USA > Massachusetts > Commonwealth history of Massachusetts, colony, province and state, volume 5 > Part 16
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THE UNION PACIFIC
A similar interpretation of Massachusetts influence may be traced in the Union Pacific system. By the act of 1862 providing for "the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean" some 160 men were named as members of the board of commissioners of the Union Pacific Railroad and Telegraph Company. Among them were five citizens of Massachusetts : William H. Swift, Samuel T. Dana, John Bertram, Franklin S. Stevens, and Edward R. Tinker. This first transcontinental system was in its early history yet more intimately connected with two outstanding Massachusetts men, Oakes Ames and Oliver Ames. It was the spirit and energy of these brothers which in the critical years of the road's history determined its con- struction. At one time, when the scarcity of funds resulted in the slowing up or in the stoppage of construction, Oakes
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Ames wrote to the chief engineer, General Grenville M. Dodge, saying: "Go ahead; the work shall not stop, even if it takes the shovel shop"-referring to the family manufacture, source of the Ames fortune. The relation of the Ameses to the general government became involved; they were subjected to various inquisitions. The credit of the road was impaired; but the road was built, and the "shovel shop" did not fail. In the year 1880-1881, the Ames Monument in honor of the brothers was erected at Sherman, Wyoming.
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE
Into the history of the great railroad systems of the South- west, Massachusetts men likewise entered. The chief of these systems, what is now known as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, had its origin in 1859 in the grant of a charter to a road (later absorbed in the system) by the legislature of Kansas. It was not, however, till twenty years later that the company came into an era of prosperity. In the year 1877, Thomas Nickerson of Boston was elected president. With his associ- ates, also of Boston, he made William B. Strong its vice- president and general manager. Strong was one of the great executives in the ninth decade of the last century. His executive ability found a worthy and constant support in Boston. President Nickerson was always conservative, cau- tious, conciliatory. These qualities were at the period neces- sary and constructive. For conservatism was essential to save the property, inasmuch as the early history of the road was subjected to manifold struggles, military, financial, and gov- ernmental.
Caution was necessary, for some risks had been run which had proved all but disastrous. No further perils could the road afford to bear. Conciliation was necessary, for the brief history of the road was marked by antagonisms, personal, racial, legal. Thomas Nickerson, thus gifted, became presi- dent in 1877, and held the office for four years. The most important of all his works was making William B. Strong president on his own retirement. A son of Vermont, going with his parents at an early age to Beloit, Wisconsin, Strong was essentially a child of the West. His formal education
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ended at the age of eighteen. Entering railroad work as a station agent and telegraph operator, through his powerful leadership he transformed the railroad map of the United States.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS
Perhaps the most unique contribution of the Commonwealth to the railroads of the West is found in the presidency of Charles Francis Adams of the Union Pacific system. This presidency covered the six and a half years from 1884 to 1890. For this position he was prepared by his writings on railroads, as "A Chapter of Erie"; by his service on the Mas- sachusetts Railroad Commission beginning in 1869; by his chairmanship of the government directors of the road; and by his service as a normal director. Of his own service in the Union Pacific, Adams says with characteristic frankness : "My first five years in control of the affairs of the company were most successful. I got its finances in order ; greatly improved the service; reestablished its credit; paid off the whole of its floating debt; improved its relations with the communities it served. I did not, however, succeed in effecting a settlement between it and the United States Government. . . . During the last eighteen months of my connection with the Union Pacific I was-there is no use denying it, or attempting to explain it away-wholly demoralized. I hated my position and its duties, and yearned to be free of it and from them. My office had become a prison-house. Loathing it, I was anxious, involved, hopeless. I had, accordingly, become a plunger ; rapidly getting beyond my depth. I have nothing to say in extenuation. I displayed indecision and weakness-almost as much as Napoleon showed in his Russian campaign."
These several and diverse interpretations make evident that the vast western territory has been brought to its present state of civilization, of wealth, of dominance in the affairs of the American Union, not only by the men and women born on the soil, but by the vision, the energy, the financial skill, the patience, and the moral and intellectual character of men from the East, and especially from Massachusetts, as applied to or by a single type of human constructiveness.
