Post by djxkorean on Aug 3, 2009 17:02:29 GMT -8
24th President Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)
The LAND OF THE LEAVES(Cleveland) became overrun with smart BuMs(93) who read BooKs(97).
I. Election
. . A. Republicans: nominate Harrison for a 2nd term
. . . . 1. Still hurting from the McKinley Tariff
. . . . 2. July 1892: 300 private police shoot into strikers of Carnegie Steel Company
. . . . . . a. “private army” hired by Henry Frick (GM of Carnegie Steel) + low wages despite protection from McKinley Tariff = embarrassment to Republicans
. . B. Democrats: nominate Cleveland for 2nd term
. . . . 1. Tariff issue: Federal gov’t has no Constitutional power to impose or collect tariff duties except for purposes of revenue only
. . . . 2. Firm stand for gold standard and sound money
. . . . . . a. Gained votes in the East, lost votes in the West
. . C. Populist party: nominates Weaver, but no impact on outcome despite being an articulate 3rd party
. . D. Democrats win presidency and gain majorities in House and Senate
II. Panic of 1893
. . A. Cleveland’s 2nd term = 4 yrs of depression
. . . . 1. Spring 1893: Nat’l Cordage Company and Philadelphia & Reading Railroad failed
. . . . 2. 4 million unemployed, 15,000 business and 500 banks failed
. . B. Causes of depression
. . . . 1. Farmers had experienced no real prosperity since early 1870s = low purchasing power
. . . . 2. Strikes had cut purchasing power of industrial railroad workers
. . . . 3. Hard times in Europe stifled export trade; silver purchase acts persuaded foreign holders of US securities to sell while it was at good price
. . . . 4. McKinley Tariff dried up revenue usually received from imports; “billion dollars” expenditures under Harrison depleted surplus and created deficit
. . . . 5. Gold reserve supporting US currency sunk to $20 million (below legal minimum of $100 million)
III. International Issues
. . A. Hawaiian Incident (1893)
. . . . 1. American sugar growers, being protected by McKinley Tariff, deal serious blow to Hawaiian economy
. . . . . . a. Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaiian queen since 1891, meets situation by est. dictatorship and shifting Hawaiian economic dependence away from US
. . . . 2. US sugar plantation investors in Hawaii influence a revolt against the Queen, who petition US to annex Hawaiian islands (after est. a gov’t)
. . . . . . a. Harrison approves treaty, sends to Senate 3 wks before end of term.
. . . . . . b. Cleveland becomes President, withdraws treaty, asks queen for pardons, and asks revolutionists to step down
. . . . . . c. Queen doesn’t stop being angry, provisional gov’t doesn’t step down and wishes for annexation
. . . . . . d. After Spanish-American War, urge to annex Hawaii irresistible, on July 7, 1898 (under McKinley), Hawaii is annexed by joint resolution of Congress
. . B. Venezuelan Boundary Dispute (1895)
. . . . 1. British Guiana and Venezuela had boundary dispute of 50 yrs standing
. . . . . . a. 2ce Cleveland suggested arbitration (1887, 1894)
. . . . 2. Disputes fare up again after discover of gold deposits in border areas: involves US as loss by Venezuela to Great Britain involves Monroe Doctrine
. . . . . . a. European power colonizing at expense of republic in Western Hemisphere
. . . . 3. Secretary of State Richard Olney: sends message to British Foreign Minister, Lord Salisbury, stating that US sovereign on continent
. . . . . . a. If US enters into any situation in Western Hemisphere, word becomes law; Boasts US had power to take such a position
. . . . . . b. Communication ends with appeal for arbitration
. . . . 4. Salisbury refuses arbitration and assertion that Monroe Doctrine had no standing in int’l law and didn’t apply to situation
. . . . . . a. England sends troops to British Guiana
. . . . . . b. Cleveland asks Congress for funds to determine proper boundary line which US would maintain if Great Britain violates it
. . . . 5. Both sides calm down before any war; Venezuelan boundary dispute arbitrated with stipulation that occupation for 50 yrs = boundary
. . . . . . a. Monroe Doctrine respected, England gets most land, Venezuela didn’t fear encroachments by Britain
IV. Problem of Gold Reserve
. . A. Background
. . . . 1. As price of silver fell, value of silver acquired by Treasury (Sherman Silver Purchase Act) depreciated
. . . . . . a. Silver dollars and certificates cheaper money than gold coins and certificates
. . . . . . b. Fact that one kind of money more valuable than other = people use cheaper money and save the sounder money
. . . . . . . . i. Foreign traders stipulate bills be paid in gold; As long as gov’t exchanged gold for legal tender, gold would dwindle while silver accumulates
. . . . . . c. Because gold reserve fallen way below the limit, they are inadequate to redeem greenbacks and silver certificates in circulation
. . B. Cleveland calls special session of Congress – repealed Sherman Silver Purchase Act
. . . . 1. Stopped steady flow of new silver into Treasury
. . . . 2. To get gold and keep it in Treasury: Pierpont Morgan and group of associates pay gold for bonds to total of $62 million
. . . . . . a. Half of gold comes from abroad and bankers pledge not to withdraw gold from Treasury by redeeming legal-tender paper
. . . . . . b. Accepted by Cleveland; gold reserve recovers, confidence in currency system returns, and nation remains on gold standard
. . C. Transaction = political poison for Democrat: Democrats can’t forgive Cleveland for “Morgan deal”: only served gov’t and gave profits to bankers
V. Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894)
. . A. Cleveland determined to achieve tariff reform, because Mills Bill had been unsuccessful
. . B. Rep. William Wilson of W. Virginia introduces bill that Cleveland likes
. . . . 1. put raw materials on free list and some manufactured products had rates cut to moderate revenue level
. . . . 2. Passed House easily, but when Gorman of Maryland piloted it through Senate, amended 600+ times
. . C. When passed, bill was protective w/ rates averaging about 40% (McKinley Tariff averaged ~50%.
