While the writers’ strike in Hollywood has captured the nation’s attention out of fear that our favorite shows might be delayed, a potentially more important strike is the one in Michigan with the United Auto Workers striking against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.While losing our favorite shows is hard, shutting down the auto industry can have even a greater effect on lives. For one, jobs have already been cut and new factory constructions are on hold. News was made on Sept. 26 when President Joe Biden traveled to Michigan and made history by joining the picket line. It was only for a few minutes, but it clearly showed management what side the White House was on. While Biden joining the picket line was drastic, historically speaking, he is not the first to do something radical to support labor.The interesting aspect of Biden’s visit was not even the picket line. According to an NBC news story by Peter Nicholas, Biden responded, “yes,” when asked if he supported a 40% wage hike, but then walked it back later with an official release saying that he agreed that workers should be able to bargain on that. Biden has said he supports the union but would stay out of negotiations. While his actions are unprecedented, the support is not. In fact, in some ways, his actions were not as extraordinary as Teddy Roosevelt’s in the 1902 Coal Strike.To understand the racial nature of Roosevelt’s actions we need to understand the government’s relationship with labor in the 19th century. There was none. The rule was for government to always side with management. In a time when the federal government did very little to promote general welfare, it took great care to ensure domestic tranquility by sending in the army to put down strikes. Presidents like Andrew Jackson, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Grover Cleveland all used troops to squash strikers, sometimes quite violently.Everything changed in 1902 when anthracite coal miners in Pennsylvania decided to strike for better conditions, shorter hours, and better pay. While many strikes turned violent, this one did not. The mine owners felt they could wait out the strikers until they became desperate enough to cave. The owners had not realized the strikers resolve or the toll it would take on the nation. Everyone and everything depended on coal. Quickly, like our own day, there were supply shortages, and costs of things like ...