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THE AGASSIZ FAMILY
MINING INTERESTS
Alongside the service in building and administering rail- roads, perhaps the most distinct and commanding physical contribution of the Commonwealth to the upbuilding of the West is found in the history of the copper mining properties of Michigan. Long had it been known that copper was to be found in the Upper Peninsula; but it was not till the seventies of the last century that its abundance was discovered and recognized.
In the year 1864, the heavy lode was actually unearthed. The discoverer, Edwin J. Hulbert, mined and shipped to Boston specimens of the ore. He himself came to Boston, which had for some time been the financial headquarters for Lake Superior mining properties. In his plans for the new mines development he interested Quincy A. Shaw, who was already a stockholder in Michigan mines. Shaw succeeded in the immediate purpose of purchasing what subsequently became known as the Calumet Mine. Presently there was organized the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company.
THE AGASSIZ FAMILY
Shaw interested his brother-in-law, Alexander Agassiz, in the new undertaking. At the time Alexander Agassiz, son of Louis, was working with his father in the historic museum.
The influence which led Alexander Agassiz to undertake the development of this property are indicated in a report of a chance talk which he had with Charles W. Eliot, at that time a professor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Eliot, I am going to Michigan for some years as superin- tendent of the Calumet and Hecla Mines. I want to make money; it is impossible to be a productive naturalist in this country without money. I am going to get some money if I can and then I will be a naturalist. If I succeed, I can then get my own papers and drawings printed and help my father at the Museum."
The work thus undertaken was carried on for two years (1866-1868) in the teeth of severest difficulties, physical, in- dustrial, intellectual, moral, and administrative. But it was
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a work which resulted in putting at the disposition of Alexan- der Agassiz means for carrying forward his great and com- prehensive purposes in biological science, and to found the great Agassiz Museum in Cambridge. The mine also brought wealth to many citizens of Massachusetts and especially to a few Boston families. The company paid its first dividend in 1869, and in the course of the next forty years paid to its owners $100,550,000. Although the last two decades have not shown similar prosperity, the whole history is a pregnant illustration of the wisdom and energy of citizens of the Com- monwealth.
"Hewn from the wilderness by determined men, who, fight- ing through darkness and gloom, forced their way into the light, brought peace and plenty to thousands of working homes, and created one of the most famous mines known in the history of the industry" :- so runs a tablet on the work thus achieved as a token and proof of the worth of scientific- ally trained intellect, supported by sound and fine moral charac- ter, devoted to the development of the resources of the earth, and inspired by the desire to discover the truth and to serve men.
MASSACHUSETTS INFLUENCE SUMMARIZED
The Ordinance of 1787 is the constitution-social, political, human-under which Massachusetts has entered into the West. Under this monumental document the whole movement represents the general human contribution, made either in groups or as families, which the Commonwealth has made. To this contribution must also be added the offering made by reli- gion through the church, by education through the church, and by education through the school, the college, and the univer- sity. Massachusetts stands in the West as foremost of the States in science and literature, as providing lasting standards and elements of a higher civilization in an advancing commun- ity. These impulses are felt in other sections, but they have always abounded in those western regions in which Massachu- setts is mother to many, and an inspiration to all.
In the professions of medicine and of the law, its influence has been marked, but less significant than in the clerical calling.
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In journalism, Massachusetts has, through at least two his- torical papers, impressed the thought of the western common- wealths.
In the new and important field of library service it has provided wise and efficient guidance. In diverse fields of art it has offered precious contributions both of structures and of personalities. In the constructing, financing, and ad- ministration of railroads, its power has been of the greatest worth. In mining, too, its service, even if of a narrow sort and rather personal, has been most valuable and profitable. To sum up in a phrase, the influence of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the West has been an influence in, of, by, and through MEN.
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
ADAMS, CHARLES FRANCIS .- Charles Francis Adams, 1835-1915; an Auto- biography (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1916)-A unique interpretation of a unique and strong character.
ADAMS, EPHRAIM .- The Iowa Band (Boston, Pilgrim Press, 1902)-A small volume, replete with important facts and judgments regarding the foundation of the State of Iowa.
AGASSIZ, ALEXANDER .- The Letters and Recollections of Alexander Agassis, with a Sketch of his Life and Work (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1913) -Edited by G. R. Agassiz. A fundamental interpretation of the character and work scientific, administrative, of a great citizen.
AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY .- Quarterly Register and Journal (15 vols., Andover, Flagg and Gould, 1829-1842)-These volumes are filled with important details of the educational and religious movements of the West. See Vol. I, pp. 65-66, for an extract from a letter written by "a devoted Missionary in the State of Illinois."
BADGER, JOSEPH .- A Memoir: Containing an Autobiography, and Selections from his Private Journal and Correspondence (Hudson, Ohio, Sawyer, Ingersoll, 1851)-One of the few original records of the first years of the nineteenth century in Northern Ohio.
BALDWIN, WILLIAM WRIGHT .- "The Making of the Burlington" (Profes- sional Enginecr, 1920, Vol. V)-Comprehensive and personal.
BALDWIN, WILLIAM WRIGHT .- Story of the Burlington (Privately printed, 1925)-A succinct statement.
BEECHER, LYMAN .- A Plea for the West (Cincinnati, Truman and Smith, 1835)-A vigorous and eloquent presentation of the fundamental conditions of church, college, and school in the West.
BOWKER, RICHARD ROGERS .- "Seed Time and Harvest-The Story of the A. L. A." (American Library Association, Bulletin, Vol. XX, pp. 303-309, Chicago, 1926)-Facts regarding great librarians by a leader in the service; an address at the forty-eighth annual meeting.
BRADFORD, WILLIAM .- The History of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647 (2 vols., Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1912)-The most important history of Plymouth. It unites facts with religious vision and passion.
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BRADLEY, GLENN DANFORD .- The Story of the Santa Fe (Boston, Badger, 1920)-The best history of a great system.
BRIDGMAN, HOWARD ALLEN .- New England in the Life of the World; a Record of Adventures and Achievement (Boston, Pilgrim Press, 1920). GLEED, CHARLES SUMNER .- The Rehabilitation of the Santa Fe Railroad System (Privately printed, Chicago, 1912)-Interpretation of facts by a leading lawyer of Kansas.
GRIFFIN, SOLOMON BULKLEY .- People and Politics, Observed by a Massa- chusetts Editor (Boston, Little, Brown, 1923)-Sane observations and interpretations by a distinguished editor.
"Harvard Men in the Library Field" (Library Journal, 1927, Vol. LII, p. 655)-Further comment on p. 657.
HINSDALE, BURKE AARON .- The Old Northwest; the Beginnings of our Colonial System (Boston, Silver, Burdett, 1899)-A scholar's interpre- tation of the early and later conditions in the Territory of the North- west, and of its resulting States.
HINSDALE, BURKE AARON .- "Documents illustrative of American Edu- cational History" (UNITED STATES-COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, Annual Report for the Year 1892-93, 2 vols., Washington, 1895)-See Vol. II, pp. 1225-1494. This is especially valuable for the facts con- cerning education of all types in the United States.
HOOKER, RICHARD .- The Story of an Independent Newspaper, One Hundred Years of the Springfield Republican, 1824-1924 (N. Y., Macmillan, 1924)-A great interpretation of a unique newspaper.
HUDSON, FREDERIC .- Journalism in the United States, from 1690 to 1872 (N. Y., Harper, 1873)-A standard work of facts, without philosophic vision.
KIMBALL, SIDNEY FISKE .- Domestic Architecture of the American Colonies and of the Early Republic (N. Y., Scribner's, 1922)-A notable volume of historical interpretations.
KIMBALL, SIDNEY FISKE .- "The Old Houses of Michigan (Architectural Record, 1922, Vol. LII, pp. 227-240)-Historical and picturesque record. MAJOR, HOWARD .- The Domestic Architecture of the Early American Rc- public; The Greck Revival (Phila., Lippincott, 1926)-Chiefly valuable for its interpretation of the Greek influence and for its many and widely representative illustrations.
MANN, HORACE .- The Life and Works of Horace Mann (5 vols., Boston, Lee, Shepard, 1891)-Volume V contains educational writings, includ- ing extracts from the Common School Journal. Mann's works make up both a history of education in Massachusetts and the biography of the man himself.
MOORE, CHARLES .- Daniel H. Burnham, Architect, Planner of Cities (2 vols., Houghton Mifflin, 1921)-A rich work, being not only a biography of its subject, but also containing many intimations of general archi- tectural value.
