Chapter 12: 1909-1920: The History of the United States of America -- School Reform

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Date Posted: 11:21:52 08/22/13 Thu
Author: edy
Author Host/IP: 199-195-168-213.southwestern-wireless.com / 199.195.168.213
Subject: Chapter 12: 1909-1920: The History of the United States of America

*Sign from Management: �If You don�t Come In Sunday Don�t Come In Monday.�
Latter 1800�s. ��.�Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest.� Finally occurred.
----�We Americans�

Chapter 12: 1909 - 1920: The History of the United States of America

F. Augustus Heinze owned the United Copper Company. He also owned the Savings Bank of Butte, Montana. He moved to New York City. There, in ca hoots with Wall Street banker Charles W. Morse, they decided to corner the market on Heinze� own companies stock. ..Short Sellers borrow shares instead of cash. They sell them at a good price; and then they wait until shares of that stock go down. When it does, they buy the stocks back, and then give them back to the bank. �So Heinz�s plan was to drive prices up by buying them up; and then, he was going to force the short sellers to pay back their stocks now. He�d have bought up the stocks, so the short sellers would have to come to him, and he could set the price. � He financed this idea through the Knickerbocker Trust Company. The third largest Trust in New York city. �Well, his plan didn�t work. He bought up the stock, and then the short sellers found stock to buy elsewhere. �Heinz� bank in Butte went bust; the Knickerbocker Trust went bust. �This caused the Panic of 1907, although as we know the economy was busted more or less nearly, anyway. Or one crazy thing like this would not have affected the markets this badly. There was a run on the banks (everyone getting there money out). �Wealthy Financier, J.P. Morgan saved the day. He pledged large sums of money to shore up the banks. He persuaded other bankers to do the same. The Federal government did the same. This put money back into the system. And the emergency ended.
Not very much later however, TC&I stock collapsed. Solution: J.P. Morgan�s Steel Company took over the failing company, in an emergency action, approved by even Teddy Roosevelt.

President Roosevelt did not wish to run for re election, although he was wildly popular despite the fact that another depression hit, 1907. So he threw his support behind William Howard Taft, from Ohio. The Republican Parties platform: based in government reform.

The Republican Party is the Party of �privileges and private monopolies. �And this is what the Democrats said. They held their convention in Denver, and nominated William Jennings Bryan again. The Democratic platform called for lower tariffs, new anti trust legislation, and a federal income tax. Although Labor Unions usually never threw their support behind any political party, this time, the American Federation of Labor gave their support to the Democrats.
William Howard Taft won.

This is what Taft and Congress did: 90 anti trust lawsuits; strengthened the Interstate Commerce Act; put the telephone, telegraph, cable, and wireless companies under the jurisdiction of the same commission, -- the Munn-Elkin Act. New departments were created: Bureau of Mines, Dept. of the Interior, Dept. of Labor, A children�s Bureau, to attack the evils of child Labor. And the 8 hour day was enacted into law. President Taft also added many more federal jobs to the civil service list; as Congress created the Publicity Act which required political campaigns to make public who donated to their campaigns, and how much. �They created the public parcel-postage, -- which is cheaper then private companies would charge. 16th Amendment: Income tax is legal now. Feb. 1913. [Finally attacking the issue of child labor and enforcing campaigns to reveal their financial donors].

The Payne-Aldrich Tariff, 1909, lowered tariffs on a few things; but they raised tariffs on many other things. And this really made people upset. Many Progressives fled the Republican Party. As more people were also bothered when Taft seemed to be going backwards on Conservation. The Forest service Director, Mr. Pinchot, persuaded Taft to return the land he put up for public sale, back to the Forest Reserve. So President Taft did. Then, Mr. Ballinger, Sec. of the Interior, allowed extensive coal and timberlands to pass on to private hands. These lands also were taken back by the government, after Mr. Ballinger resigned. �.On the other hand, Taft withdrew 59,000 acres of coal land back from public sale.

Since 1902, the Speaker of the House was Joseph G. Cannon, Uncle Joe. He had way too much power over all the committees, so forth. Representative George W. Norris from Nebraska represented the Progressives when he proposed changes that will take this iron hand away from the Speakers. 40 Republicans voted with Democrats; and a law to strip the Speaker of his power to appoint members to the Committee on Rules Board was approved; thus this power was taken away. Now a committee will appoint the committee.

