On Writing in America: The Politics, Criticism, and Fiction of William Dean Howells Upon hearing of an event which has become known as "The Haymarket Incident," a violent outbreak that involved strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company on May 4, 1886, William Dean Howells felt provoked to respond.1 Whatever personal motives this highly publicized incident sparked in Howells, who was successful novelist and influential critic of the literature and social issues of his time, the strike and subsequent executions of seven of the protesters involved had a trenchant effect on this respected man of letters. Howells illustrated his remorse for what he understood as a profound legal injustice in a letter he wrote to a friend shortly before the hanging of the Haymarket protesters: "It blackens my life. I feel the horror and the shame of the crime which the law is about to commit against justice."2 Howells' assertions in regard to the case were at the time radical and not widely supported; they contradicted the views of the majority of the American media, who chose to back big business and to disregard details that to Howells marked the trial as corrupt. Howells' views challenged a general sentiment in the press against working class protesters, who, like the workers involved in the Haymarket Incident, demanded certain rights in the workplace and proposed an eight-hour work day.3 It had become a trend in the media to back the employers rather than the employed, in the name of the free market, before the Haymarket "riots." For example, several years before the incident at Haymarket, the Chicago Tribune had characterized a group of railroad workers involved in a similar incident as "the scum and filth of the city." Three days later, commenting on the organizers of the same uprising, the Tribune contended that "Capitalism would offer any sum to see the leaders...strung up to a telegraph pole."4 Howells was known for his radical political views, views which often questioned the effectiveness of a capitalist society, and it is not surprising that he subsequently supported the Haymarket laborers. Howells' socialistic views no doubt sprung in part from his readings of Tolstoy, especially from the Russian novelist's writings on the notion of "Christian Socialism." Howells once wrote, "Tolstoi [sic] gave me the heart to hope that the world may yet be made over in the image of Him who died for it,...(that) men shall come into their own,.
On July 13, 1900 Joseph Aschs’ new building plans in New York City are approved and by January 5, 1901 the building is complete. In 1906, the eighth floor of the Asch building is bought by the Triangle Shirtwaist Company who opens a factory there. Three years later, a letter is sent to the management of the Triangle Shirtwaist building from a fire prevention expert. He suggests they that a discussion about evaluating and enhancing safety measures. Unfortunately, management does not take the letter seriously and “the letter is ignored.” (Linder, “Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Trial”) The inhumane work conditions in the factory led to the decision of twenty-five ILGWU workers to declare strike against th...
James B. Weaver illustrates the true damage of monopolies on the public in “A Call to Action” (Document 4). Weaver, a two-time candidate for president of the United States, addresses the meticulous tactics which trusts and monopolies use to increase their profit at the expense of the public and asserts that their main weapons are, ”threats, intimidation, bribery, fraud, wreck, and pillage.” Arguments such as Weaver’s, suggest and end to the end of the laissez-faire capitalism that monopolies are sustained upon. Laissez-faire capitalism is essentially a system where the government takes no position in the affairs of businesses and does not interfere, no matter what harm is being done. This ideology dominated the business world of the century and allowed for vast unemployment, low wages, and impoverishment. Soon, laborers also begin to express their dismay with the way that such businesses are run and the treatment of workers in the railroad industry. An instance of this being the Pullman Strike of 1894. In 1894, laborers went on a nationwide strike against the Pullman Company; they issued a statement regarding their strike in June (Document 6). Workers are repulsed by Pullman’s exertion of power over several institutions and how his greed affects his competitors, who must reduce their wages to keep up with his businesses. This incident inspires many to take
Two of the major parts in the history of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire were the owners of the factory, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. Like many other factory owners, both of the men immigrated to the U.S. during the great wave of Jewish emigration. They ran shops in which they barely knew their employees (as the turnover rate was high). During the trial the two owners even noted that they had no idea how many women were working in their shops as “day to day, new faces always arriving, old faces gone without ever catching their attention” (p. 273). They were solely concerned with production and were staunchly against laborer rebellion and negotiation. Blank and Harris hired strikebreakers and men to assault strikers and bribed police (p. 4). As a response to union action, the men eventually formed their own in-house union; the workers, of course, were dissatisfied with this establishment as unions run by factory owners are logically working against the interest of the workers (not to mention the leaders of the union were relatives of either owner) (p.
The early 1900s was a time of many movements, from the cities to the rural farms; people were uniting for various causes. One of the most widespread was the labor movement, which affected people far and wide. Conditions in the nation’s workplaces were notoriously poor, but New York City fostered the worst. Factories had started out in the city’s tenements, which were extremely cramped, poorly ventilated, and thoroughly unsanitary. With the advent of skyscrapers, factories were moved out of the tenements and into slightly larger buildings, which still had terrible conditions. Workers were forced to work long hours (around 12 hours long) six hours a day, often for extremely low pay. The pay was also extremely lower for women, who made up a large portion of the shirtwaist industry. If a worker were to openly contest an employer’s rule, they would be promptly fired and replaced immediately. Also, strength in numbers did not always work. Managers often hired brutal strikebreakers to shut movements down. The local police and justice were often of no help to the workers, even when women were being beaten. At the time, the workers needs were not taken seriously and profit was placed ahead of human life. This was not just a struggle for workers’ rights; it was also a movement for the working class’ freedom.
