1. Roosevelt Revives the Presidency
Chapter 15

2. Roosevelt
Square Deal—Roosevelt: “every man has a square deal, no less and no more”
Roosevelt reform programs called this
Social Darwinism
Only the fittest survive
Roosevelt believed in both progressivism and Social Darwinism

3. Roosevelt takes on trusts
Believed trusts and other large business organizations were very efficient and essential to Am. prosperity BUT
Concerned monopolies hurt pub. interest
NY Sun: Roosevelt “bring wealth to its knees”
Roosevelt: “we draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth”
Called “trustbuster”

4. 1st target: Northern Securities
J.P. Morgan’s railroad holding company
Merged existing railroad systems
No northwest competition
Farmers feared it would raise rates and hurt their profits
Sued under Sherman Anti Trust Act
(1904) Northern Securities v. United States = Did violate Anti Trust Act

5. The Coal Strike of 1902 United Mine Workers Coal prices UP
STRIKE (want increased pay, reduced hrs, union recognition)
15,000 anthracite miners in east Pen
Coal prices UP
Roosevelt: private interests at nation’s expense
Possible coal shortages
Shut down factories
Homes unheated

6. The Coal Strike of 1902 Roosevelt urged arbitration
Union owners agreed, mine owners did not
Roosevelt threatened to have the army run the mines, THEN the mine owners accepted the deal

7. Regulating Big Business
Believed most trusts were good for the economy
Wanted to regulated w/out breaking up trusts
Fed agency to investigate corps and publicize results  Department of Commerce and Labor
Investigates: U.S. Steel

8. U.S. Steel “Gentlemen’s agreement” Hepburn Act (1906)
Company would open record books for investigation and if there’s a problem comp would be told privately and fix w/out legal action
Also made with other companies
Hepburn Act (1906)
Strengthen Interstate Commerce Commission
Set railroad rates
Eventually became supporter of railraods
By 1920s: set rates to ensure profits

9. Consumer Protection Samuel Hopkins Adams Food Patent medicine business
Claim to cure, but really just alcohol, colored water, sugar OR
Caffeine, opium, cocaine, and other dangerous compounds
Food
Dangerous preservatives
“Embalmed meat”

10. Food 1906—Upton Sinclair “The Jungle Meat Inspection Act (1906)
Slaughterhouses of Chicago; appalling conditions of meat packing
Many people become vegetarians
Meat Inspection Act (1906)
Fed. inspection of meat (under interstate commerce)
Agriculture Dept set standards
Pure Food and Drug Act
Prohibited the manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure of falsely labeled food and drugs