky, Sarah 21   Brooks, Ida 18   Brunette, Laura 17   Caputta 17   Carlisi, Josep 31   Caruso, Albina 20   Carutto, Frances 17   Castello, Josie 21   Cirrito, Rosie   Cohen, Anna 25   Colletti, Antonia (Annie) 30   Costello, Della   Crepo, Rose 19   Denent, Grances 20   Dichtenhultz (Fichtenhultz), Yetta 18   Dockman (Dochman), Dora (Clara) 19   Dorman, K  Identified by registered letter. Downic, Kalman 24   Eisenberg, Celia 17   Feibush, Rose Feicisch(Feibish), Rebecca 17   Died at hospital after jumping. Feltzer 40   Fitze, Mrs. Dosie Lopez 24 Survived jump for day, then died. Forrester, May 25   Franco, Jennie 16   Frank, Tina 17   Gallo, Mrs. Mary 23   Geib, Bertha 25   Gernstein, Molly 17   Gittlin, Celina 17   Goldfield, Esther   Goldstein, Esther   Goldstein, Lena 22   Goldstein, Mary 11   Goldstein, Yetta 20   Gorfield, Esther 22   Grameattassio, Mrs. Irene 24   Harris, Esther 21  Broke back coming down elevator chute. Herman, Mary 40   Jakobowski, Ida   Kaplan (woman) 20   Kenowitch, Ida 18   Keober 30   Kessler, Becky Tag read, "B Kessler, call for her tomorrow." Klein, Jacob 23   Kupla, Sara Jumped.  Survived five days after fire. Launswold, Fannie 24   Lefkowitz, Nettie 28   Lehrer, Max 19   Lehrer, Sam   Leone, Kate 14   Lermack, Rosie D. 19   Leventhal, Mary 22 Identified by gold-capped tooth. Levin, Jennie 19 Attractive woman who died with folded arms Levine, Abe   Levine, Max   Levine, Pauline 19   Maltese, Catherine Mother of two victims below. Maltese, Lucia 20 One of three bodies identified by her brother. Maltese, Rosalie(Rosari) 14   Manara, Mrs. Maria 27   Manofsky, Rose 22  Died at Bellevue Hospital.

19. Just a list of names • Marciano, Mrs. Michela 25   Mayer, Minnie   Meyers, Yetta 19   Miale, Bettina 18 Identified by ring on her finger. Miale, Frances 21   Midolo, Gaetana 16   Nebrerer, Becky 19   Nicholas, Annie 18   Nicolose, Nicolina  (Michelina)   Novobritsky, Annie 20   Nussbaum (Nausbaum),  Sadie 18 Lower half of body consumed by flame. Oberstein, Julia 19   Oringer, Rose  Died at St. Vincent's Hospital. Ozzo, Carrie 22   Pack, Annie 18   Panno, Mrs. Providenza 48   Pasqualicca, Antonietta 16   Pearl, Ida 20   Pildescu, Jennie 18   Pinello, Vincenza 30   Poliny, Jennie 20   Prato, Millie 21   Reivers, Becky 19   Rootstein, Emma   Robinowitz, Abraham   Rosen, Israel 17 Sister identified body by ring. Rosen, Julia(widow) 35 $842 found in her stocking. Rosen, Mrs. Leob 38   Rosenbaum, Yetta 22   Rosenberg, Jennie 21   Rosenfeld, Gussie 22 Last body to be identified. Rosenthal, Nettie 21   Rother, R 25   Rother, Theodore 22   Sabasowitz, Sarah 17   Salemi, Sophie 24 Identified by a darn in her stocking. Saracino, Sara   Saracino, Serafina 25   Saracino, Tessie 20   Schiffman, Gussie 18   Schmidt, Mrs. Theresa 32   Schneider, Mrs. Ethel   Schochep, Violet 21   Schwartz, Margaret Named victim in criminal case. Selzer, Jacob 33   Semmilio, Mrs. Annie 30   Shapiro, Rosie 17   Shena, Catherine 30   Sklaver, Berel (Sklawer,  Bennie) 25   Sorkin, Rosie 18   Spear   SpruntSpunt, Gussie 19   Starr, Mrs. Annie 30   Stein, Jennie 18   Stellino, Jennie 16   Stiglitz, Jennie 22   Tabick, Samuel 18   Terdanova (Terranova),  Clotilde 22   Only victim to die on tenth floor; jumped. Tortorella, Isabella 17   Ullo, Mary 20   Utal, Meyer 23   Velakowsky,  Freda(Freida) 20 Survived jump for 3 days, then died. Vivlania, Bessie 15   Vovobritsky, Annie 20   Weinduff, Sally 17   Weiner, Rose 23   Weintraub, Sally (Sarah?) 17   Weintraub, Celia   Welfowitz, Dora 21   Wilson, Joseph 21 Found by fiance; to have been wed in June. Wisner, Tessie 27   Wisotsky, Sonia 17   Wondross, Bertha Zeltner > 30 Died of internal injuries at St. Vincent's.

