Not Unsinkable, But Unshakable

The Imperfect Man Who Held Power Accountable Before It Was Cool

So, we all know that history forgets. I mean, we’re living in that reality right now. We love to celebrate our nations “headline heroes.” But what about those that weren’t as flashy? I’m talking about the so-called little people that did great things and then…went on to obscurity. You know who I’m talking about. The scientists, artists, organizers, unlikely reformers, and everyday people who reshaped our society, and whose work is still felt today in our daily lives. Tragically, they’ve faded into footnotes and are lost to time.

Voices Lost, Legacies Endure (an occasional spotlight within my System Untangled publication) is here to revive these lost stories. In every installment, my goal is to showcase on overlooked path breaker. These could be lawmakers, judges, nurses, students, community activists, and others that have been forgotten. I’m going to put them to the test and see if their ideas still hold up today and what we can learn from them.

I’m starting with my own personal fave: William Alden Smith. Now, I know that most of you are probably like, who?? Let’s change that, shall we. For all of my Titanic loving friends, you probably have heard of Senator Smith and his importance in aftermath of the sinking. In fact, that’s how I heard of him myself. Just a personal tidbit, I’ve been obsessed with the Titanic since I watched Bob Ballard on television in the 80s talking about how he had found her. Just hearing him talk about that discovery lit something inside of me that’s still red-hot all these years later. Like most Titanic historians, I’ve collected an incredible amount of books on the subject. One, in particular, led me to the discovery of this forgotten gem of a person from my own home state of Michigan. Wyn Craig Wade’s book, “The Titanic: Disaster of the Century,” gave me my first glimpse into Senator Smith and I was like how the heck haven’t I ever heard of this man before?

So, today, I’m going to pass him onto you. His legacy lives on and now, hopefully, his voice will, too.

From Newsboy to Senator: The Grit Behind the Name

As a boy growing up in Michigan, little William Alden had moxie in spades. He hustled his way from the streets of Grand Rapids delivering newspapers and telegraphs, along with selling popcorn. He read law by lamplight and had a fierce determination to succeed. Working as a page at the tender age of 16 in the Michigan House of Representatives, Smith developed a love of the law and developed the skills that would later serve him well in his career. After taking the bar exam in 1882, he soon found work in a law office in Grand Rapids and eventually became an assistant secretary in the Michigan Senate. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1895 and then moved over to the Senate in 1907.

Senator Smith was known for being unpredictable. Not one to toe the party line, he voted for what he believed was right. On tariffs, such as the Payne-Aldrich Act of 1909, he could be relied upon to vote with the Republicans. However, he would often vote with the Democrats on matters of civil liberty. During the debate over an immigration literacy test he is on record saying:

“Any attempt to impose an educational qualification upon citizenship is an abridgement of patriotism…an unfair discrimination against unfortunate people whose hearts may be alive to every national responsibility.”

~ Congressional Record, Mar 22 1906, p 7774

Another subject dear to him was that of conservation. As the first salaried game warden in Michigan in 1887, he saw first-hand the importance of wildlife protection and managing hunting regulations. That early experience led to him championing conservation efforts on the federal level. Even though critics mocked “William Alden’s Tweety-Bird Bill,” he still warned Congress:

“America’s natural resources will be ruthlessly wasted and recklessly sacrificed until we are drive round the world seeking supplies for domestic purposes.”

~ Congressional Record, Feb 12 1909, p 2984

That bill eventually became the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which implemented the 1916 migratory-bird conservation treaty with Canada, moved protection of migratory birds from the states to the federal government, and laid the foundation for today’s bird conservation laws. In fact, in 1918, the American Game Protective Association credited Smith as “the Senator who introduce and championed the Act in the Senate.” Never let it be said that Senator Smith couldn’t get the job done no matter what his opponents (and his own party) said about him.

