The Progressive Era
(Part 2)

The Search for Order and Efficiency
Impose order on a chaotic society
Search for greater efficiency in business
Drive for honest, efficient, non-partisan government

Frederick W. Taylor – the first efficiency expert
Hoped to reduce waste by scientifically studying jobs
 “Time-motion” studies
Efficient layout of workplace could reduce
 Lost time
 Errors
 Injuries
Hoped pay incentives tied to productivity would encourage workers to exceed “average”
Very effective in rigid, standardized jobs
Workers hated it

The “Good Government” Movement
Goals:
 End political corruption
 Bring efficient, business-like methods to government
 Create a more compassionate legislative response to the excesses of industrialism

The “Good Government” Movement
Local Level
Blamed most of the urban problems on the “machine”
Sought to make city management:
 Non-partisan, even non-political
 Wanted to introduce administrative techniques developed by big business
Different organizational plans
 Strong mayor
 Board of Commissioners style
 City manager style
Another approach was to reform the policies, not the political structure
 Usually emphasized efficiency and social welfare
 Typically pushed for municipal ownership of utilities
 Typically set work rules for government jobs
 Typically pushed for public works (parks, etc)

The Democratization of Government
(State Level)
Initiative -
Voters can place items on ballot
Referendum -
Allows voters, rather than legislature, to decide issues
Recall -
Allows removal of elected reps. w/o waiting for next election
Direct primaries –
Allows voters to select candidates (as opposed to convention system)

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (1883)
President to create a 3 person commission
Commission to establish standards for federal jobs
Instituted competitive examinations for candidates
Barred political candidates from soliciting contributions from government employees
Didn’t get rid of patronage, but public service did improve

(1876)
Established theory that private property can become
“clothed in the public interest”
Established three key principles
 Right of government to regulate any business w/ a
“public interest”
 Right of legislature to decide what is “fair and reasonable”
 Right of states to act when Congress won’t

(1886)
Limited the states’ right to regulate that had been granted in Munn
A state could only regulate traffic within its boundaries
Could not regulate traffic that crossed state lines
 75% of traffic crossed state lines
Public outrage led to creation of ICC in 1887
 Its power limited, the ICC was far less powerful than the big railroads
 Railroads could manipulate the system and set rates at will, the ICC was irrelevant

The Progressive Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt
 1901-1908
 Republican
William H. Taft
 1908-1912
 Republican
Woodrow Wilson
 1912-1920
 Democrat

the quintessential progressive politician”
Viewed the presidency as the “Bully Pulpit”
 A platform to exhort Americans to reform their society
Believed educated & wealthy Americans had a duty to serve, guide, and inspire the less fortunate
Openly acknowledged economic and social inequalities
Believed government agencies, led by experts, could find solutions to society’s problems

The 1912 Presidential Election
Evincing the strength of the progressive ideals, all four candidates ran as “progressives”
 Republican Party – Taft
 Democratic Party – Wilson
 Progressive Party – Roosevelt
 Socialist Party - Debs

Republican Party
William Howard Taft
(Incumbent)
Graduated income tax
Safety codes for
 Mines
 Railroads
Restrictions on child labor

Democratic Party
Woodrow Wilson
 Saw Roosevelt as main challenge
 Claimed they were the “true’ progressives
 State’s rights
 Small government
 Ambiguous reform proposals
(equality of economic oppprtunity)

Progressive Party
(a.k.a. “Bull Moose” party)
Theodore Roosevelt
 Women's suffrage
 Eight hour day
 End child labor
 Min. wage for women
 Stricter regulation of large corporations

Socialist Party
Eugene V. Debs
A radical choice
 Abolish the system that oppresses workers
 Tear up privilege by the roots
 Took credit for pushing Roosevelt
& Wilson to the left

Underwood-Simmons Act (1913)
Federal Reserve Act (1913)
Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)
Federal Trade Act (1914)
Federal Highways Act (1916)

Traces its roots to the 1820s-30s
Became a major political force after the WBTS
Reached its peak under Wilson
Greatly expanded the power and presence of the
Federal Government
Firmly established the public service concept of government