“Terrible forces seemed out of control and the nation seemed imperiled. Farmers and workers had been waging political war against capitalists and political conservatives for decades, but then, slowly, toward the end of the nineteenth century a new generation of middle class Americans interjected themselves into public life and advocated new reforms to tame the runaway world of the Gilded Age” (American Yawp). Until one of the major tragedy happened known as the Triangle Shirtwaist were the factory was caught fire and many women had died or were injured. Events such as the Triangle Shirtwaist fire convinced many Americans of the need for reform, but the energies of activists were needed to spread a new commitment to political activism and government interference in the economy” (American Yawp). This is similar to the documentary video, A Dangerous Business, because, “workers had become injured in the McWane Corporation, safety was sacrificed to increase productivity” (Frontline/ Bergman). “Few years passed till OSHA found many violations but still owners would still put their workers at risk breaking violations time passed and suddenly they had too many violations that McWane had spent $5 million to develop a self-contaminated water treatment system, eliminated hazards, hired
The City Couriers case study will be examined in regards to the company’s overall performance. The internal and external environments of City Couriers will be analysed in regards to the key performance requirements and key success factors. Issues with performance measurement, feedback, development and remuneration will be identified. Furthermore, the issues relating to validity, reliability, fairness and cost-effectiveness in the management of both performance and remuneration will be explored. This assessment aims to highlight the current situation and areas of improvement at City Couriers.
Tom Robinson, the man falsely accused of raping the poor, white woman, Mayella Ewell instills a sense of abject horror in most Maycomb citizens. Most of the irrational fear of Robinson is simply that, a fear. In the eyes of the residents in Maycomb, Tom resembles a snake in the grass, waiting for the right moment to strike and injure as many Whites as possible. Emancipation in the 19th century, still fresh in many Southerners’ minds, had already threatened to maneuver the black man socially ahead of the white man with its ongoing momentum. Ewell, therefore, relishes the opportunity to slander Robinson as well as to free himself of abusive charges towards his daughter and condemn a black man with the supportive racism of his peers. The accusation of being innately malicious, ignorant and spiteful is ironically how the black man appears to the vast majority of Maycomb's population. Most of those who describe Tom in this manner would fit that very description, waiting only to suppress Blacks and prolo...
The significance of the essay’s title comes from the panic spreading in the the minds of plantation owners about slaves murdering their owners. It also refers to the physical and emotional violence of slavery that sometimes led to the death of slaves themselves. Professor Williams’ primary focus is the frequency of these murders, the procedures followed during the trials for such crimes, and the motives behind them. From
Express mails are for individuals who need their item delivered overnight. It is guaranteed to arrive at the desired location on time and is less pricey through this mailing distributor. Priority mail is the method most people prefer. It will get a package or letter to its wanted whereabouts in three to four business days. Price wise this is less expensive in comparison to competitors offering the same service. In addition, they make a flat rate priority mailing option. Flat rate means, as long as, the contents fit into pre-sized boxes the cost is always one rate for that carton. If a person wishes to trace their parcel during transportation, they need one of two utilities. They are delivery and signature conformation. Both are used to track mail piece...
There were many people and attempts made to change the way the church functioned before the Reformation, but they had always been crushed by the inquisition. There were many factors political, religious, and economic, which had been developing for centuries that would make it possible for the Reformation to come about. There were quite a few practices of the church that were in question at this time. Some of these practices included simony, indulgences, excessive papal wealth, and clerical violations of church and biblical rules of behavior (Fide, Scriptura, Solus, Sola, & Soli, 2014). The one that was the biggest concern to the people looking for church reform, was the selling of pardons from the pope to lessen the time a person’s soul would be in purgatory, these pardons were also called
The period of the Protestant Reformation was a troubling time for the Catholic Church. During this time the church was one of the most formidable organization throughout the land. The church had power, land, and was aligned with several influential people and governments. Any type of major change was difficult for the church to embrace. This is one reason why much of the doctrine and formalities remained the same for many years (west civ book). However, there were several men that had tried to change some of the principles throughout the church. The Reformation was not the work of a single person, but the work of many who over time disagreed with certain ideas that were either doctrine or beliefs that the church held. This made the Catholic church
In 1886, four people, who were participating in a strike concerning labor relations, were killed by the police. The next day, people were protesting the killings when someone threw a bomb into the crowd and killed a policeman. The police then began firing in a panic and shot several people, including other policemen. After this incident, raids began on leaders of radical groups and resulted in the leaders of these groups being arrested. Employers began to associate labor unions with violence. There was no evidence of who was responsible for the bombing, but eight people were charged with the crime. Four of those charged were hanged, one committed suicide, and three were sent to prison. As a result of the Haymarket Affair in Chicago,
“A Tale Intended to be After the Fact…” is how Stephan Crane introduced his harrowing story, “The Open Boat,” but this statement also shows that history influences American Literature. Throughout history, there has been a connection among literary works from different periods. The connection is that History, current events, and social events have influenced American Literature. Authors, their literary works, and the specific writing styles; are affected and influenced by the world around them. Authors have long used experiences they have lived through and/or taken out of history to help shape and express in their works. Writing styles are also affected by the current trends and opinions of the period they represent. By reading American Literature, we have seen the inhumane treatment of slaves, we have seen the destruction caused by wars, and we have seen the devastation of eras such as The Great Depression.
The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant challenges by purifying itself of the abuse and corruption in the administration of the Church that had opened the way to revolt, this was known as the counter-reformation. Therefore, Luther and the other reformers with the power of the printing press it helped to spread their ideas to a wide audience. The reformation era is the most important period in the entire history of Roman Catholicism. It helped to reform the beliefs and values of the Roman Catholic
Private persons, big and small businesses at a point would have to either send or receive parcels, shipment, among other things. This cannot be done without the help of cargo companies, which are highly involved in the process of transportation of goods and services from one point to the other, but in short and long distances. And the demand to have this parcel and shipment delivered in a faster and more secured way , has brought about a high competition among several companies in the world , and they all have adopted both similar and also different measures to tackle the issues they deal with in the delivering order and tracking issues.