Teddy Roosevelt and the Square Deal Square Deal

Teddy Roosevelt and the Square Deal

Square Deal • “It is the duty of the president to act upon theory that he is steward of the people, and … to assume that he has the legal right to do whatever the needs of the people demand, unless the Constitution or the laws explicitly forbid him to do it. ” • Square Deal -> described the various progressive reforms sponsored by the Roosevelt Administration

Using Federal Power • Thought the U. S. required strong federal gov’t • Trusts -> legal body that would control stocks of a particular company (Standard Oil) – Controlled about 4/5 of U. S. industries – Lower prices to drive out competition then raise them after competition was gone • Roosevelt attacks Northern Securities Company (controlled northwestern railroads) – Had Justice Department sue this company leading to it dissolving.

1902 Coal Strike • 140 k + coal miners in Penn. strike for 20% raise, 9 hr. workday, right to form union • Roosevelt invites both parties to White House – Got 10% raise, 9 hr. workday – Had to give up right to form union and the ability to strike for 3 years • Federal gov’t now expected to intervene in future strikes

Railroad Regulation • Roosevelt passes the Elkins Act – Made it illegal for railroad officials to give, and shippers to receive, rebates for using particular railroads • Hepburn Act 1906 – Limited the distribution of free railroad passes (used as bribery) – Gave commission the right to set max. railroad prices

Health + Environment • Food and Drugs – “The Jungle” leads to Meat Inspection Act • Dictated strict cleanliness requirements and the inspection of meat by the federal gov’t – Pure Food and Drug Act • Halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines • Called for truth in labeling (accurate labels)

• Natural Resource Conservation – Overuse of natural resources • Deforestation, excessive coal mines, overgrazing plains – Measures were taken • Kept large pieces of federal land from being sold privately • Mediation between conserved land exploited land • Funded large scale irrigation projects in the West

Roosevelt on Civil Rights • Failed to support civil rights for African. Americans – Did appoint African-American to head of custom house in Charleston, S. C. • When Mississippi refused to acknowledge this, Roosevelt shut their office down – Dismissed African-American regiment from army on suspicions of protecting someone in a murder case • Fired back by inviting Booker T. Washington to White House

• W. E. B. Du Bois shows opposition – Attacks Washington • Says he accommodates segregationists • Blames blacks for their poverty • Urges them to accept discrimination – Quote pg. 325 • Du Bois holds rally in Niagara Falls and forms the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) – 6, 000+ members by 1914 – Progressive ideals focused on middle class whites

Taft and Progressivism

Becoming President • Was Roosevelt’s Secretary of War – Picked to run against William Jennings Bryan • Easily beat Bryan who was running for the 3 rd consecutive time

Early Stumbles • • Wanted to consolidate previous reforms Not very popular in the beginning Had trouble with members of his own party Tariffs and conservation become main focus

Tariffs and Conservation • Payne Bill (H. O. R. ) – Lowered rates on imported manufactured goods • Aldrich Bill (Senate) – Made fewer cuts and increased many rates • Payne-Aldrich Tariff – A compromise that only moderated the high rates of the Aldrich Bill – Believed that Taft was straying from Progressivism – Taft calls it the “best tariff bill the Republicans had ever passed” • Taft appoints Richard A. Ballinger as secretary of the interior – Removed 1 mil. Acre of forest and mining lands from the reserved list and returned it to the public domain

Split of the Republicans • Two types of Republicans – Progressives who wanted change and those who didn’t • Joseph Cannon (Uncle Joe) -> Speaker of House – Chairman of House Rules Committee (decides which bills Congress will consider) – Often ignored progressive bills • With help from Dem. Progressive Rep. called for the entire House to elect the Committee on Rules and excluded the Speaker from membership in the committee

Bull-Moose Party • Roosevelt leaves office, goes to Africa to hunt, comes back to people wanting him back in office – Decides to run for 3 rd term – Taft has advantage because he is incumbent • His supporters relocate to areas where Roosevelt had supporters • Progressive Republicans refuse to vote and create 3 rd party (Bull Moose Party) – Wanted direct election of senators and the adoption in all states of the initiative, referendum, and recall – Agreed with women’s suffrage , workmen’s compensation, 8 hr. workday, min. wage for women, no child labor, federal commission to regulate business • Democrats get great chance to regain White House – Nominate Woodrow Wilson as their candidate

1912 Election • Wilson runs on “New Freedom” idea – Demanded stronger antitrust legislation, banking reform, and reduced tariffs • Roosevelt and Taft fighting each other – “Don’t’ interfere when your enemy is destroying himself” • Race between Roosevelt’s progressivism, Taft’s conservatism, and Wilson’s “New Freedom” • Wilson wins election and Roosevelt defeats Taft as 3 rd party candidate