VI. Labor Problems
. . A. Pullman Strike (1894)
. . . . 1. Background
. . . . . . a. Pullman Company dismissed employees then hired 1/3 with wage cuts; some of the employees are members of the American Railway Union
. . . . . . . . i. Had just won restoration of wage cut from Great Northern Railway System of James J. Hill
. . . . . . b. Appeal to Eugene V. Debs (president of American Railway Union): suggests arbitration and boycott
. . . . 2. Reasons of Anger
. . . . . . a. Pullman workers lived in company town where rents, gas, and water rates above rates in nearby areas
. . . . . . b. Mr. Pullman fired anyone for formed committee to discuss situation with him
. . . . 3. The strike: Debs orders boycott and w/in week 100,000 workers refused to work on train with Pullman car
. . . . . . a. Debs warns them not to interfere with mail trains and don’t prevent others from taking their jobs
. . . . . . b. Debs sure that Pullman can’t replace 100,000 workers, or else it would have incompetent help and prove dangerous and expensive
. . . . 4. Injunctions ordered: negative court order directing someone not to do something or stop doing what is under way
. . . . . . a. court order: Debs not interfere with mails and defended proper procedure for stopping violation of Sherman Antitrust Act
. . . . . . . . i. strike = conspiracy = restrained interstate commerce = Sherman Antitrust Act = denied labor right to strike
. . . . . . b. Injunction: Debs not interfere with mail, don’t damage railroad property, don’t communicate with strikers to direct actions
. . . . . . . . i. Debs can’t follow 3rd rule by telling strikers to be orderly and law-abiding
. . . . . . c. Debs is arrested, but acquitted, with no further action on conspiracy charge; serves 6-month sentence
. . . . 5. Federal troops sent to Illinois to protects trains, despite protest by Mayor and Governor
. . . . . . a. Strike was orderly and controlled by local authorities
. . . . 6. Pullman Strike was severe blow to unions
. . B. American Federation of Labor
. . . . 1. Samuel Gompers, in 1870, organized cigar makers into union and organized other unions in other crafts
. . . . 2. 1886: American Federation of Labor (AFL) is born: nat’l organization advised and aided locals
. . . . . . a. Advised nat’l organization, aided drives for membership, tried to prevent formation of rival labor groups
. . . . . . b. Set policy of keeping unions aims restricted to practical and immediate goals: collective bargaining, better pay, shorter hours
. . . . 3. Avoided reform movements and political parties: touched small fraction of wage earners because limited to organizing skilled workers
. . . . 4. AFL dominated labor field for ~40 yrs, with Gompers as president for 37 yrs.
Commentary: It is a shame that the deficit and the depression created by the Republicans during Harrison’s presidency is blamed on Grover Cleveland only because the large backlash of Harrison’s term weren’t felt until Cleveland’s term. I feel that this is a recurring pattern littered throughout the US Presidency, with one President’s foolish mistakes and bad decisions being blamed largely on his successor. This is largely due to the ignorance of the American people, who blame their problems on whoever’s in power without actually assessing the roots of their problem. Normally this wouldn’t be important, but the fact that public hatred results in the reelection of the party that created the problems is somewhat significant and truly ironic in and of itself.
Another thing interesting about Cleveland’s term is that Grover Cleveland’s main focus during his election and during his “State of the Union” address is about tariff reform, yet (according to these 6 page bios) he did not make any important tariff reform during his presidency. Although he may have tried very hard, with both the Mills Bill and the Wilson-Gorman Tariff, he made no lasting effects or significant changes, which makes me look at his presidency as a complete waste of time.
