Lincoln–Roosevelt League facts for kids

The Lincoln–Roosevelt League was an important group in California history. It was officially called the League of Lincoln–Roosevelt Republican Clubs. This group was started in 1907 by two California journalists. They were Chester H. Rowell and Edward Dickson.

The League was a team of progressive Republican activists. "Progressive" means they wanted to make society better. Even though the League never had many members, it had a big impact. It helped Hiram Johnson become the governor of California in 1910. It also played a role in forming the national Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party in 1912.

What Was the Lincoln–Roosevelt League?

The Lincoln–Roosevelt League was a political group in California. It was made up of Republicans who wanted to see big changes. They believed in "progressivism," which means working to fix problems in society and government. They wanted to make things fairer for everyone.

Why Was the League Formed?

The main goal of the League was to reduce the power of the Southern Pacific Company. This company was very powerful in California politics. It was like a giant railroad company that had too much control. The League felt this company was acting like a monopoly. A monopoly is when one company controls almost everything in an industry. This meant they could charge high prices and influence politicians.

What Changes Did They Want?

The Lincoln–Roosevelt League wanted many important changes. They believed these changes would make government more fair. They also wanted to give more power to regular citizens.

Here are some of the specific reforms they pushed for:

• Direct Primary System: This means voters get to choose who runs for office. Before, party leaders often picked the candidates.
• Voter Initiative, Referendum, and Recall: These are ways for citizens to have a direct say.
  • An initiative lets citizens propose new laws.
  • A referendum lets citizens vote on laws passed by the legislature.
  • A recall lets citizens remove elected officials from office before their term ends.
• Regulation of Public Utilities: They wanted rules for companies that provide important services. These include water, electricity, and gas. The goal was to make sure these companies charged fair prices.
• Conservation of Forests: This meant protecting natural resources like forests. They wanted to make sure these resources were used wisely.
• Outlawing Child Labor: They wanted to stop young children from working in factories. This was to protect kids and make sure they could go to school.
• Hospital and Prison Reform: They wanted to improve conditions in hospitals and prisons.
• Women's Suffrage: This was about giving women the right to vote.
• Minimum Wage Law for Working Women: They wanted to make sure working women earned a fair amount of money.
• Direct Election of United States Senators: Before, state legislatures chose senators. The League wanted citizens to vote directly for their senators. This change later became the 17th Amendment.
• Systematization of Public Finance: This meant making government money management clearer and more organized.
• Charter Reform: They wanted to improve the rules and laws that govern cities.
• Public Transportation: They supported better ways for people to travel around cities.

What Did the League Achieve?

The Lincoln–Roosevelt League was very successful in its goals. Their efforts led to many of the reforms mentioned above. They helped to break the power of the Southern Pacific Company. Their work also helped elect Hiram Johnson as governor. Johnson was a key progressive leader.

The League's ideas and actions also helped create the national Progressive Party in 1912. This party was also known as the "Bull Moose Party." It was led by former President Theodore Roosevelt. The League's impact shows how a small group of dedicated people can bring about big changes.