1912. Teddy Roosevelt wanted to run for office again; however, Taft is the Republican incumbent. At the Republican Convention, some of Roosevelt�s supporters were refused seats. So he created the Bull Moose Party; and Teddy ran as a 3rd alternative candidate. The Bull Moose Parties Platform: 1, legislation favoring Labor; 2, Tariff Reform; 3, the initiative and referendum; 4, government control of unfair business practices. �New Nationalism�, he titled his campaign.

Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey became the Democratic nominee. The Platform: Tariff reduction; banking reform; laws favoring labor/farmers; stronger anti trust legislation. �Wilson had been President of Princeton University; and then, as Governor, he found himself fighting with the political bosses. Wilson was independent, and he had reformed lax corporate laws. He wanted a �New Freedom� for the common man; to bring back the degree of opportunity that the settlers from the old days had. Economic freedom and equality for every man. Wilson won 6,286,214 votes out of 15,000,000, making him a �Minority President.�

Tariffs so angered people, [are inflationary], that the Democrats referred to them as the �Mother of Trusts�.

Finally, the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913, cut tariffs in half, -- lowest they have been in 50 years. To make up for this loss of revenue for the government, the income tax was increased from one to six percent. For income $3,000. a year and over; the ability to pay principle.

Many of the wealthy people wanted a Centralized banking system, under private control, so that the less favored banks can easily be lifted up in hard times. The Bryan Democrats said that idea is the problem! A concentrated banking system is merely one more Trust.

The Federal Reserve Bank was created. Now, easier to move money around from one bank to another in an emergency. Short term loans can be given; no �money is scarce� issues, as they put it. Now, the markets would not have to be saved by one lone wolf rich man. �..The new way: bank gives loan; sends promissory note to Federal Reserve, who gives cash. When a customer pays the loan, the local bank pays the Federal Reserve Bank back; and the promissory note is returned, and the federal reserve currency is withdrawn from circulation.

The Federal Reserve Bank is the bank�s bank. They don�t deal directly with customers. Stronger Anti-Trust Law, the Clayton Act, 1914. Prohibits granting an injunction against labor, during disputes. Unless, ..the Courts decides irreparable injury to property.
A big deal; Organized Labor called it the �Magna Charta� for Labor. [Which the Supreme Court dishonestly �went around�.]

Also, businesses now cannot lower prices to create a monopoly; can�t tell purchasers they can�t buy from the competition; interlocking directorates are illegal for companies with capital over $1,000,000; can�t buy stock if a Monopoly will occur. And to protect Labor, �the labor of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce.� Peaceful picketing and boycotts are legal.

The Federal Trade Commission came into being. 1914. [Annual report from corporations; investigate business activities; publish findings; order corporations to stop unfair actions; and the ability to enforce this.] ...More money was given to the land grant colleges. 1917, vocational education, farm loan banks, with better interest rates then regular banks offered. The Adamson Act, 1915, said railroad workers will receive the same pay to work 8 hours as they did working 12 hours. The Supreme Court upheld the 8 hour day.

1910, Mexico was in a small civil war. European countries recognized President Huerta�s government for Mexico. President Wilson would not do so, because he came to power by force and murder. The Mexican people couldn�t believe their ears; but the American companies were angry. �Meanwhile small bands of revolutionaries were roaming the countryside, as the President of Mexico took every chance he could to taunt the United States. Some American citizens were murdered in Mexico; and it was rumored that Huerta may seize American property. Then Huerta arbitrarily had American sailors arrested. They were released, but Huerta refused to apologize. So President Wilson ordered the U.S. Marines to take over Veracruz. This emboldened anti-Huerta forces. Huerta had to flee Mexico.

Wilson refused to pick Mexico�s next president. The ABC powers, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, helped pick Mexico�s new president. And it was done. Venustiano Carranza will be president now. Carranza guaranteed Mexico will respect foreign property and personal safety.

Poncho Villa and his band of followers, 1916, murdered 18 Americans in northern Mexico, and then crossed the U.S. border, and murdered 17 Americans in Columbus, New Mexico. 5000 men under General John J. Pershing parked at the Mexican border, and then Troops went into Mexico to search for Pancho Villa dead or alive. He was not found.