The LAND OF THE LEAVES(Cleveland) became overrun with smart BuMs(93) who read BooKs(97).
I. Election
. . A. Republicans: nominate Harrison for a 2nd term
. . . . 1. Still hurting from the McKinley Tariff
. . . . 2. July 1892: 300 private police shoot into strikers of Carnegie Steel Company
. . . . . . a. “private army” hired by Henry Frick (GM of Carnegie Steel) + low wages despite protection from McKinley Tariff = embarrassment to Republicans
. . B. Democrats: nominate Cleveland for 2nd term
. . . . 1. Tariff issue: Federal gov’t has no Constitutional power to impose or collect tariff duties except for purposes of revenue only
. . . . 2. Firm stand for gold standard and sound money
. . . . . . a. Gained votes in the East, lost votes in the West
. . C. Populist party: nominates Weaver, but no impact on outcome despite being an articulate 3rd party
. . D. Democrats win presidency and gain majorities in House and Senate
II. Panic of 1893
. . A. Cleveland’s 2nd term = 4 yrs of depression
. . . . 1. Spring 1893: Nat’l Cordage Company and Philadelphia & Reading Railroad failed
. . . . 2. 4 million unemployed, 15,000 business and 500 banks failed
. . B. Causes of depression
. . . . 1. Farmers had experienced no real prosperity since early 1870s = low purchasing power
. . . . 2. Strikes had cut purchasing power of industrial railroad workers
. . . . 3. Hard times in Europe stifled export trade; silver purchase acts persuaded foreign holders of US securities to sell while it was at good price
. . . . 4. McKinley Tariff dried up revenue usually received from imports; “billion dollars” expenditures under Harrison depleted surplus and created deficit
. . . . 5. Gold reserve supporting US currency sunk to $20 million (below legal minimum of $100 million)
III. International Issues
. . A. Hawaiian Incident (1893)
. . . . 1. American sugar growers, being protected by McKinley Tariff, deal serious blow to Hawaiian economy
. . . . . . a. Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaiian queen since 1891, meets situation by est. dictatorship and shifting Hawaiian economic dependence away from US
. . . . 2. US sugar plantation investors in Hawaii influence a revolt against the Queen, who petition US to annex Hawaiian islands (after est. a gov’t)
. . . . . . a. Harrison approves treaty, sends to Senate 3 wks before end of term.
. . . . . . b. Cleveland becomes President, withdraws treaty, asks queen for pardons, and asks revolutionists to step down
. . . . . . c. Queen doesn’t stop being angry, provisional gov’t doesn’t step down and wishes for annexation
. . . . . . d. After Spanish-American War, urge to annex Hawaii irresistible, on July 7, 1898 (under McKinley), Hawaii is annexed by joint resolution of Congress
. . B. Venezuelan Boundary Dispute (1895)
. . . . 1. British Guiana and Venezuela had boundary dispute of 50 yrs standing
. . . . . . a. 2ce Cleveland suggested arbitration (1887, 1894)
. . . . 2. Disputes fare up again after discover of gold deposits in border areas: involves US as loss by Venezuela to Great Britain involves Monroe Doctrine
. . . . . . a. European power colonizing at expense of republic in Western Hemisphere
. . . . 3. Secretary of State Richard Olney: sends message to British Foreign Minister, Lord Salisbury, stating that US sovereign on continent
. . . . . . a. If US enters into any situation in Western Hemisphere, word becomes law; Boasts US had power to take such a position
. . . . . . b. Communication ends with appeal for arbitration
. . . . 4. Salisbury refuses arbitration and assertion that Monroe Doctrine had no standing in int’l law and didn’t apply to situation
. . . . . . a. England sends troops to British Guiana
. . . . . . b. Cleveland asks Congress for funds to determine proper boundary line which US would maintain if Great Britain violates it
. . . . 5. Both sides calm down before any war; Venezuelan boundary dispute arbitrated with stipulation that occupation for 50 yrs = boundary
. . . . . . a. Monroe Doctrine respected, England gets most land, Venezuela didn’t fear encroachments by Britain
IV. Problem of Gold Reserve
. . A. Background
. . . . 1. As price of silver fell, value of silver acquired by Treasury (Sherman Silver Purchase Act) depreciated
. . . . . . a. Silver dollars and certificates cheaper money than gold coins and certificates
. . . . . . b. Fact that one kind of money more valuable than other = people use cheaper money and save the sounder money
. . . . . . . . i. Foreign traders stipulate bills be paid in gold; As long as gov’t exchanged gold for legal tender, gold would dwindle while silver accumulates
. . . . . . c. Because gold reserve fallen way below the limit, they are inadequate to redeem greenbacks and silver certificates in circulation
. . B. Cleveland calls special session of Congress – repealed Sherman Silver Purchase Act
. . . . 1. Stopped steady flow of new silver into Treasury
. . . . 2. To get gold and keep it in Treasury: Pierpont Morgan and group of associates pay gold for bonds to total of $62 million
. . . . . . a. Half of gold comes from abroad and bankers pledge not to withdraw gold from Treasury by redeeming legal-tender paper
. . . . . . b. Accepted by Cleveland; gold reserve recovers, confidence in currency system returns, and nation remains on gold standard
. . C. Transaction = political poison for Democrat: Democrats can’t forgive Cleveland for “Morgan deal”: only served gov’t and gave profits to bankers
V. Wilson-Gorman Tariff (1894)
. . A. Cleveland determined to achieve tariff reform, because Mills Bill had been unsuccessful
. . B. Rep. William Wilson of W. Virginia introduces bill that Cleveland likes
. . . . 1. put raw materials on free list and some manufactured products had rates cut to moderate revenue level
. . . . 2. Passed House easily, but when Gorman of Maryland piloted it through Senate, amended 600+ times
. . C. When passed, bill was protective w/ rates averaging about 40% (McKinley Tariff averaged ~50%.
