Progressive Politicians 10.3 Reform Under Taft

William Taft Roosevelt’s Secretary of War Very uncomfortable in public TR – does not run for re-election – helps Taft win Republican nomination Beats William Jennings Bryan in election of 1908 Many thought he was progressive like Roosevelt – True and False

Progressive Accomplishments of Taft:

Mann-Elkins Act (1910)– regulated power of telephone and telegraph companies National Forests – added almost as much as TR Dept. of Labor created - Enforced labor laws such as an eight hour work day for companies holding government contracts 16th Amendment – creates income tax

Taft Angers Progressives Payne-Aldrich Tariff Background: Progressives & Taft – Both supported low tariffs on consumer goods to keep prices down Tariff – tax on imports House sent low-tariff bill to senate RI senator Nelson Aldrich flips bill Becomes high tariff bill Bill passes – Taft does not veto

Ballinger-Pinchot Affair Background: Richard Ballinger Taft’s Secretary of the Interior Believed Roosevelt had exceeded his authority when refusing to sell public land Sold Alaskan land to developers Angered Pinchot – head of US Forrest service and friend of Roosevelt – criticizes Taft fires him – creates rift in Rep. Party

The Cannon Debate Joseph Cannon – Powerful Speaker of the House, head of the rules committee, and a conservative Republican Disliked by Progressive Republicans Progressives tried to unseat him Taft would not support them = last straw – progressives split from Taft

The Republican Party Divides 3 Steps to Division of the Party

1. Congressional Elections (1910) Roosevelt actively campaigned for every Republican who opposed Taft Despite the help of Roosevelt the Republicans lost control of the House

Republican Split(1912) 2. – Republican Primary – 1912 TR decided to run for president again – wins almost every state primary 3. – Republican Convention 1912 Taft and allies control party machine Republicans refuse to let TR supports into convention Taft wins Republican Presidential Nomination

The Progressive Party TR’s supporters walk out of the convention and create the Progressive Party also known as the Bull Moose Party “I’m as strong as a bull moose.” - Roosevelt

Election of 1912 William Taft – Republican Teddy Roosevelt – Progressive/Bull Moose Woodrow Wilson – Democrats Eugene Debs - Socialist

Wilson Wins Election Woodrow Wilson Former governor of NJ and big on business regulation Supported by Democratic progressives Wins 6 million votes Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote, almost assuring Wilson victory Taft – 3 million votes TR – 4 million Debs – 900,000 votes