The Treason of the Senate facts for kids

The Treason of the Senate was a series of articles published in Cosmopolitan magazine in 1906. Written by David Graham Phillips, these articles were a powerful look into the corruption within the United States Senate. Phillips aimed to show how some senators were using their power for personal gain or to help big businesses, rather than serving the public. The series especially focused on Senator Nelson Aldrich from Rhode Island, who was very wealthy and connected to large companies.

The articles were published monthly, starting in February and ending in July 1906. People seemed to accept the series widely, and there wasn't much criticism against Phillips. Only one article in the Chicago Tribune in March 1906 questioned his claims. The series played a big part in leading to the Seventeenth Amendment. This important change to the U.S. Constitution allowed people to directly elect their U.S. Senators, rather than state legislatures choosing them. This amendment took seven years to be approved. During that time, some of the senators Phillips criticized either resigned or passed away.

What Was Happening Then?

Phillips wrote these articles at the end of a time called the Gilded Age. This period, roughly from the 1870s to the early 1900s, was known for huge growth in wealth and industry in America. However, it was also a time when money and politics became very closely linked.

Big industries like railroads, steel, iron, and oil grew rapidly. This created a group of extremely rich businessmen, often called tycoons. These tycoons used their vast wealth to influence politics. After the Civil War, there were many calls for social changes, including better conditions for workers. During this time, there were several major cases of corruption, but the one Phillips exposed was among the most famous.

Key People Exposed

Senator Chauncey Depew

The first article, published in March 1906, focused on New York Senator Chauncey Depew. It showed his close ties to the Vanderbilt family, who owned the New York Central Railroad.

Depew started as a lawyer. At 29, he became New York's Secretary of State. Early in his career, he was involved in a scandal where he reported New York City's population as much smaller than it was. This was done to reduce the power of the rival Democratic Party. This incident earned him the nickname "Depopulator Depew."

After losing his re-election, Depew went to work for the New York Central Railroad. Officially, he was a lawyer, but he mostly helped the Vanderbilts with whatever they needed. Later, his job became more about lobbying. This meant he tried to influence politicians to pass laws that would benefit the Vanderbilt family and their railroad business.

Senator Nelson Aldrich

The second article, published in April 1906, focused on Rhode Island Senator Nelson Aldrich. Unlike Depew, Aldrich was closely connected to the powerful Rockefeller family.

Senator Aldrich used his relationship with the Rockefellers to become an unofficial leader of a "political machine." This meant he had a lot of power to decide who received money for their election campaigns from the wealthy Rockefeller family. He also used his position to pass several controversial tax laws on imported goods, called tariffs.

One such law was the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, which greatly increased taxes on imports. Later, the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1894 lowered tariffs, but it included many changes that favored big businesses. The last law Phillips highlighted was the Dingley Tariff Act of 1897, which once again raised tariffs.

Senator Arthur P. Gorman

The third article, published in May 1906, focused on Senator Arthur P. Gorman of Maryland. Gorman began his political career as a young page boy in the Senate. It's said he learned a lot about how corruption worked during his time there.

As an adult, he worked for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He used his knowledge to profit from deals with railroad companies. With the wealth and power he gained, Gorman became a leader in the Republican party. From this position, he was able to commit more acts of fraud and graft.

He was elected to the Senate in 1881, even though there were scandals around him. Once in the Senate, Gorman and Aldrich combined their powerful political machines. This allowed them to influence even more politicians and laws to benefit wealthy interests. Phillips highlighted Gorman's involvement in a scandal where senators allegedly took bribes from sugar companies and gambled on sugar company stocks.

In 1896, people in his state were tired of the many scandals, and Gorman lost his Senate seat. However, he still had a lot of influence in Maryland. With the support of special interest groups, Gorman was later re-elected to the Senate.

Other Important Figures

Senator John C. Spooner

The fourth article, published in June 1906, focused on Senator John C. Spooner of Wisconsin. This part of the exposé looked at his connections to railway companies in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. These connections started when he was a lawyer and continued during his time as a Senator.

A main point in the article was Spooner's influence over laws that allowed railroad companies to keep land. This land had been given to them to build tracks, but they had not started construction within the time limit set by the Senate. Normally, this land would have been returned to the states for citizens to settle on. Phillips also discussed Spooner's connection with Aldrich and Gorman and how their political machines worked together. Spooner lost his seat in 1890 but, like Gorman, was later re-elected despite his past involvement in corrupt activities.