>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 10/19/2004 4:51:35 PM >>> This is a sort of question for which Michael Hoover normally has an interesting observation. The Democrats never were the party of blue-collar labor. Besides their obvious roots in the South, the Democrats incorporated immigrant voters. Immigrants tended to be blue-collar, but the Democrats didn't do much for them as workers prior to the New Deal. Michael Perelman <<<<<>>>>>
aw shucks, i'm blushing... return dear listers to days of yore, post-civil war... elite differences expressed via two parties - reps and dems - appealing to distinct regional interests... former (triumphant party of lincoln) emerged from was as dominant party in congress and presidency...represented eastern finance, industry, commerce...enacted high tariffs on foreign imports, gave lands to railroads for western expansion, financed canal and river improvements...reps opposed taxes on business, encouraged private exploitation - grazing, homesteading, mining - of western federal lands, used federal troops to crush strikes, promoted laissez-faire ideology... despite capture by northeastern financial and business interests, reps appealed to others - middle and working class folks supported it during 'prosperous' times...prairie and western state cattle, lumber, mineral, land speculation concerns (not to mention homesteaders) identified with reps... dems were 'party of protest' during this era, southerners joined with loose coalition of opponents to eastern banks and corporations, railroad trusts, monied-interests...party didn't do too well during economic 'good times'...1912 woodrow wilson election as prez due in large measure to split in rep ranks - taft and teddy roosevelt...some business elements did, however, sign on to wilson, pushing for loose credit and some anti-trust action... 1913 underwood-simmons act lower tariffs for first time since 1857, putting lumber, paper, steel rails, wood pulp, sugar, wool on free-trade list (prices for those good fell)...graduated income tax adopted initiating shift from excise taxes and tariffs (which consumers paid in higher prices)...1913 federal reserve act loosened control by eastern banks over nation's credit and money supply by establishing regional banks to receive federal deposits (and by establishing federal reserve notes that did not have to be backed up by full value in gold reserves)...1914 clayton and federal trade acts made illegal some unfair business practices, created boards for 'voluntary mediation' between management and labor, recognized 8 hr work day for railroad workers, provided federal assistance to states and companies for worker compensation programs....wilson administration also favored federal child labor and women's hours laws and excluded labor unions from antitrust legislation (i believe there remains debate about role that organized labor had at this time, some suggest that gompers and afl leadership had direct access to white house, others maintain that wilson administration acted without specific union advice/influence)... re. new deal. adopted to save capitalism from complete collapse and prevent social revolution...fdr's first legislative accomplishment was 'emergency banking act' that bankers helped write - tradeoff was that they accepted federal oversight/regulation in exchange for federal assistance...this became new deal model - govermment and business would be active partners in pursuing economic growth and stability... additionally, new deal included home and farm loan guarantees, public works and relief programs, labor legislation...some folks' homes and farms were saved, some unemployed got jobs, management-labor relations did shift, lots of people received assistance...thereafter, dems were identified with idea of active federal government (motivated more by pragmatism than by social justice)... i think dukakis in '88 was first dem candidate since fdr to not invoke latter's name and memory... michael hoover -------------------------------------------------------------- Please Note: Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written communications to or from College employees regarding College business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure.