PARK, EDWARDS AMASA .- The Indebtedness of the State to the Clergy. A Sermon delivered at the Annual Election, January 2, 1851 (Boston, Dutton and Wentworth, 1851)-A union of intellectual interpretations and of religious and moral passion.
PEARSON, HENRY GREENLEAF .- An American Railroad Builder, John Murray Forbes (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1911)-A simple biography of a great citizen and administrator.
SMITH, EDWARD B., and COMPANY .- Calumet and Hecla Mining Company (Privately printed)-A brief summary of essential facts, taken in part from The Life of Alexander Agassis, by a broker of the New York Stock Exchange.
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TOCQUEVILLE, ALEXIS DE .- Democracy in America (2 vols., N. Y., Century, 1898)-Translated by Henry Reeve; edited by Francis Bowen. De Tocqueville is concerned with the philosophic conditions which lie behind facts, as Bryce is concerned with facts and theories as a states- man. The earliest, as it is in certain respects the best, philosophy of American life.
TURNER, FREDERICK JACKSON .- "The Children of the Pioneers" (Yale Re- view, 1926, New Series, Vol. XV, pp. 645-70)-A succinct summary showing the worth of the achievements of the children of families emigrating to the West.
VILLARD, OSWALD GARRISON .- John Brown, 1800-1859: A Biography Fifty Years After. (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1910)-The best biography of John Brown, by a grandson of William Lloyd Garrison.
WEBSTER, DANIEL .- The Writings and Speeches of Daniel Webster (18 vols., Boston, Little, Brown, 1903)-See Vol. I for memoir by Edward Everett. Vols. V-X contain speeches in Congress.
CHAPTER VI
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL READJUSTMENTS (1889-1929)
BY MICHAEL E. HENNESSY Political Staff of the Boston Globe
ADVANCE OF MASSACHUSETTS (1889-1929)
The period embraced in the four decades, from 1889 to 1929, constitutes an important epoch in Massachusetts history. The Bay State has not lagged behind in the forward march of progress. In truth, she has generally been in the vanguard. Other States with greater reputation as progressive common- wealths have copied her advanced laws, and have followed in her wake in the enactment of legislation on behalf of labor, education, social welfare, protection of life and property, the encouragement of thrift and industry, and bringing govern- ment nearer to the people. A gradual but distinct change has taken place in the social and political life of her four millions of population, more than a quarter of whom are foreign-born. Its Puritanism has been softened by the great influx of immi- grants and their children.
The material growth of the State is told in the fabulous figures of its savings banks, representing the thrift of the people, in the number of its home owners, in the diversity and success of its industries. Its governmental activities in behalf of the welfare of the people are many, and are continu- ally increasing. That, in part, accounts for the rise of the State budget from $5,000,000 in Governor Crane's adminis- tration to more than $12.000,000 in 1929. Its people give to charity until it hurts. It has always led the Union in educa- tion. It fosters art and science with lavish hand. Evidence is abundant to prove that the old defiant colony of Massachu- setts, which led in the fight for popular government, is still the friend of human rights.
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A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
Political progress in Massachusetts is illustrated by many reforms and improvements: the adoption of the secret or Australian ballot ; abolition of the poll tax as a prerequisite to voting; free textbooks in the public schools; laws reducing the hours of labor for men, women, and children; workmen's compensation acts; factory inspection for the protection of employees; the initiative and referendum; direct primaries; minimum wage; the probation system; pure-food laws; a pension system for public employees ; control of savings-bank life insurance at lower rates than those offered by private companies.
In material improvements Massachusetts has been a pioneer. Witness her good roads. Millions of State money were put into a great Boston pier to attract ocean commerce. The State parks and reservations are unsurpassed anywhere. Massachusetts laws regulating public utilities were among the first in the United States and were adopted as models by sister commonwealths, as have been her care of the insane, and many other laws in her social welfare policy. To secure these laws required agitation; but Massachusetts is fortunate in that she always is rich in a body of public-spirited men and women, willing to devote their time, money, energy, and talents in behalf of good causes. Advanced as she is in these matters, it is not a wild dream to predict that in the next four decades the people of the State will enjoy things provided by the Commonwealth that are unthought of today.