William Alden was a man of fierce integrity, never backing down from what he saw was the right course of action. Those coming for a favor would be required to bring proof of “local sentiment.” When Senator Russell Alger complained, Smith told him:

“I will not allow any of my friends to blunder through my silence.”

~Grand Rapids Public Library Scrapbook excerpt

The Titanic Inquiry: When Grief Met Grit

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic met her fate beneath the waves. That event, which led to the deaths of over 1500 people, would catapult Senator Smith to the top of the headlines and would entwine his legacy with that tragedy for years to come. The event of the sinking was front page news and the world began to wait, with bated breath, for the full story. One person who wasn’t just waiting and reading the headlines was Smith. By the 19th of April, he convened the first session of the Senate’s special inquiry into the Titanic disaster.

“We must spare no interest; commercial or otherwise; when human life is at stake.” (Smith on the Senate floor, May 28, 1912)

Smith was seemingly unbothered by the power held by the giant shipping lines, like White Star. He wanted the truth, and he didn’t care who he had to subpoena to get it. Subpoenas went out to everyone from J. Bruce Ismay (chairman and managing owner of the White Star Line) to officers such as Harold Lowe (5th Officer, Titanic) and Charles Lightoller (2nd Officer, Titanic) to passengers to captains like Rostran and Lord to experts and other officials. British Tabloids said he was naïve and Wall Street called him reckless. Senators wagged their fingers and told him that he was “grand-standing.” The Daily Mail made fun of his accent and called the hearings a “comic opera.” That didn’t stop the tenacious Senator from Michigan. He kept pushing, trying to get past the brick wall that was protecting the White Star Line from liability and the American people from the truth. He later wrote that his mission was, “to gather the facts while they were still vivid realities.” Losing sleep, weight, and even political capital seemed less important than finding out what happened.

Across the Atlantic, Lord Mersey’s British Inquiry was splashy and loud…and superficial. Most of those who have studied that inquiry know that Mersey’s report accepted the White Star Lines defenses. Through Smith’s dogged determination, he was able to force concessions on lifeboat drills, ice warnings, and wireless staffing. Put bluntly: the Senate got us closer to the uncomfortable truth.

Senator Smith put everything, including his health, on the line for this moment in history. He worked 18-hour days, skipped meals, and was reported to have lost almost 15 pounds. Tirelessly working on his fact-finding mission, he even went as far as meeting the rescue ship Carpathia at the dock to collect affidavits from survivors before allowing them to reunite with their families. No matter what the press said about him and his accent, he pressed on. Ultimately, his tenacity led to new lifeboat ratios, 24-hour wireless watches, and the international Safety of Life at Sea convention that governs ocean travel today.

Robert Pelham Jr: The Trial History Buried

In 1909, William Alden was contacted by some constituents in Detroit asking for his help on behalf of a friend. He listened as they told the story of Robert Pelham Jr, a Detroit newspaperman, Census Bureau statistician, and NAACP organizer. Pelham had stepped forward after witnessing a black woman brutally clubbed by a white officer (some things never change). While gathering witnesses’ names, he was arrested on the bogus charge of “disorderly conduct.” In 1909 Washington, that usually meant the conviction was a formality. Smith told Pelham’s friends that, as Senator, he could do nothing. Instead, he offered his services as defense attorney pro bono.

Reporters were stunned to see a US Senator in the dingy courtroom. The judge challenged his attendance stating, “the Senate has no standing here.” Smith answered, “I appear only as counsel, sir, admitted to practise in every court where justice is served.” The judge relented, and the trial began.

As he did with everything else, Smith refused to hold back. He cross-examined the arresting officer line by line, pressing him on club use, missing log entries, and why no white onlookers were detained. Smith then asked a question that is still being asked today:

“Tell me; had Pelham been a white man, would he have even been arrested?”