VI. Labor Problems
. . A. Pullman Strike (1894)
. . . . 1. Background
. . . . . . a. Pullman Company dismissed employees then hired 1/3 with wage cuts; some of the employees are members of the American Railway Union
. . . . . . . . i. Had just won restoration of wage cut from Great Northern Railway System of James J. Hill
. . . . . . b. Appeal to Eugene V. Debs (president of American Railway Union): suggests arbitration and boycott
. . . . 2. Reasons of Anger
. . . . . . a. Pullman workers lived in company town where rents, gas, and water rates above rates in nearby areas
. . . . . . b. Mr. Pullman fired anyone for formed committee to discuss situation with him
. . . . 3. The strike: Debs orders boycott and w/in week 100,000 workers refused to work on train with Pullman car
. . . . . . a. Debs warns them not to interfere with mail trains and don’t prevent others from taking their jobs
. . . . . . b. Debs sure that Pullman can’t replace 100,000 workers, or else it would have incompetent help and prove dangerous and expensive
. . . . 4. Injunctions ordered: negative court order directing someone not to do something or stop doing what is under way
. . . . . . a. court order: Debs not interfere with mails and defended proper procedure for stopping violation of Sherman Antitrust Act
. . . . . . . . i. strike = conspiracy = restrained interstate commerce = Sherman Antitrust Act = denied labor right to strike
. . . . . . b. Injunction: Debs not interfere with mail, don’t damage railroad property, don’t communicate with strikers to direct actions
. . . . . . . . i. Debs can’t follow 3rd rule by telling strikers to be orderly and law-abiding
. . . . . . c. Debs is arrested, but acquitted, with no further action on conspiracy charge; serves 6-month sentence
. . . . 5. Federal troops sent to Illinois to protects trains, despite protest by Mayor and Governor
. . . . . . a. Strike was orderly and controlled by local authorities
. . . . 6. Pullman Strike was severe blow to unions
. . B. American Federation of Labor
. . . . 1. Samuel Gompers, in 1870, organized cigar makers into union and organized other unions in other crafts
. . . . 2. 1886: American Federation of Labor (AFL) is born: nat’l organization advised and aided locals
. . . . . . a. Advised nat’l organization, aided drives for membership, tried to prevent formation of rival labor groups
. . . . . . b. Set policy of keeping unions aims restricted to practical and immediate goals: collective bargaining, better pay, shorter hours
. . . . 3. Avoided reform movements and political parties: touched small fraction of wage earners because limited to organizing skilled workers
. . . . 4. AFL dominated labor field for ~40 yrs, with Gompers as president for 37 yrs.
Commentary: It is a shame that the deficit and the depression created by the Republicans during Harrison’s presidency is blamed on Grover Cleveland only because the large backlash of Harrison’s term weren’t felt until Cleveland’s term. I feel that this is a recurring pattern littered throughout the US Presidency, with one President’s foolish mistakes and bad decisions being blamed largely on his successor. This is largely due to the ignorance of the American people, who blame their problems on whoever’s in power without actually assessing the roots of their problem. Normally this wouldn’t be important, but the fact that public hatred results in the reelection of the party that created the problems is somewhat significant and truly ironic in and of itself.
Another thing interesting about Cleveland’s term is that Grover Cleveland’s main focus during his election and during his “State of the Union” address is about tariff reform, yet (according to these 6 page bios) he did not make any important tariff reform during his presidency. Although he may have tried very hard, with both the Mills Bill and the Wilson-Gorman Tariff, he made no lasting effects or significant changes, which makes me look at his presidency as a complete waste of time.