During the latter 19th century, the emphasis was to cooperate and have good communication among nations. And a concerted effort was made by the U.S. to consider what caused past problems, and to create a solution. So they created the Pan American Union for countries in the Western Hemisphere. The first conference was 1889. Same year, the Czar of Russia instigated the Hague Conference for Europe and American countries. For settling disputes; a third disinterested country would arbitrate. The 2nd Hague Conference drafted the Drago Doctrine: Now agreed by all, you cannot invade countries to fetch your debts.

Andrew Carnegie created the World Peace Foundation. Anti war attitudes, peace, had evolved by 1900. The majority of Americans at first, especially, were against entering into World War I.

An 83 year old emperor of Austria-Hungary ruled over the Slavs, on the Balkan Peninsula. The Archduke Francis Ferdinand was heir to the throne. A Serbian student who belonged to the Serbian Secret Society for the cause of freeing the Slavs from their Austria-Hungarian dictators, assassinated the Archduke and his wife. He was arrested, and he was to go to trial. But this wasn�t enough for the old emperor; he was upset with the murders yes, and also, plainly fed up with the whole Slavic independence movement. The old king declared war on Serbia.

In Pennsylvania, Palestine, and France, most never heard of this old emperor. As this local civil disturbance should have been only that.

Russia, an ally of Serbia, took action to protect Serbia. France was a Russian ally.
France did not rush out to declare neutrality. �..Germany declared war on France, only for this. The truth is, Germany was one of the �have not� countries, and was likely using this disturbance as a way to gain some spoils.

As early as 1907 however, the alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, had become known as the Triple Alliance. As Great Britain, France, and Russia had been referred to as the Triple Entente. And they took the view that this was a balance of power, which will prevent war.

President Wilson urged for neutrality. There were many Americans who were first or second generation immigrants, and they did wish to fight.

In Europe, the Allied Forces: Russia, Britain, France, Portugal, as well as Italy, for Serbia. The �Central Powers� were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The Neutral nations were Spain, Albania, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The plan was for Germany to invade neutral Belgium and overtake France. This was to take 6 days, which hopefully would prevent France from having enough time to mobilize their forces. However, the Belgian Army fought a good fight, and it took more time then the German�s had anticipated to progress towards France. So France had time to secure the French Belgian border, and Britain had time to transport 90,000 soldiers to France.

The German�s did finally overtake Belgium, and then they were able to make the allied forces retreat to the Marne River. 1914. The French and British were able to maintain this location, therefore, the German�s fell back to the Aisne River and dug trenches.

By 1915, the war in Western Europe was at a stale mate. Both sides were entrenched along a 600 mile line. From the Swiss border, to the English Channel.

Between these two lines of trenches, was No Man�s Land. For a solid three years, the war was at a stalemate. Troops would come out to fight in no man�s land; but to no avail. No movement either way, from 1915 to 1918. Thousands of soldiers died.

Newspapers would say, �All quiet on the Western Front.�

Meanwhile, The Central Powers fought with Russia; Turkish Troops fought allied forces straight through Palestine, on to Medina, Arabia. �..Austria Hungary and Italy fought north of the Adriatic Sea. �.Britain at first had control of the Seas, and even angered America when they made all neutral countries park their ships at British ports so that they could check their cargo, and have their mail searched. They blockaded the German coast. They laid explosive mines in the North Sea. �Well, all the countries needed to search ships. The submarine made this impossible. Germany warned the U.S. that they were unleashing their submarines, called U-boats. President Wilson, 1915, warned Germany that they better not bother U.S. ships.

Then the British steamer Falaba was torpedoed and sunk near Ireland, killing one American, March 1915. The ship Luisitania, was sunk by German U-boats, in May 1915, killing 1,198 people. 128 of these people were Americans. The U.S. warned Germany. A British Liner, the Arabic was sunk. 2 Americans died.

The U.S., now, on the brink of war. But then Germany said he will not sink the Liners of neutral countries without warning; but added addendums to this promise.. ..Bryan said Wilson should simply forbid Americans to travel on foreign ships, and forbid American�s to sell war materials to any warring nation. Wilson ignored this idea, and he began to increase the navy and army. �..Yet, 1916, and Wilson won re election on the idea that he kept the U.S. out of this war.

President Wilson was extremely disturbed that Germany was going after noncombatants. As he warned these selfish and autocratic powers.

