The Literature of the Subject.
To recommend one or two, or even half a dozen books on this period of American history is impossible. Most of the discussion is evanescent, and books are antiquated almost before they have been printed. For much of the subject matter to be discussed the student should be sent to such manuals as (1) the American Annual Cyclopedia, and (2) the Statesman’s Year Book. Much valuable material can also be gleaned from (3) the annual almanacs published by many of the larger daily papers. For statutes and government regulations, the student should consult (4) MacDonald’s “Select Statutes,” 1861-1898.
Comprehensive and comparatively recent discussions of these subjects will be found: (a) on trade unions, in (1) Ely’s, “The Labor Movement in America;” (2) Adams and Sumner’s “Labor Problems,” and (3) Commons’ “Trade Unionism and Labor Problems;” (b) on railroads, in (1) Hadley’s “Railroad Transportation;” (2) Haines’ “Restrictive Railroad Legislation,” and (3) Ripley’s “Railroad Problems;” (c) on municipal public service corporations, in (1) Bemis’ “Municipal Monopolies,” and (2) Foote’s “Municipal Public Service Industries;” (d) on industrial corporations, in (1) Jenks’ “The Trust Problem;” (2) Ely’s “Monopolies and Trusts;” (3) Ripley’s “Trusts, Pools and Corporations,” and (4) Tarbell’s “History of the Standard Oil Company.” Beside all these the student will find much that is valuable in the current reviews and journals, at least one of which should be in every school library.