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M3 The Progressives Ida Tarbell Vs. John D.

Rockefeller

Although not an actual supreme court case, Ida Tarbell Vs. John D. Rockefeller not only

set a precedent for the tolerance this country holds for monopolies, but also paved the way for

many other people to expose the corruption in America at the time. Ida Tarbell was an American

teacher and journalist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her father moved her and her

family to Pennsylvania in 1860, in hopes of being able to capitalize on the rising oil industry at

the time. However, it was later discovered in Tarbells published writing The History of the

Standard Oil Company that it was the monopolistic practices of John D. Rockefeller and his

involvement with the railroad industry is what drove Tarbell's fathers small oil company out of

business. In this book, Tarbell also exposed Rockefeller for the man he was, with claims of

mistreating his workers and being greedy among other things. It was this book, in fact, that gave

Ida Tarbell the reputation for being Americas first great woman journalist (Allegheny).

In her writings, Ida Tarbell uses phrases such as most conspicuous type of our present

dominating commercial man and Mr. Rockefeller must face the verdict of the public by which

he lives to describe and discuss John D. Rockefeller, while mentioning his passion for money

(Tarbell). Naturally, Tarbell would have a negative viewpoint of Rockefeller, given the fact that

he was the reason that Tarbells father was out of business. However, Tarbell does credit

Rockefeller in her book as well. It wouldve been difficult not to, considering he was the

wealthiest person in the world at that point. Regardless of personal feelings towards him, no one,

not even Ida Tarbell, couldve justifiably discredited the work that Rockefeller did to achieve his

success.

A biography of John D. Rockefeller written by a PBS author portrays him in a Tarbell-

esque manner. The unnamed author states, Although his economics may be suspect in modern
eyes, his solution -- a market with a few (maybe one) large, vertically integrated firms -- in effect

an oligopolistic market -- was what other industrial sectors eventually evolved to do. (PBS). In

short, what Rockefeller was doing by taking complete control of the Oil Industry is what other,

smaller oil companies would eventually attempt to do. So what would Rockefeller do? Beat them

to the punch.

So, what resolution came from Ida Tarbells writings? Well, according to

ConnecticutHistory.org, Tarbells work was largely attributable to the 1911 Supreme Court

decision, which found the Standard Oil Company in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act

(Piascik). This ruling forced the Standard Oil Company to break up into 34 separate companies.

Ironically enough, Rockefeller profited greatly off of this ruling, given that he continued to have

large holdings in all 34 new companies, allowing him to continue to expand his wealth. Its hard

to say whether or not the Standard Oil Company ever wouldve been broken up or if Rockefeller

ever wouldve been exposed for his questionable business practices had it not been for Ida

Tarbell. One would assume that a company of that magnitude would have eventually been found

in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. However, how many more families and companies

would have had to go bankrupt for that to happen, had Tarbell not done what she did? Whatever

that answer may be, Tarbells act of writing should be remembered as one of the great

courageous acts in history.

The breakdown of the Standard Oil Company, however, was not the only major effect

that Ida Tarbells writings had. Tarbell, despite not considering herself to be one, was one of the

pioneers of the muckrakers. Without people like her leading the charge in the Progressive Era,

who knows what kind of corruption this country wouldve been facing as we transitioned into

World War One and The Great Depression. Tarbells writing inspired a variety of other authors to
take-part in this new investigative journalism. Ida B. Wells, an African American Woman in

the early 20th century, published her research on Jim Crow laws and lynching in a pamphlet in

entitled Southern Horrors: Lynch Laws in All Its Phases. Ida B. Wells already wouldve been

considered a minority in the fact that she was African American and she was a woman. She

published these findings in a time period 30 years after the conclusion of the Civil War, and 20

years before women could vote. Defeating the odds, Wells helped bring Jim Crow and lynching

into the light, after pioneer Ida Tarbell paved the way for her and others like her.

One other muckraker that Tarbell paved the way for was B.O. Flower. Benjamin Orange

Flower was a muckraking journalist in the late 19th and early 20th century. He is most famous

for being the editor of a magazine titled The Arena that spanned from 1889-1909. Through the

issues of his magazine, Flower often advocated for prison reform, less capital punishment,

womens suffrage, reform of divorce law, the relationship of poverty and crime, and race

relations. Given his popular article subjects, times in this country havent changed much, as

many of topics are ones that we continue to write about to this day. Similar to Ida B. Wells,

Flower viewed the success that Tarbell found in her writings and wanted similar success in the

areas that he was passionate about. Thanks to the leadership that Tarbell showed in The History

of the Standard Oil Company, other authors, such as Wells and Flower, were inspired and spoke

out in the name of reform.

Its impossible to learn about muckrakers, and the entire Progressive Era without looking

at Ida Tarbell taking on John D. Rockefeller. This monumental challenge that Tarbell faced and

overcame showed anyone and everyone that, first of all, anyone can make an impact. And

secondly, it doesnt take a whole lot to make a difference in America.

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