Then, the German High Command let its U-boats loose, unrestricted, as they wished to pulverize the British. �The U.S. cut off relations with Germany. �Stupidly, afterwards, the British intercepted a message from Germany to the German foreign minister in Mexico, that if the U.S. declares war, he should persuade Mexico to be an ally, and attack the U.S. .. If they do, they can regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona territory. �..March 12, 1917, President Wilson ordered American Merchant ships to be armed so that they will be able to defend themselves against the German U-boats.

The House voted for war, 373 votes; the Senate did the same with 82 votes. Congress declared war. The Western Hemisphere countries all, supported the Allies; and several Latin American Countries entered into the war as well. In all 30 countries throughout the world joined this war.

The Selective Service Act instigated the draft for all men between ages 21 to 30. Later the ages were increased from 18 to 45 years of age.

Congress borrowed two thirds of the money needed for the war effort by selling war bonds. �Liberty Loan Drive.� And then again with the �Victory Loan Drive� This bond drive allowed the government to borrow $21,000,000,000. They raised income taxes, and levied excise taxes on road tickets, telegraph, telephone messages, alcohol, tobacco, and certain amusements.

Congress gave the President power to set price controls on food and gas. He was also given power to take over factories, mines, et cetera. The Railroad Administration oversaw prices on the rails. The Postmaster General was in charge of all communication lines. The Fuel Administration made extra coal and oil. The National War Labor Board arbitrated disputes. The War Labor Board set Labor war policies.

To help conserve grain, Congress passed and submitted to the states, the 28th Amendment outlawing alcohol.

Most American organizations, including churches, all sorts of clubs, helped with the war effort by educating why it is important to go to war. Congress created the Espionage Act, reborn, the Sedition Act. $10,000 fines and 20 years in jail if you interfere with war bond sells, or do anything that will hurt the war effort.

41 people received jail sentences. Many more were jailed, harassed by the government; mostly those from the Socialist party, and Union Members. Congressman Victor Berger of Milwaukee, and Big Bill Haywood, leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, [I.W.W.] were both given 20 year prison sentences. They did nothing more then speak against war, and that people should be conscientious objectors. Congressman Berger was eventually released by the Supreme Court. Mr. Haywood escaped to Bolshevik Russia. Eugene V. Debs was also sent to prison for the same thing, -- simply for being against war. Four time nominee for the Socialist party, Debs ran for President in prison, -- he earned a million votes. President Harding reduced Mr. Debs sentence to time served. A number of newspapers and periodicals were refused mail service.

The U.S. officially began fighting the war, 1917.

It was 1917, when the stalemate on the Western Front broke in Italy. Oct. 24, and the Austrians and Germans crashed through the Italian lines. The Italians had to retreat 6,000 square miles, and lost 600,000 men. Finally the French and the British troops came to the rescue, and saved Italy from being taken over by the Central Powers.

And then Russia was taken over by the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin. The radical Communists seized power. They signed a treaty with Germany. So now, Germany had no Russian Front to worry over; in consequence all those Troops can be taken to the Western Front.

The United States now had 45 naval bases in Europe, -- from Murmansk, Russia all the way to Greece. �.The U.S. controlled the North Sea. They contained the German fleet; and they laid a 230 mile barrier of explosive mines. The U.S. created the Anglo- American convoy system to help merchant ships cross the ocean without being hit by a U-boat. This worked so well, that the Germans were very disappointed that the U.S wasn�t delayed reaching the shores of Europe.

General John J. Pershing was made Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces.
When the U.S. Forces, the �doughboys�, marched through Paris, the French cheered the �Yanks� on. [During the War, the U.S. built 1,000 miles of railroad, telephone and telegraph lines.]

Now that Germany could place more Troops along the Western Front, they went on a huge offensive to capture all of France. The Allies had to pull way back; 1,500 sq. miles were lost and 160,000 soldiers died. Germany now, was only 37 miles from Paris.

General Pershing had wanted to train his soldiers more, before they entered the war. In order to save France, he changed his mind and he sent the doughboys into battle.
This is why the tide turned; as the U.S. Armies 1st Division took Cantigny, France back. The U.S. third Division held the Germans at bay, 45 miles from Paris. �And although the Germans put all their forces at Reims, the Allied forces held their place.

July 18, 1918, Marshal Foch ordered a counter attack. The First and Second U.S. Divisions, the First French Morocco Division made the German�s finally fall back.
Then Foch launched a gigantic offensive along the entire length of the Western Front line.
The German�s were driven back again.

