No More Free Markets Or Free Beer: The Progressive Era in Nebraska, 1900-1924

Front Cover
Lexington Books, 1999 - Business & Economics - 182 pages
In this book, Burton W. Folsom Jr. studies the decline of laissez-faire by looking at the increased government regulation and new restrictions on individual liberty in one critical state: Nebraska. During the progressive era in Nebraska, the critics of laissez-faire promoted intervention in both economic and social life through the issues of railroad regulation and prohibition of alcoholic beverages. The state's major political leaders--William Jennings Bryan, J. Sterling Morton, Gilbert Hitchcock, and George Norris--had to take stands on the issues of railroad regulation and prohibition. The debate over these issues dominated politics in Nebraska through the progressive era. Folsom analyzes Nebraska's major political campaigns, who won or lost and why, and how the state's major immigrant groups responded to the economic and cultural issues.
 

Contents

MORTON VS BRYAN THE DECLINE AND FALL OF LAISSEZ FAIRE POLITICS
11
THE PROGRESSIVE ERA IN NEBRASKA 19001910
37
BRYAN VS DAHLMAN THE DEMOCRATS IN CRISIS 1910
53
GEORGE NORRIS THE REPUBLICANS AS PIETISTS AND PROGRESSIVES 1912 AND 1914
70
THE POLITICS OF PROHIBITION AND WAR 1916
90
GERMANAMERICANS AND THE REALIGNMENT OF 1918
109
THE NEW POLITICAL ORDER PROGRESSIVES VS CONSERVATIVES 1920
124
PARTIES IN TRANSITION THE POLITICS OF THE EARLY 1920S
152
CONCLUSION
167
BIBLIOGRAPHIC ESSAY
172
INDEX
176
Copyright

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Page ix - I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit.
Page ix - that the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people.
Page ix - and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.
Page 7 - to the church and to the body politic, and so utterly antagonistic to all that is precious in life, that the only proper attitude toward it for Christians is that of relentless hostility. It can never be legalized without sin.