LAD #31: Wilson's 14 Points

Summary: It was obvious to Wilson, being one of the level headed leaders at Versailles, that the suggested Treaty would be far too harsh on the already struggling Germany. One simply had to look back at the Civil War and see the hatred and loathing in the South that came from a harsh Reconstruction Policy. Instead of condemning Germany and forcing her to pay reparations, Wilson sought to follow the path of reconciliation. The attitude of the United States leading up to this point was to "make safe the world for freedom and democracy". The 14 points were bullets aimed at those who would suppress these freedoms. The points included some of the following:
-The outlawing of secret negotiations
-Freedom of the seas
-Reduction of worldwide militaries
-Belgium should be independent
-Self-determination for those in Austria-Hungary
-Independence for Poland
-League of Nations
Europe was left all but eviscerated after this "Great War", and the allies boiled with anger over the alleged German atrocities and damages. The 14 points would've been the keystone in a successful bridging to a safer Europe.

LAD #30 Schenck vs. US case

 

 

 

Summary: American progressivism and the emergence of socialist muckrakers made an impact on the American war effort during the Great War. In March of 1919, an American socialist, Charles Schenck faced the Supreme Court in a battle over the government's suppression of wartime rights. Schenck was known as a radical, working constantly during the war to encourage men to "draft dodge". Progressives believed this draft to be unconstitutional due to the violatoin of the thirteenth amendment, which outlawed involuntary servitude. The Federal government had issued the Espionage Act during the war, which, like the sedition Act, suppressed the citizenry's freedom of speech. The Act was often an excuse to round up and imprison socialists/anti-militarists/anarchists who posed a threat to the war effort. It was for this reason, his attacks on the draft, that Schenck was arrested. Schenck eventually made an appeal to the Supreme Court, which was heard.

The basis of his argument was that the Espionage Act was unconstitutional, violating, as was said, his First Amendment rights.

 

Justice Oliver Holmes articulated the idea that when free speech presents a "clear and apparent danger", especially during war time, freedom of speech is not guaranteed. Schecnk's anti war writings had presented a danger to the U.S. war effort and attempted to incite military insubordination. These "clearly" dangerous actions resulted in the Supreme Court unanimously voting against him. Laws have changed since, but this is the basis of wartime law.

 





LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

Summary: The Act was passed in 1916, but the journey had started earlier with the proposal of Albert Beveridge to fight child labor by using the government's ability to regulate interstate commerce. Robert Owen and Edward Keating sponsored this Act, which banned the sale of products from

-mines that employed children under 16
-factories that employed children under 14
-businesses that made children under 16 work more than eight hours a day

The Act was very effective until judicial review declared it an overstepping of boundaries in 1918, in the Supreme Court case "Hammer Vs. Dagenhart"

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural Speech

Summary: Teddy Roosevelt, the "Hero of San Juan Hill"(also known as "the Man on Horseback", the "Dynamo of Power" and the "Driving Force"), had given up his office to William Taft in 1908, after his promise to relinquish power after his first elected term. Taft won the election in 1908, though his policies conflicted with Roosevelt's original vision. Out of anger, and to prevent Taft from winning again, the Bull Moose formed the Progressive Party and split the Republicans. The tactic worked, but Roosevelt had created an even greater monster, Woodrow Wilson (At least in his eyes).

In his inaugural address, Wilson proclaims that the political tide in the U.S. is shifting towards the Democrats. He states the goods and evils of the institutions of this nations, referring to our people's brilliance and the strength of the government, while juxtaposing this to the awful tide of industrialization and those left bloodied in its wake. The economic expansion had taken a tremendous toll on the people, and it was the government's job to remedy the situation. Wilson declares that change must come, be it in the tariffs, agriculture, industry or banking. These institutions must be reformed to preserve the rights of the modern citizen. Laws must be passed to further their rights, including laws to aid in sanitation and protection against horrendous foods or terrible employers. He is resolute as he finishes, declaring that, "Today is not a day of triumph; it is a day of dedication".

LAD #27: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

Summary: The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was ineffective, necessitating the Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914. One of the cornerstones of this Act was the assertion that businesses could not charge customers different prices for the same product. This served to limit the monopolistic practices, especially by Rockefeller with the railroads, of charging different customers different prices. It was made clear, though, that this Act would not limit a business's ability to selectively choose customers. Like Rockefeller had done with his shipping rebates and subsequent burdening of competitors, the Act disallowed companies to shift prices and eliminate the weak as easily as before. The last stipulation of the Clayton Act was the outlawing of restrictive mechanisms such as "pyramid business", in order to promote free trade and prevent the lessening of competition.