General Pershing had 500,000 soldiers, French Troops, and British planes, that attacked around St. Mihiel, 1918. Three days they fought under U.S. control. Then they drove towards Sedan; and it was one of the biggest battles the Americans fought in the war, fighting for 47 days with 120,000 U.S. casualties. The German Line again was pushed back 30 miles, and the U.S. Troops captured 28,000 prisoners and supplies.

The Belgians, British, and the French fought along the entire Western Front. �Meanwhile, Turkey lost terribly in Palestine and Arabia. Bulgaria surrendered without conditions. �.A German naval base mutinied rather then go to sea. Austria signed an armistice with Italy.

Germany�s Kaiser Wilhelm Hohenzollern fled to the Netherlands. The revolutionists who took over in Germany signed an armistice with the Allies November 11, 1918.

So now: 1, Germany must leave all territories; 2, must surrender war materials, naval vessels and return all valuables; 3, renounce the Treaty with Russia and Romania; 4, Allies can occupy German territory west of the Rhine, as well as a 18 mile wide strip east of the Rhine. [As this war began largely due to Germany�s desire to gain colonies.]

The World War was also fought outside of Europe only because of Colonization.
And, you have to wonder if Germany would have bothered with a war, if Colonization had not been going on.

President Wilson presented, for the sake of world peace, 14 points to Congress, in January of 1918. 1. Open diplomacy, isn�t secret; 2, freedom of the seas for all; 3, removal of tariffs; 4, reduction of land armaments; 5, temporary international control of colonies in place of imperialism. �..Wilson also called for the liberation of the Polish, Czechs, Slovaks, and South Slavs, and the German held Alsace-Loraine. Airplanes dropped pamphlets concerning the above points, and dropped them over these countries, so that the people could read them. And Wilson called for a �general association of nations.�

World War I interrupted domestic issues; thus, the Congressional elections of 1918 went to the Old Guard Republicans. �.As President Wilson met with other world leaders at the Versailles Conference, 1919. There they approved the League of Nations; but many in Congress didn�t agree to this idea; thus President Wilson went on a national speaking tour to persuade the American Public.

President Wilson had a stroke on this tour. For the rest of his presidency and life, [he died 1923], he was paralyzed on the entire left side of his body. It is said, secretly, his wife Edith was more or less, president. But not really.

There was a postwar depression, -- as usual. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, which had existed because of the war. And a little later, farming returned to Europe; U.S. farm prices were cut in half after demand was cut in half, due to the Europeans good fortune to be back in the farming business.. ..4,500,000 servicemen came home to an economy that had no jobs.

The Boston Police Strike, 1818. Low wages, crowded working conditions, not allowed to join a Union. Without police protection, looting and riots broke out in Boston. The Mayor of Boston and Governor Coolidge were infuriated at the policemen who were on strike. And although they were fixing to return to work, they were fired. New people to replace them.

The Red Scare was on, now that a real communist country suddenly existed. Politicians would scare the public into thinking anyone referred to as a Socialist wants to overtake the country and create a communist government here. This is not true. But such accusations, fears, hurt the Labor Unions very much in the eyes of ignorant people, who were not in need of a union in their personal life. The Espionage Act was still in effect because of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, not WWI. Can such a revolution occur here?

To make matters worse, more then 30 bombs were found in the mail, 1919, addressed to Wilson�s Cabinet as well as the Supreme Court. Then, noon time, of the same year, a bomb exploded on Wall Street killing 38 people, injuring many more.

Attorney General Palmer, initiated the Palmer raids, which were conducted illegally often, without search warrants. By 1920, one third of the states passed laws to punish advocates for revolutionary change.

The Coal Miners attempted to strike, and Palmer places an injunction on the United Mine Workers Union. The Miners themselves didn�t care, and kept on striking. With President Wilson�s recommendation, their issues were arbitrated, and they did receive a 27 percent wage increase but no reduction of their too long work day. [Important action.]

The Steel Workers went on strike, and their rights were ignored. As weeks passed, violence erupted around some of the steel mills. Martial Law was declared in Gary, Indiana. Steel Workers returned to their jobs. �Three years later the steels workers were given an 8 hour work day.

President Wilson refused to pardon Eugene V. Debs.

points on next post.

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Re: Chapter 12: 1909-1920: The History of the United States of America -- points, 11:25:43 08/22/13 Thu