The Coalition that Supported the Smith-Hughes Act or a Case for Strange Bedfellows

It took a powerful coalition of unlikely allies to support and gain passage of the SmithHughes Act in 1917. This coalition had labor interests. manufacturers interests. a professional educators' organization, two political parties, agricultural interests, and home economics interests. It had powerful and interesting individual personalities. The coalition was held together by the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education, a forerunner of the American Vocational Association. Because of natural antagonisms, the coalition lasted long enough to pass the Act and then disintegrated very quickly. When the selfish differences of the coalition members were put aside, strong Federal vocational legislation was achieved. Contemporary supporters may learn a great deal from such accomplishments.