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The 1912 Election and the Power of Progressivism
A Brief History with DocumentsFirst Edition ©2003
Faced with the challenge of adapting America’s political and social order to the rise of corporate capitalism, in 1912 four presidential candidates — Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Eugene Debs — shaped Americans’ thoughts about their public futures. Their positions woul...
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Faced with the challenge of adapting America’s political and social order to the rise of corporate capitalism, in 1912 four presidential candidates — Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Eugene Debs — shaped Americans’ thoughts about their public futures. Their positions would come to frame national conversation over the role of corporations in American life, determine the relation between the state and society that still controls our thinking about market regulation, and usher in a period of Progressive reform. Connecting the debates of 1912 to some of the most pressing issues of the Progressive Era, this volume presents selected sensational speeches, correspondence between these important figures and their allies and opponents, and 12 lively political cartoons. The documents are supported by an interpretive essay, a chronology, a bibliography, and a series of questions for student consideration, including ideas for a classroom debate.
"The 1912 Electionis an excellent analysis and evocation of one of the most fascinating elections in American history and a reminder that politics can be not only a great game, but concerned with great issues. Brett Flehinger clearly put a great deal of thought into what would most clearly serve the needs of students. I would happily adopt this book."
-- Michael Green, Community College of Southern Nevada
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Table of Contents
Contents
Foreword
Preface
PART ONE
INTRODUCTION: THE STORY OF 1912: "A YEAR SUPREME WITH POSSIBILITIES"
1. "Progressive," the Popular Label
Republican Chaos
The Trouble with Taft
"My Hat Is in the Ring": Roosevelt Returns
Democracy Redefined: The Republican Nomination
"Standing at Armageddon": Roosevelt and the Progressive Party
An Almost Certain Victory: The Democratic Convention
Socialism at High Tide: Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party
2. The Problem of the Progressive Era
From Greenbackers to Populists: The Response to Change
The Progressive Response
The Problem of Corporate Capitalism Organized Efficiency: The Modern Corporation
Two Responses to Corporate Growth
A "Machine for Making Money": The Corporation and American Society
3. The Candidates Debate
The Procorporatists: Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Van Hise
The Anticorporatists: Robert La Follette, Louis Brandeis, and Woodrow Wilson
The Best of a Bad Lot: African American Options in 1912
Neither a "Flubdub" nor Second Rate: William Howard Taft
Socialism as Progressivism: Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party
Epilogue: The Debate Continued
PART TWO
THE DOCUMENTS 4. The Procorporatists: Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Van Hise
1. Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism, August 31, 1910
2. Detroit News, Making a New Platform, September 10, 1910
3. Theodore Roosevelt, Letters from Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Benjamin Barr Lindsey, and Chase Osborn August 22, 1911, December 15, 1911, January 18, 1912
4. Theodore Roosevelt, A Charter of Democracy, February 12, 1912
5. Charles McCarthy and Theodore Roosevelt, Letters, October 21, 1911, and October 27, 1911
6. Chicago Daily Tribune, For Chairman of the Convention, June 18, 1912
7. Theodore Roosevelt, A Confession of Faith, August 6, 1912
8. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Senior Partner, September 8, 1912
9. Theodore Roosevelt, Letters to Mary Ella Lyon Swift, Florence Kelley, and Jane Addams, March 7, 1911, January 9, 1912, and ca. August 8, 1912
10. Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to Julian La Rose Harris, August 1, 1912
11. Charles Van Hise, Letters to Senator Robert M. La Follette, October 30, 1911, and November 21, 1911
12. Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to Charles R. Van Hise, June 4, 1912, and Charles R. Van Hise, from Concentration and Control, 1912
5. The Anticorporatists: Robert La Follette, Louis Brandeis, and Woodrow Wilson
13. Robert M. La Follette, Speech at Jamestown, North Dakota, March 14, 1912
14. Robert M. La Follette, Speech at Bismarck, North Dakota, March 14, 1912
15. Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to Senator Jonathan Bourne, January 2, 1911
16. Gilbert Roe, Letter to Blanche Morse, March 28, 1912
17. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Only Way, September 17, 1912, and Pay Day, September 7, 1912
18. Louis D. Brandeis, Letter to Norman Hapgood, July 3, 1912
19. Louis D. Brandeis, Letter to Alfred Brandeis, August 28, 1912
20. Woodrow Wilson and Louis D. Brandeis, Correspondence, September 27, 1912, and September 30, 1912
21. Louis D. Brandeis, Letter to Arthur Norman Holcombe, September 11, 1912
22. Louis D. Brandeis, Trusts, Efficiency, and the New Party, September 14, 1912
23. Woodrow Wilson, Speech at Buffalo, New York, September 2, 1912
24. Woodrow Wilson, Speech at Sioux City, Iowa, September 17, 1912
25. Woodrow Wilson, Speech at Pueblo, Colorado, October 7, 1912
26. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Biggest Monopolies, October 9, 1912
27. Oswald Garrison Villard, Diary, August 14, 1912
28. New York Times, Maud Malone Halts Wilson, October 20, 1912
29. Chicago Daily Tribune, The Time the Place and the Girl, June 25, 1912
6. Neither a "Flubdub" nor Second Rate: William Howard Taft
30. William Howard Taft, Speech at Nashua, New Hampshire, March 19, 1912
31. William Howard Taft, Speech at the American Academy of Political and Social Science, March 30, 1912
32. William Howard Taft, Letters to Horace D. Taft and Charles F. Brooker, March 1, 1912, and March 5, 1912
33. William Howard Taft, Speech at Elkton, Maryland, May 4, 1912
34. Cleveland Press, He Eats ‘Em Up-and Grows! September 19, 1910
35. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Presidency, September, 29, 1912
36. Chicago Daily News, Progressive: The Popular Label, October 6, 1912
7. Socialism as Progressivism: Eugene V. Debs
37. Eugene V. Debs, Socialism Gives Only Cure for Trust Evils, November 25, 1911
38. Appeal to Reason, A Study of Competition, May 28, 1910
39. Eugene V. Debs, Acceptance Speech, Undated
40. Eugene V. Debs, Opening Speech of the Campaign, August 10, 1912
41. Socialist Party, Platform, May 25, 1912
42. Appeal to Reason, Mr. Voter Beware..., November 2, 1912
43. Appeal to Reason, The Woman Question, January 13, 1912, and What Socialism Offers, September 28, 1912
44. Fred D. Warren, Letter to Eugene V. Debs, August 8, 1912
45. Chicago World, Eugene V. Debs Says Moose Party Stole Socialist Planks, August 15, 1912, and Appeal to Reason, The Acid Test, September 21, 1912
Appendixes
A 1912 Election Chronology (1877-1930)
Questions for Consideration
Selected Bibliography
Index
Foreword
Preface
PART ONE
INTRODUCTION: THE STORY OF 1912: "A YEAR SUPREME WITH POSSIBILITIES"
1. "Progressive," the Popular Label
Republican Chaos
The Trouble with Taft
"My Hat Is in the Ring": Roosevelt Returns
Democracy Redefined: The Republican Nomination
"Standing at Armageddon": Roosevelt and the Progressive Party
An Almost Certain Victory: The Democratic Convention
Socialism at High Tide: Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party
2. The Problem of the Progressive Era
From Greenbackers to Populists: The Response to Change
The Progressive Response
The Problem of Corporate Capitalism Organized Efficiency: The Modern Corporation
Two Responses to Corporate Growth
A "Machine for Making Money": The Corporation and American Society
3. The Candidates Debate
The Procorporatists: Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Van Hise
The Anticorporatists: Robert La Follette, Louis Brandeis, and Woodrow Wilson
The Best of a Bad Lot: African American Options in 1912
Neither a "Flubdub" nor Second Rate: William Howard Taft
Socialism as Progressivism: Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party
Epilogue: The Debate Continued
PART TWO
THE DOCUMENTS 4. The Procorporatists: Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Van Hise
1. Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism, August 31, 1910
2. Detroit News, Making a New Platform, September 10, 1910
