How Did Theodore Roosevelt Struggle For Social Justice
As the Progressive Party candidate for President in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt continued to seek reform with his Square Deal policies. Roosevelt was a true Progressive and fought consistently for reform throughout his political career. His address made during the campaign was entitled "The Struggle for Social Justice" from Progressive Principles: Selections from Addresses Made during the Presidential Campaign of 1912, ed. Elmer H. Youngman (New York: Progressive National Service, 1913), 199-207. Theodore Roosevelt's main argument in this article was that privilege should be eliminated from industrial life and lose its power in political life. He claimed that the boss system thrives on injustice and calls his fight that he was engaged in a fight
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In his address he claimed that all who stand for justice wish to make the country a better place to live in for the man who actually toils, for the wage-worker, for the farmer, and for the small business man. He tried almost everything and anything to help the citizens of the United States. Roosevelt set up child protection laws, which were used to prevent children to work in factories, and it also reduced the amount of time they worked. Roosevelt also set up workman's compensation, which is a payment that employers had to pay employees who get injured on the job. Roosevelt intervened in the 1902 anthracite coal strike. As winter got closer and 140,000 miners stayed off the job, the coal industry was paralyzed and the nation grew desperate. The mine owners refused to recognize the miners' union or negotiate a settlement. Roosevelt summoned both sides to his office for a meeting. The managers did not cooperate. Furious, Roosevelt threatened he might declare a national emergency and call out the Army to run the mines if the owners did not give in. A settlement was reached that granted the miners' demands for a higher wage and shorter work day. Most presidents allied with business, never before had a president acted so boldly to settle a strike and respect the interests of
In his address he claimed that all who stand for justice wish to make the country a better place to live in for the man who actually toils, for the wage-worker, for the farmer, and for the small business man. He tried almost everything and anything to help the citizens of the United States. Roosevelt set up child protection laws, which were used to prevent children to work in factories, and it also reduced the amount of time they worked. Roosevelt also set up workman's compensation, which is a payment that employers had to pay employees who get injured on the job. Roosevelt intervened in the 1902 anthracite coal strike. As winter got closer and 140,000 miners stayed off the job, the coal industry was paralyzed and the nation grew desperate. The mine owners refused to recognize the miners' union or negotiate a settlement. Roosevelt summoned both sides to his office for a meeting. The managers did not cooperate. Furious, Roosevelt threatened he might declare a national emergency and call out the Army to run the mines if the owners did not give in. A settlement was reached that granted the miners' demands for a higher wage and shorter work day. Most presidents allied with business, never before had a president acted so boldly to settle a strike and respect the interests of