A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR (1890-1891)
The history of State politics in the period beginning in 1890 includes a nation-wide political revolt over the Mckinley tariff, which became effective a few weeks before the State election of 1890. The Democrats elected their gubernatorial candidate, William Eustis Russell, the State auditor, seven of the twelve Congressmen, and a State senate equally divided politically. They also made substantial gains in the house of representatives.
Local issues played an important part in the election. The Prohibitionists desired to punish the Republicans for what they regarded as treachery to their cause. Governor Brackett
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undertook to placate them by enforcing an obsolete and ridi- culous law, compelling the serving of food with liquor and closing every public bar ; liquor could legally be served only at tables. After the Democratic victory, the Republican legislature repealed the obnoxious statute. Among the Democratic Congressmen chosen in this political turmoil were Sherman Hoar, nephew of Senator Hoar; John F. Andrew, son of the illustrious Civil War governor; and George Fred Williams-former Republicans, all opposed to the election of James G. Blaine, their party presidential candidate in 1884. They joined the Mugwump movement, but otherwise continued to act with the Democratic party. The other four Democrats chosen for Congress, Moses T. Stevens, Joseph H. O'Neil, John C. Crosby, and Frederick S. Coolidge, were lifelong Democrats.
Among the successful Republican congressional candidates was Henry Cabot Lodge, who defeated Professor William Everett by a small margin. After election it was discovered that the State Constitution required that the governor must be possessed of a freehold of at least $5000. The governor elect and his family with difficulty found means of complying with the law; and legislative machinery was set in motion to eliminate the provision from the Constitution.
RUSSELL'S POPULARITY (1891-1893)
Governor Russell's great popularity was enhanced during his first year in office, and he was reelected over Charles H. Allen, a representative of the younger Republicans : a distinc- tion denied his two Democratic predecessors since the Civil War, Gaston and Butler.
The State never had a more attractive public figure or a higher-minded chief executive than "Billy" Russell, as he was affectionately called. He attracted to his candidacy many brilliant young men of old Republican families, whose names were household words in Massachusetts. Russell inherited his politics from a distinguished father, who clung tenaciously to the party throughout the Civil War. The son remembered being taken to task in his youth, when boys wore copper-toed boots, by a Republican resident of Cambridge, who pointed
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to the youngster's boots and sneeringly remarked: "Your father was a Copperhead and you are a copper-toed." He was thrice elected to the governorship, breaking all Democratic political records. Massachusetts Democrats desired to present his name for President in 1892; but he believed that the wisest course was to nominate Grover Cleveland again, and his ad- vice was followed.
GOVERNOR RUSSELL AND THE LEGISLATURE (1891-1893)
Governor Russell's inaugural addresses and state papers were statesmanlike and constructive. One of his first legis- lative triumphs was the repeal of the law making the payment of a poll tax a prerequisite for voting. He tried to curb the lobby, and urged the passage of a corrupt-practice act, but the legislature turned a deaf ear to these demands. Later, under a Republican governor, both measures were enacted into law. He succeeded in nerving up the legislature to pass several important statutes, including a collateral-inheritance tax, an anti-sweatshop bill, an anti-railroad-pass law, and several labor measures. He induced the legislature to raise the salary of the governor from $5000 to $8000.
In his appointments he was frequently balked by a hostile executive council. Many of the State commissions were beyond executive control, and he asked that the law be changed, lodging authority to remove them in the hands of the chief executive; but this too was denied him. His first memorable fight with his executive councillors, consisting of eight Republicans and one Democrat, was over his attempt to remove Police Commissioner Osborne of Boston for political activities. Osborne was a cousin of William Mckinley of Ohio, who defeated Bryan for President in 1896. The council refused to sanction Osborne's removal. The legislature also declined his request that the control of its police force be given back to the city of Boston, taken from it a decade before.
MASSACHUSETTS IN WASHINGTON (1889-1895)
Mr. Cleveland had many ardent admirers in Massachu- setts and spent his summers on Cape Cod. He took a fatherly interest in the brilliant young Democratic governor and came
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to lend his influence in one of Russell's campaigns. Mr. Cleveland did not forget his Massachusetts friends when he reentered the White House on his second term. He made Richard Olney, an able corporation lawyer, Attorney-General in his Cabinet. Patrick A. Collins, a former Fenian, was named consul-general at London. Charles S. Hamlin be- came Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Josiah Quincy for a time was Assistant Secretary of State.
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