~Trial transcript, Feb 1909 (GRPL Scrapbook)

Of course, the prosecutor objected and the judge yelled “irrelevant,” but the point stuck. Smith ended up calling seven-character witnesses who testified to Pelham’s honesty. After deliberating for 29 minutes, the jury returned with a “not guilty” verdict.

Most of the mainstream press buried the story, though one wire brief ran eight lines. Inside the Capitol, Smith’s colleagues clucked their tongues and said that he had shamed the Senate. Historians now see the case as an early instance of a sitting senator publicly challenging racially biased policing, decades before the phrase entered legal vocabulary.

More Than Titanic: Safety, Stewardship, and the Public Partner

“Public resources cannot be replenished by private greed.” ~ speech draft, ca 1908 (GRPL Scrapbook)

I would be remiss in telling his story if I didn’t talk about his many other battles against the powerful.

Railroads and the “Silent Partner.” During hearings on brake-testing and crew fatigue, Smith reminded executives that “the public is the silent partner in every mile of track.” He pushed for federal oversight of air-brake inspections, signaling standards, and hours of service rules. These reforms later fed into the Federal Railroad Safety Act.

Consumer Protections and Commerce. He chaired subcommittees that examined adulterated foods and sham insurance schemes, arguing that honest business depended on honest labeling. His insistence on transparent reports can be seen in today’s Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Opposing Monopolies. Smith’s questioning often turned on a single refrain: Who benefits? He condemned rail conglomerates that charged farmers higher rates than corporations and pressed steamship lines about third-class passenger safety years before Titanic.

The pattern is clear: Smith’s reforms began in committee rooms. They stitched together a safety net long before most American knew they needed one.

Imperfect, Yet Indispensable

Like everyone, William Alden Smith was not perfect. His temper could bruise allies and his impatience for dithering was legendary. And, of course, he shared many blind spots of his Progressive-Era cohort. Women’s suffrage was completely off his radar and he did not play a role in advancing the 19th amendment. He trusted the opinion that high tariffs would automatically help workers. There was no sweeping anti-lynching or civil rights legislation introduced by him, though he did consistently oppose the everyday tools of Jim Crow such as sham arrests, literacy tests, and workplace segregation. Acknowledging these contradictions matters; heroism and myopia can coexist. Honoring his record means reckoning with the whole man…celebrating the fights he chose and noting the ones he missed.

If Smith Took the Floor in 2025: An Educated Guess

Now, of course, we can’t say with 100% certainty what Smith would do in the Senate today. However, we do have plenty of information that can help with a good guess. I’m going to take a stab at it. If you have a different opinion, feel free to drop it in the comments.

On the Border bill:

Back in the day - Smith opposed literacy tests in 1906.

Likely vote today - Smith would likely vote no unless fair hearings and humane care were added.

On the funding cuts to PBS:

Back in the day - Smith believed in open hearings and free news, feeling that public info belonged to the people.

Likely vote today - Smith would likely vote no.

On the release of Epstein’s list:

Back in the day - Smith grilled White Star bosses and corrupt police.

Likely vote today - Smith would likely vote yes and may even go as far as issuing a subpoena and publishing it himself.

On climate fees:

Back in the day - In 1909, he warned of resource waste.

Likely vote today - Smith would likely vote yes to charge those who profit.

On banning stock trades in Congress

Back in the day - Smith hated insider deals.

Likely vote today - Smith would likely vote yes to end conflicts of interest.

Smith would still ask: Who benefits? Who gets hurt? Then he’d act.

Why Social Workers Should Care

Social work rests on 6 core values, which Smith practiced before they had official names:

Service - He ran Titanic hearings 12 hours a day; skipping meals to record survivor testimony.

Social Justice -He risked ridicule defending Rober Pelham Jr. against a racist charge.

Dignity and Worth – He addressed third‑class Titanic passengers as Mr. and Mrs., honoring their humanity.

Importance of Relationships – He leveraged cross‑party friendships to pass railroad‑safety laws.

