LAD #31

As the Great War drew to a close, the international community struggled to formulate and agree upon a comprehensive treaty. Central Empires proudly refused to give up the territory that they had gained during the war, but feared retribution for their actions. Members of the Allied Powers, particularly Great Britain and France, were eager to punish Germany. President Woodrow Wilson of the United States seemed to take the most moderate, though idealistic, approach to the issue of drafting a resolution. He advocated for fourteen basic points. He called for an end to secret to alliances and an enforcement of free seas and free trade. Wishing to protect national sovereignty, he also advised that armaments be reduced in all nations and that Poland, the Balkins, and areas in the Ottoman Empire be allowed to develop indepenedently, among others. Wilson's main point was the necessity of a League of Nations that would mediate international issues. This international body would ensure that issues were solved diplomatically and would not escalate into global wars. Ultimately, Wilson would be forced to heed to the desires of France and Germany. As a result, most of his points were disregarded. Wilson was willing to see his points thrown away as long as the League of Nations was established. Though the United States never participated in this body, Wilson compromised on this point.

LAD #30

The Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States determined that freedom of speech, guaranteed under the Bill of Rights, did not always exist in times of war. Charles Schenck, a member of the Socialist party, vehemently opposed the Conscription Act. This piece of legislation was drafted during the Great War in order to draft soldiers to serve overseas. Schenck was found distributing papers that urged readers to petition for a repeal of the act. When he was arrested, he was confident that he would be protected by the Bill of Rights. Unfortunately for Schenck, a unanimous Supreme Court determined that he was guilty of conspiracy against the Federal Government. In order to justify this decision, Justice Holmes explained that, because the country was at war, Schenck's actions could "create a clear and present danger." This essentially meant that in different circumstances, the same action could produce a danger for the Federal Government or the American people. By disrupting the conscription during the Great War, at a time when the Federal Government needed men to serve, Schenck was creating a danger.

LAD #29

 

 

After observing Lewis Hine's photographs documenting the labor of American children, reading novels like Oliver Twist that highlighted the plight of American children, and analyzing the 1900 census that revealed that two million children were part of America's work force, the Federal Government were prepared to intervene and protect its youngest constituents. The Keating-Owen bill was passed in 1916 to do this. This piece of legislation used the Federal Government's authority to regulate interstate commerce to dictate that no products could be sold that were made by workers under the age of fourteen. Materials extracted from mines by workers under the age of sixteen were also forbidden from being sold, as well as products made by children who worked for more than eight hours a day or at night. Unfortunately, the bill was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. A Constitutional amendment would be needed before the Federal Government would have any real jurisdiction to restrict child labor. It would not be until 1941 that the Supreme Court reversed its decision and upheld the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

LAD #28

President Woodrow Wilson's First Inuagural Address outlined his goals for his presidency. In stating his intentions, he addressed the issues facing the country at the time of his inauguration and the efforts of the Progressives. Though he did recognize the successes of industrialization, he appeared more concerned with the human cost of industrialization, conservation of the nation's natural resources, and government corruption. He seemed thank the Progressives for their "efforts to rectify wrong" and promised to finish the work that they had started. According to Wilson, this was to become the destiny of the Democratic Party. He stated that the tariff, which worked hand-in-hand with the interests of bankers and trusts, would have to be removed and that industry would need to be restricted. The modernization of American agriculture would also be a priority. His speech centered around the idea of restoration. Old institutions could not simply be eradicated, but would need to be modified and reformed. In order to accomplish his goals, Wilson also believed that the government could not be partisan and would need to re-focus on the protection of its constituents rather than economic success.

LAD #27

 

Under President Woodrow Wilson's administration, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was passed to limit the power of big business in America. This piece of legislation attempted to dissemble existing monopolies and prevent the formation of new ones. It prevented industrialists from selling their commodoties at different prices to different purchasers if this discrimination limited competition. This regulation was intended to prevent large businesses, which could afford to charge lower prices, from dramatically dropping the cost of their goods in order to elimate the competition of presented by smaller business. Often times, these large businesses would then raise their rates again after the smaller companies had been forced out of business. The act also stipulated that businesses could not offer their goods for discounted rates to other companies that promised not to engage in commerce with other businesses. It also defined unlawful mergers. Merges of companies would not be lawful if they severely limited competition and created a monopoly. Despite all of these regulations, the act does not come across as "anti-business." Big business were still given the authority to set their own prices and did not prevent them from choosing their own customers. The goal was not to restrict trade. Rather, the Federal Government wanted to reign in on monopolies.