By Joan Brown Wettingfeld
An optimistic and a confident as well as an expanding future characterized our country at the beginning of the 20th century.
The generation before had accomplished occupation of our land from the West to the Pacific Ocean. It had initiated a technological revolution and New York, as had America, could claim to be a success story by the end of the 19th century.
It is interesting to look back 100 years to 1909 and review the important events that occurred in our city, as well as those that affected our future.
In March 1909, portly William Howard Taft was inaugurated as the 27th president. Although Taft would attempt to continue former President Theodore Roosevelt’s policies of “social justice and increased protection within the law,” his rather boring manner tended to alienate public opinion while his predecessor continued to retain popularity.
To relieve pressure on Taft, Roosevelt chose to undertake a scientific expedition to Africa underwritten by the Smithsonian Institution. This ended with the delivery of 300 large stuffed game destined for the Natural History Museum — and a hero’s welcome for Roosevelt in New York City.
Other events of the year which highlighted the time included the news that Robert Peary had reached the North Pole and left Matthew Henson, his famed black assistant, to watch over the advance polar base.
During the same month the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill was passed by Congress, which did not bring relief to the country. Signed by Taft, it proved unwise though the president had claimed it to be “the best tariff ever passed by Congress.” This, along with other of the president’s legislative choices, was to lose the liberal support of his party.
In May 1909 the president authorized that 700,000 acres of land in Washington, Montana and Idaho be opened for settlers. There is no record either of dissent or praise.
W.E.B. DuBois founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in opposition to Booker T. Washington’s policy, which advocated equality and equal opportunity for blacks intellectually as well as economically. But DuBois was known as one of the most tireless champions for the black struggle for equality.
On July 12, 1909, national news was made when Congress proposed the 16th Amendment, authorizing an income tax.
Soon after interest turned to Orville Wright, who after thousands of flights achieved a new flight duration record of one hour and 40 seconds. Two days before this accomplishment, however, French aviator Louis Eltiot flew across the English Channel and thus was the first person to reach England other than by sea.
Flying was stirring the public interest while the first commercially built plane was completed by the Herring Curtis Co. and sold to the New York Aeronautical Co.
In September Taft set aside 3 million acres of public land for conservation but there was little if any public acknowledgement of this act. In keeping with continuing coal mine disasters, 259 miners were killed in a mine explosion in Illinois.
Plastic manufacturing advanced and a new type called “Bakelite” was produced, a process discovered earlier by Leo H. Bakeland. I note this because many years after its discovery, my husband was involved with the research and production of this substance.
In 1909, W.C. Bandy wrote what was to be a “campaign” song, a song that was noted as the first blues song written down. It would later be known as “The Memphis Blues.”
The Lincoln penny made its debut in 1909, workers started to build the Panama Canal and the “Hudson-Fulton Celebration” opened in New York, reminding us today of this year’s 400th Hudson anniversary celebration.
On the plus side, Taft was the first to reserve oil-rich public lands, had gotten Congressional authority to reserve coal lands and had established a much-needed Bureau of Mines.
One hundred years ago, we were on the way to face greater challenges.
Joan Brown Wettingfeld is a historian and free-lance writer.
