Better America Federation

The Better America Federation was a pro-business organization in California, U.S. in the 1920s.

History

The organization co-founded in May 7, 1920 in Los Angeles, California by railway developer Eli P. Clark and other businessman,[1] mostly from the utilities sector.[2] It was formed ‘‘for the political welfare of the nation," purpose, the suppression of radicalism, class legislation and all else ‘‘inimical to the welfare of the nation." Headquarters in Los Angeles.[3]

It took over from the defunct Commercial Federation of California.[4][5] Its founding president, Harry E. Haldiman, was the president of the Pacific Pipes and Supplies Company.[1] The vice president for Los Angeles County was Reese J. Llewellyn, the president of Llewellyn Iron Works.[1] Donors included private individuals and corporations like Southern California Edison.[1]

The organization published pamphlets.[1] It also lobbied members of the California State Assembly.[1] It promoted American patriotism, and it warned the public against communism.[1] Furthermore, it argued the United States Constitution should not be amended.[1]

In the workplace, the organization was opposed to labor unions and regulations.[1] Moreover, it promoted a six-day workweek and it rejected the minimum wage.[5]

In schools, it warned against "bolshevik" authors like Edward Alsworth Ross, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. and David Saville Muzzey used in textbooks.[1] They also objected to Garfield Bromley Oxnam joining a school board.[5] Moreover, it was opposed to "compulsory education beyond the age of 14".[5] One of its successes was to ban The Nation and The New Republic from public schools in California.[1][2][4]

Some scholars have suggested the organization has influenced conservative politics in California to this day.[5]

Pamphlets
  • A Brief Outline of Arguments (1920)
  • Behind the Veil
  • The Red Menace
  • The World Endangered
  • America is Calling
  • S.O.S.

References
  1. Layton, Edwin (May 1961). "The Better America Federation: A Case Study of Superpatriotism". Pacific Historical Review. 30 (2): 137–147. doi:10.2307/3636698. JSTOR 3636698.
  2. McWilliams, Carey (1946). Southern California: An Island on the Land. New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce. p. 291. OCLC 488109.
  3. "To Bear Down On Reds". Sacramento Union. May 7, 1920. p. 3. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. Talbert, Roy (2008). Negative Intelligence: The Army and the American Left, 1917-1941. Oxford, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9780878054954. OCLC 22704019.
  5. Beekman, Scott; George, Alice L.; Watts, Linda S. (2009). Social History of the United States: The 1920s. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 251–253. ISBN 9781851099726. OCLC 226037746.


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