3. Theodore Roosevelt, Letters from Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Benjamin Barr Lindsey, and Chase Osborn August 22, 1911, December 15, 1911, January 18, 1912
4. Theodore Roosevelt, A Charter of Democracy, February 12, 1912
5. Charles McCarthy and Theodore Roosevelt, Letters, October 21, 1911, and October 27, 1911
6. Chicago Daily Tribune, For Chairman of the Convention, June 18, 1912
7. Theodore Roosevelt, A Confession of Faith, August 6, 1912
8. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Senior Partner, September 8, 1912
9. Theodore Roosevelt, Letters to Mary Ella Lyon Swift, Florence Kelley, and Jane Addams, March 7, 1911, January 9, 1912, and ca. August 8, 1912
10. Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to Julian La Rose Harris, August 1, 1912
11. Charles Van Hise, Letters to Senator Robert M. La Follette, October 30, 1911, and November 21, 1911
12. Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to Charles R. Van Hise, June 4, 1912, and Charles R. Van Hise, from Concentration and Control, 1912
5. The Anticorporatists: Robert La Follette, Louis Brandeis, and Woodrow Wilson
13. Robert M. La Follette, Speech at Jamestown, North Dakota, March 14, 1912
14. Robert M. La Follette, Speech at Bismarck, North Dakota, March 14, 1912
15. Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to Senator Jonathan Bourne, January 2, 1911
16. Gilbert Roe, Letter to Blanche Morse, March 28, 1912
17. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Only Way, September 17, 1912, and Pay Day, September 7, 1912
18. Louis D. Brandeis, Letter to Norman Hapgood, July 3, 1912
19. Louis D. Brandeis, Letter to Alfred Brandeis, August 28, 1912
20. Woodrow Wilson and Louis D. Brandeis, Correspondence, September 27, 1912, and September 30, 1912
21. Louis D. Brandeis, Letter to Arthur Norman Holcombe, September 11, 1912
22. Louis D. Brandeis, Trusts, Efficiency, and the New Party, September 14, 1912
23. Woodrow Wilson, Speech at Buffalo, New York, September 2, 1912
24. Woodrow Wilson, Speech at Sioux City, Iowa, September 17, 1912
25. Woodrow Wilson, Speech at Pueblo, Colorado, October 7, 1912
26. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Biggest Monopolies, October 9, 1912
27. Oswald Garrison Villard, Diary, August 14, 1912
28. New York Times, Maud Malone Halts Wilson, October 20, 1912
29. Chicago Daily Tribune, The Time the Place and the Girl, June 25, 1912
6. Neither a "Flubdub" nor Second Rate: William Howard Taft
30. William Howard Taft, Speech at Nashua, New Hampshire, March 19, 1912
31. William Howard Taft, Speech at the American Academy of Political and Social Science, March 30, 1912
32. William Howard Taft, Letters to Horace D. Taft and Charles F. Brooker, March 1, 1912, and March 5, 1912
33. William Howard Taft, Speech at Elkton, Maryland, May 4, 1912
34. Cleveland Press, He Eats ‘Em Up-and Grows! September 19, 1910
35. St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Presidency, September, 29, 1912
36. Chicago Daily News, Progressive: The Popular Label, October 6, 1912
7. Socialism as Progressivism: Eugene V. Debs
37. Eugene V. Debs, Socialism Gives Only Cure for Trust Evils, November 25, 1911
38. Appeal to Reason, A Study of Competition, May 28, 1910
39. Eugene V. Debs, Acceptance Speech, Undated
40. Eugene V. Debs, Opening Speech of the Campaign, August 10, 1912
41. Socialist Party, Platform, May 25, 1912
42. Appeal to Reason, Mr. Voter Beware..., November 2, 1912
43. Appeal to Reason, The Woman Question, January 13, 1912, and What Socialism Offers, September 28, 1912
44. Fred D. Warren, Letter to Eugene V. Debs, August 8, 1912
45. Chicago World, Eugene V. Debs Says Moose Party Stole Socialist Planks, August 15, 1912, and Appeal to Reason, The Acid Test, September 21, 1912
Appendixes
A 1912 Election Chronology (1877-1930)
Questions for Consideration
Selected Bibliography
Index
Authors
Brett Flehinger
Brett Flehinger received his PhD in history from Harvard University and is an assistant professor of history at California State University, San Bernardino. He is currently working on a study of the democratic ideology of the La Follette family and has written articles and reviews on Progressive Era and New Deal political and economic reform.
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