20. Making Judicial Progress • The landmark case of Muller vs. Oregon (1908) found attorney Louis D. Brandeis persuading the Supreme Court to accept theconstitutionality of laws that protected women workers. • On the other hand, the case of Lochner v. New York invalidated a New York law establishing a ten-hour day for bakers. • Yet, in 1917, the Court upheld a similar law for factory workers.

21. Progressives challenge the Demon Rum • Alcohol also came under the attack of Progressives, as prohibitionist organizations like the Woman’s ChristianTemperance Union (WCTU), founded by Frances E. Willard, and theAnti-Saloon League were formed. • Finally, in 1919, the 18th Amendment prohibited the sale and drinking of alcohol.

22. TR’s Three Cs • The Progressivism spirit touched President Roosevelt, and his“Square Deal” embraced the three Cs: control of the corporations, consumer protection, and the conservation of the United States’ natural resources. Square Deal Dance

23. 1902 Pennsylvania Coal Mine Strike • In 1902, a strike broke out in the anthracite coalmines ofPennsylvania, and some 140,000 workers demanded a 20% pay increase andthe reduction of the workday to nine hours. • Finally, after the owners refused to negotiate and the lack of coalwas getting to the freezing schools, hospitals, and factories duringthat winter, TR threatened to seize the mines and operate them withfederal troops if he had to in order to keep it open and the coalcoming to the people. • As a result, the workers got a 10% pay increase and a 9-hourworkday, but their union was not officially recognized as a bargainingagent.

24. Cabinet Department of Commerce and Labor • In 1903, the Department of Commerce and Labor was formed, a part ofwhich was the Bureau of Corporations, which was allowed to probebusinesses engaged in interstate commerce; it was highly useful in“trust-busting.”

25. 1904 Presidential election • TR easily beat Democrat Alton B. Parker • However, in 1904, TR announced that he would not seek the presidency in 1908, since he would have, in effect, served two terms by then. Thus he “defanged” his power. • Notice the “Solid South” for Democrats

26. TR Corrals the Railroads • The 1887-formed Interstate Commerce Commission had proven to beinadequate, so in 1903, Congress passed the Elkins Act, which finedrailroads that gave rebates and the shippers that accepted them. • The Hepburn Act of 1906 strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission, stating the government's regulatory power more definitively. The Hepburn Act empowered the ICC to change a railroad rate to one it considered "just and reasonable," after a full hearing of a complaint. The Mann-Elkins Act placed the burden of proof on the railroads; for the first time, they would have to actively demonstrate that a rate was reasonable. • With these new powers, the ICC gained almost complete control over rail rates, and therefore much of rail competition.

27. TR as “trustbuster” • TR decided that there were “good trusts” and “badtrusts,” and set out to control the “bad trusts,”such as the Northern Securities Company, which was organized by J.P.Morgan and James J. Hill. • In 1904, the Supreme Court upheld TR’s antitrust suit andordered Northern Securities to dissolve, a decision that angered WallStreet but helped TR’s image.

28. TR as “trustbuster” • TR did crack down on over 40 trusts, and he helped dissolve thebeef, sugar, fertilizer, and harvester trusts, but in reality, hewasn’t as large of a trustbuster as he has been portrayed. • He had no wish to take down the “good trusts,” but thetrusts that did fall under TR’s big stick fell symbolically, sothat other trusts would reform themselves.

29. Consumer protection • Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle enlightened the American publicto the horrors of the meatpacking industry, thus helping to forcechanges. • In 1906, significant improvements in the meat industry were passed,such as the Meat Inspection Act, which decreed that the preparation ofmeat shipped over state lines would be subject to federal inspectionfrom corral to can. • The Pure Food and Drug Act tried to prevent the adulteration and mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals. • Another reason for new acts was to make sure European markets could trust American beef and other meat.

30. Starting to protect the Environment • Americans were vainly wasting their natural resources, and thefirst conservation act, the Desert Land Act of 1877, provided littlehelp. • More successful was the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, whichauthorized the president to set aside land to be protected as nationalparks. • Under this statute, some 46 million acres of forest were set aside as preserves.

31. Starting to protect the Environment • Roosevelt, a sportsman in addition to all the other things he was, realized the values of conservation, and persuaded by other conservationists like Gifford Pinchot, head of the federal Division ofForestry, he helped initiate massive conservation projects. • The Newlands Act of 1902 initiated irrigation projects for thewestern states while the giant Roosevelt Dam, built on Arizona's Salt River, was dedicated in 1911

32. Starting to protect the Environment • By 1900, only a quarter of the nation’s natural timberlandsremained, so he set aside 125 million acres, establishing perhaps hismost enduring achievement as president. • In 1913, San Francisco received permission to build a dam in HetchyHetch Valley, a part of Yosemite National Park, causing muchcontroversy. • Roosevelt’s conservation deal meant working with the big logging companies, not the small, independent ones.

