Progressive presidents & politics

1. Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909) (R) Becomes prez. after MckInley assassinated 1901 Square Deal: fair gov’t  prevent wealthy/powerful from exploiting small business/poor “When I say I believe in a square deal, I do not mean to give every man the best hand. If good cards do not come to any man, or if they do come, and he has not got the power to play them, that is his affair. All I mean is that there shall be no crookedness in the dealing.” --TR, 1905 TR did a lot of stuff…. Rough Riders.. Asst Secretary of Navy… after war, elected governor of NY where he pushed Progressive reforms. Efforts annoyed Republican leaders in NY, so they convinced Mckinley to choose TR as running mate to get rid of TR. No power in VP. ThenMcKinley assassinated and TR is president! Often stepped in with authority/ power of gov’t. Saw presidency as “bully pulpit”  powerful platform to publicize important issues and work for progress/ change Ex: PA coal miners’ strike in 1902… wanted pay raise, shorter workday. Needed coal, so tried to negotiate. Then threatened to send in federal troops to take control of mines and run them with federal employees. Forced mine owners to give small pay raise and 9-hr workday. For FIRST TIME gov’t is helping the labor side of the labor dispute.

“Trustbusting” Breaking up monopolies, increasing regulations on big business Lawsuits vs. monopolies that were not in public interest Previous laws that TR strengthens/ enforces… Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC; 1887) created to oversee interstate RR ops. Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890): outlawed trusts that restrained interstate trade With… Elkins Act (1903): RRs fined if give special rates to favored shippers Hepburn Act (1906): gave gov’t power to set RR rates ICC was first federal body set up to monitor American business oeprations. Could only monitor RRs that crossed state lines, could not make laws or control RRs’ transactions. But, could require RR to send records to Congress so Congress could investigate unfairness. Sherman Antitrust Act seldom enforced – was often used in corporations’ favor (labor unions restrained trade). But these two things were important first steps in a trend toward limiting corporations’ power. ICC was stripped of most practical power by SCOTUS by 1900, so TR pushed through Elkins. ICC was supposed to make sure all shippers were charged the same amount of $-- usually unfair to farmers and never corrected. Hepburn Act gave ICC strong enforcement powers. Gave gov’t authority to set and limit shipping costs and also set max prices for ferries, bridge tolls, oil pipelines.

1902: gov’t broke up Northern Securities Company (giant RR co 1902: gov’t broke up Northern Securities Company (giant RR co.) b/c it violated Sherman Antitrust Act Busted 25 trusts in 7 years TR saw difference between “good” & “bad” trusts  big business only bad if bullied smaller co’s. or cheated consumers “Trust tamer”

Consumer Protection The Jungle…. “There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roods would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it… A man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats… The packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then the rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together.”

Consumer Protection Meat Inspection Act (1906): lets fed gov’t inspect meat & processing plants Pure Food & Drug Act (1906): controls on foods, medicines; proper labels  FDA

National Parks and Forests

Environment Began 1st national environmental conservation program 195 million acres off-limits to businesses Reclamation Act: put natural resources (ex: water) under federal protection Decide where/how water distributed