1916 Election (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Though many had expected Vice President Oscar Underwood to receive the Populist nomination, the People's National Convention in Helena instead nominated dark horse candidate Jeannette Rankin. A fervent pacifist and a two-term Congresswoman from Montana, Rankin became the first female candidate for the presidency since Elizabeth Cady Stanton, running on a platform calling for continued vigilance against the Trusts and un-shaking neutrality in Europe's "Great War".

Not all within the Populist Party are at ease with Rankin's candidacy. Rankin's strong pacifism and her short time in national office have led some to believe that she would be inept as a war leader should the United States be drawn into the conflict. This has provided ready fodder for Rankin's American and Democratic foes, both of whom favor "preparedness": a kind of armed neutrality that balances the need for military defense with a reluctance to become embroiled in Europe's scuffles. Of these, Governor George Chamberlain of Oregon, the Democratic nominee, has been the most outspoken in favor of military preparation, though he maintains that he will not seek to initiate a conflict unless the US is attacked first.

The American Party nominee, meanwhile, is former Congressman Charles Fairbanks, the figurehead of conservative politicians within the party. In an attempt to reunite the progressive and conservative factions after the divisive election of 1912, Fairbanks has chosen Senator Hiram Johnson as his running mate. Like Chamberlain, Fairbanks favors military preparedness in the event of a war; in terms of domestic policy, he has called for a scaling back of the Debs reforms, which he claims are responsible for the ongoing economic depression.

Then there is Socialist Allan Benson, whose third party run has given rise to fears of vote-splitting within the Populist Party. Far to the left of Debs and Underwood, Benson has called for the complete deconstruction of the capitalist economy and absolute neutrality in the Great War. Calling the president a puppet of the capitalists, he has scorned progressive reform and is attempting instead to unite the nation's workers behind his banner.

This will be close. Vote!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

1916 Presidential Election

Fmr. Congressman Charles W. Fairbanks (American-Indiana)/ Senator Hiram Johnson (American-California): 333 Electoral Votes; 42.9% popular votes
Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin (People's-Montana)/ Congressman Upton Sinclair (People's-California): 127 Electoral Votes; 31.4% popular votes
Governor George Chamberlain (Democratic-Oregon)/ Congressman James M. Cox (Democratic-Ohio): 71 Electoral Votes; 20.0% popular votes
Journalist Allan Benson (Socialist-New York)/ Mr. George R. Kirkpatrick (Socialist-New Jersey): 0 Electoral Votes; 5.7% popular votes

A slumbering economy, concerns that Rankin's pacifism would make the United States easy pickings for the "German Menace", and the defection of Underwood supporters to the opposition all spelled trouble for the Populist ticket in 1916. With the American Party once again united after the calamitous election of 1912, Charles W. Fairbanks was able to capitalize on public concern for national security to win a smashing victory in both the electoral college and the popular vote. While the Democrats performed far better than they had four years earlier, Allan Benson's Socialist ticket would fail to catch on, with most laborers remaining loyal to the Populists.