Integrity – He refused patronage requests without proof of “local sentiment.”

Competence – He admitted when he lacked nautical expertise; then he summoned experts until he understood the issue.

For social work educators, pairing Smith with FDR reveals two paths to systems change: grand programs from the top and relentless truth-telling at every rung of the ladder.

Change the World, One Corner at a Time

Smith never tried to bulldoze every injustice at once. Instead, he’d pick a pressure point, apply steady force, and not let go. That blueprint still works today.

Start where your shoes already stand: Maybe it’s the bus stop without a shelter, the inaccessible city website form, or the colleague whose accommodation request keeps stalling. File the FOIA, show up the budget hearing, organize a petition, call your representative. Small levers move heavy doors when patience supplies the fulcrum.

Borrow Smith’s three-step recipe: 1) gather the facts while they’re fresh, 2) shine the brightest possible light, and 3) refuse the easy off-ramp of “good enough.” Whether you’re a caseworker logging patters of inaccessible services or a neighbor documenting unsafe crosswalks, evidence is persuasion’s best friend.

Link arms: Smith may have stood in courtrooms and committee rooms, but he always had witnesses. Identify your allies. Truth travels faster when multiple voices carry it.

Always remember that you don’t need the perfect plan to start; you need the nerve to keep pushing after the first door closes.

Closing Reflection: Voices Lost, Legacies Endure

Smith wasn’t unsinkable; he was unshakeable. His story reminds us that endurance outperforms grandeur and that standing up for what’s right may cost us in the short term but can outlive our memory. So, stand steady, push where you can, and when you choose the next overlooked blueprint to revive, ask: Whose quiet labor still props up the world and how will I honor it today?

That is the pulse of Voices Lost, Legacies Endure. For every Smith, there are a hundred unsung reformers waiting in newspaper morgues and family scrapbooks. Dig them up. Listen. Borrow their courage. Then pick a corner of the system and push because history doesn’t need perfect heroes. It needs people who refuse to stay silent in the face of adversity. Be unshakeable. Pass it on.

Sources and Resources:

• Congressional Record, 60th Congress, 2d Session, Feb 12 1909, p. 2984 (Smith speech on conservation)

• Congressional Record, 59th Congress, 1st Session, Mar 22 1906, pp. 7772‑7774 (Smith speech on literacy test)

• Congressional Record, 61st Congress, 1st Session, Apr 1909, Payne‑Aldrich Tariff debates (context for Smith’s tariff stance)

• Congressional Record, 62nd Congress, 2d Session, May 28 1912, pp. 7275‑7285 (Smith speech on the "Titanic" Disaster)

• TitanicInquiry.org – Complete Senate Inquiry Transcripts (1912)

• U.S. Senate Report on the Titanic Disaster, 1912 (PDF)

• "Congress Investigates the Titanic Disaster" – Levin Center at Wayne Law

• Library of Congress Blog: "The Titanic and the Law: Safety and Science" (2024)

• Daily Mail (London), 23 April 1912, "A Comic Opera Inquiry" (contemporary mockery of Smith’s hearings)

• The Nation, 15 Aug 1908, "Profiles: Senator ‘Chipper’ Smith" (quote on perseverance)

• William Alden Smith – Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• William Alden Smith Papers – Grand Rapids Public Library (Finding Aid for unpublished scrapbooks)

• The Titanic: Disaster of the Century – Wyn Craig Wade (secondary source; Pelham quotes sourced from undigitized GRPL scrapbooks)

• Robert Pelham Jr. – Wikipedia (background on Pelham case)

About the Author

Kirsten Grady is a Michigan-based social worker, Titanic trivia hoarder, and unapologetic systems dissector. By day she wrangles red tape; by night she unearths the reformers history misfiled as footnotes. Her work blends humor, receipts, and righteous annoyance to help readers spot where power hides…and how to pry it loose. Grab a shovel. There are legacies to dig up.