American Railroad Politics, 1914–1920

This book describes the crucial World War I period, when the federal government assumed control of the railroads, and various interest groups fought for their positions with policy makers.

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This book examines the concern of a variety of interest groups with federal policy toward railroads, concentrating on the crucial years during World War I when the federal government ran the industry, and prior to the passage of the Transportation Act of 1920. Through extensive archival research, James A. Kerr describes the political dealings among those involved in railroad-government relations: labor leaders; shippers; railroad executives; and financiers; and analyzes the motivations that influenced policymaking.