1904 Election (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

While the events of the American and Democratic Conventions would be unsurprising, resulting in the nominations of Senator Theodore Roosevelt and Judge Alton B. Parker with little opposition, the Populist National Convention of 1904 witnessed the unexpected, meteoric rise of Indiana Congressman Eugene V. Debs, whose rousing speech to the delegates in defense of the rights of the working man led him to be nominated in a landslide over former Democrat Adlai Stevenson. His platform calling for an 8-hour day, the passage of new regulations to effect fair wages and safe working conditions, and a Constitutional Amendment establishing a minimum wage, Debs is clearly the most radical candidate in the running, though the Hoosier unionizer maintains that he seeks to preserve the capitalist system and opposes the growing socialist movement. Defending the incumbent American Administration is Senator Roosevelt, who proposes a much more moderate approach to reform: bust the most harmful trust, enact regulations to protect workers and consumers, but otherwise allow the production of wealth to continue as usual. In a vigorous campaign across the country, Roosevelt has called for a "Fair Deal" for every American, endorsing many of the more popular Populist programs while condemning the radicalism of Debs and his supporters as counter-productive.

Opposed to both Roosevelt and Debs is Judge Alton B. Parker, who is seeking to cast himself as the heir to Grover Cleveland. A member of the so-called "Bourbon" faction of the Democratic Party, Parker opposes all but the most basic economic reforms and wants first and foremost to repeal the Silver Act passed under President Bryan. Parker also supports repealing the 16th Amendment and, with it, Prohibition, a topic which both Roosevelt and Debs have sought to avoid due to serious disagreements within their parties on the matter.

Go!

[Zioneer]

Debs!

[Goldwater]

Parker!

[Dr. Cynic]

Obligatory left wing Debs vote.

[Mr. Smith]

Roosevelt!

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Debs. Say NO to cafeteria Progressives like Roosevelt!

[Antonio the Sixth]

Debs!

[Zioneer]

Of course the love of Roosevelt is stronger than Debsmentum.

[ElectionsGuy]

Parker!

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Debs!

[VPH]

Roosevelt, but barely over Debs

[Zioneer]

Bumpity Bump?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Sorry for the delay. 1908 will be up tomorrow.

1904 Presidential Election

Senator Theodore Roosevelt (American-South Dakota)/ Senator Henry C. Lodge (American-Massachusetts): 252 Electoral Votes; 40.0% popular votes
Congressman Eugene V. Debs (People's-Indiana)/ Senator Henry Teller (People's-Colorado): 126 Electoral Votes; 34.3% popular votes
Judge Alton B. Parker (Democratic-New York)/ Congressman James R. Williams (Democratic-Illinois): 98 Electoral Votes; 25.7% popular votes

Though Debs and the Populists ran an aggressive campaign, seeking to unite farmers and laborers beneath a common banner, the general economic prosperity and the personal charisma of Senator Roosevelt handed a narrow victory to the Americans. Like Thomas Reed before him, Roosevelt was able to unite both progressives and conservatives within his party, allowing him to sweep New England and the Mid West, while his background as a Dakota rancher helped make inroads in the traditionally Populist West. Debs, meanwhile, would be criticized for giving Roosevelt an opening among Western farmers by focussing primarily on labor issues, leading a significant minority of the Populist base to switch sides.