33. The “Roosevelt Panic” of 1907 • TR had widespread popularity (such as the “Teddy” bear), but conservatives branded him as a dangerous rattlesnake,unpredictable in his Progressive moves. • In 1907, a short but sharp panic on Wall Street placed TR at thecenter of its blame, with conservatives criticizing him, but he lashedback, and eventually the panic died down. • In 1908, Congress passed the Aldrich-Vreeland Act, which authorizednational banks to issue emergency currency backed by various kinds ofcollateral. • This would lead to the momentous Federal Reserve Act of 1913

34. Need for an elastic currency

35. The Rough Rider Thunders Out • In the 1908 campaign, TR chose William Howard Taft as his “successor,” hoping that the corpulent man would continue his policies, and Taft easily defeated William Jennings Bryan; a surprise came from Socialist Eugene V. Debs, who garnered 420,793 votes. • TR left the presidency to go on a lion hunt, then returned with much energy. • Democrat “Solid South”

36. TR’s Legacy • TR had established many precedents and had helped ensure that thenew trusts would fit into capitalism and have healthy adult lives whilehelping the American people. • TR protected against socialism, was a great conservationist,expanded the powers of the presidency, shaped the progressive movement,launched the Square Deal—a precursor to the New Deal that would come later, and opened American eyes to the fact that America shared the world with other nations so that it couldn’t be isolationist.

37. Meet President Taft • William Taft was a mild progressive, quite jovial, quite fat, and passive. • He was also sensitive to criticism and not as liberal as Roosevelt.

38. The Dollar Goes Abroad as Diplomat • Taft urged Americans to invest abroad, in a policy called “Dollar Diplomacy,” which called for Wall Street bankers to invest their surplus dollars into foreign areas of strategic concern to the U.S., especially in the Far East and in the regions critical to the security of the Panama Canal. This investment, in effect, gave the U.S. economic control over these areas.

39. Bad Neighbor Policy • Roosevelt carried the big stick in the America’s while Taft promoted “Dollar Diplomacy” • In 1909, perceiving a threat to the monopolistic Russian andJapanese control of the Manchurian Railway, Taft had Secretary of StatePhilander C. Knox propose that a group of American and foreign bankersbuy the railroads and turn them over to China. • Taft also pumped U.S. dollars into Honduras and Haiti, whoseeconomies were stagnant, while in Cuba, the same Honduras, theDominican Republic, and Nicaragua, American forces were brought in torestore order after unrest.

40. The real “trustbuster” President Taft • In his four years of office, Taft brought 90 suits against trusts. • In 1911, the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the Standard Oil Company. • After Taft tried to break apart U.S. Steel despite TR’s prior approval of the trust, Taft increasingly became TR’s antagonist.

41. Taft Splits the Republican Party • Two main issues split the Republican party: (1) the tariff and (2) conservation of lands. • To lower the tariff and fulfill a campaign promise, Taft and theHouse passed a moderately reductive bill, but the Senate, led by Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, tacked on lots of upward revisions, and thus, when the Payne-Aldrich Bill passed, it betrayed Taft’s promise, incurred the wrath of his party (drawn mostly from the Midwest), and outraged many people. • Old Republicans were high-tariff; new/Progressive Republicans were low tariff. • Taft even foolishly called it “the best bill that the Republican party ever passed.” Rhode Island Senator Nelson Aldrich

42. Ballinger Pinchot Affair • While Taft did establish the Bureau of Mines to control mineralresources, his participation in the Ballinger-Pinchot quarrel of 1910hurt him. In the quarrel, Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballingeropened public lands in Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska to corporatedevelopment and was criticized by Forestry chief Gifford Pinchot, whowas then fired by Taft. • Old Republicans favored using the lands for business; new/Progressive Republicans favored conservation of lands.

43. 1910 “off year” elections • In the spring of 1910, the Republican party was split between theProgressives and the Old Guard that Taft supported, so that theDemocrats emerged with a landslide in the House. • Socialist Victor L. Berger was elected from Milwaukee to Congress. The Socialist Victor L. Berger

44. The Republican Party Splits • In 1911, the National Progressive Republican League was formed,with Robert M. La Follette as its leader, but in February 1912, TR began dropping hints that he wouldn’t mind being nominated by the Republicans, his reason being that he had meant no third consecutive term, not a third term overall.

45. 1912 Presidential Election • Rejected by the Taft supporters of the Republicans, TR became acandidate on the Progressive party ticket, shoving LaFollette aside. • In the Election of 1912, it would be Theodore Roosevelt(Progressive Republican or Bull Moose Party) versus William H. Taft (Old Guard Republican)versus the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson.

46. Welcome President Wilson