1916 Conventions (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

While the empires of Europe have been at war for nearly two years now, the carnage wrought by their quarrels capturing headlines around the globe, President Debs has chosen to concentrate on domestic issues instead. Among the accomplishments of his second term is the passage of a Constitutional Amendment establishing the direct election of Senators, the end of prohibition, and increased legal protection for labor unions. Though a financial downturn in the fall of 1914 had decreased his popularity with the public at large, Debs' following within the People's Party is as strong as ever as the party prepares to nominate its candidate for the 1916 election.

Per tradition, Debs has declined to seek a second term in this year's election. The three most prominent candidates for the nomination are Vice President Underwood, Debs' right-hand man throughout his second term who, along with Thomas Watson, is credited with defeating the Klu Klux Klan once and for all; Secretary of State Thomas R. Marshall, a rising star within the party who has called for strident anti-child labor legislation; and Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, an environmentalist and pacifist who hopes to become the first female president since Susanna Salter.

In an effort to reunite the American Party, both former President Roosevelt and Senator La Follette have declined to seek the presidency in 1916. Instead, a myriad of dark horse candidates have stepped forward, including Senator Hiram Johnson (next to La Follette, the most prominent progressive in the country), Governors Charles E. Hughes and John Weeks (both of whom appeal to progressives and conservatives alike), Congresswoman Jane Addams (a noted opponent of child labor), former Congressman Charles Fairbanks (the party's 1912 nominee for vice president and an conservative idol), and former Senator Frank Hanly (who supports reviving nationwide prohibition). The Democrats, meanwhile, have a spare field of candidates after their poor performances in the last several elections. Governor George Chamberlain, an advocate of "preparedness", is considered the front runner for the nomination, though former Governor Woodrow Wilson - who ran as La Follette's running mate in 1912 - has also received favorable mentions among progressives. Then there is the small but potentially significant Socialist Party, headed by Journalist Allan Benson, which seeks to become a far-left alternative to the Populists. Unlike President Debs, who seeks to reform rather than overthrow the capitalist economic structure, Benson and his followers are calling for the overthrow of capitalism and the birth of a worker-controlled economy. While Debs has criticized Benson's "all or nothing" approach, saying that the Socialists would "sacrifice results for dogma", Benson has returned fire by lambasting the president's policies as too little, too late. Should he convince laborers to leave the Populist fold, it could mean the collapse of the delicate alliance Debs has spent the last twelve years crafting and, possibly, the rise of a new party system.

[Sumner 1868]

Jeannette Rankin to avoid WWI.

[PPT Spiral]

Charles Fairbanks/Hiram Johnson

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

rankin, with upton sinclair for vp

[Mr. Smith]

Underwood/Marshall

But let it not be said that I hadn't considered Johnson because I did. It just happens that Underwood is a third Debs term.

However, all bets are off for the Populists if Johnson, Fighting Bob run again or McAdoo joins

[Zioneer]

rankin, with upton sinclair for vp

Sounds like a good pick.

[Goldwater]

Fairbanks.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Hughes with Fairbanks to shore up the conservatives. Honestly, the only really acceptable two.

[Donerail]

I'm on board with Rankin/Sinclair

[VPH]

I'm on board with Rankin/Sinclair

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Three woman presidents? My God!

[Dr. Cynic]

I like Underwood. I'm not too enthused about Rankin, tbh.

[Zioneer]

Interesting distribution of votes among all parties.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Underwood/Sinclair

[TDAS04]

Rankin/Sinclair

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

You guys know Rankin voted against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor, right?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Who is the most hawkish candidate? I want the US to do save France and Britain's ass in WW2.

[Mr. Smith]

Who is the most hawkish candidate? I want the US to do save France and Britain's ass in WW2.

Why are you so sure there will be WWII? Perhaps a Rankin victory would lead to a more fair Treaty of Versailles. One that gives Britain and France blame for WWI too, since it was pretty much just an explosion of alliances than anything else.

You guys know Rankin voted against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor, right?

So? The issue is staying out of WWI, not WWII.

[Sumner 1868]

It appears a "stop Rankin" movement is forming.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Perhaps a Rankin victory would lead to a more fair Treaty of Versailles.

Honestly, I doubt it. It would take an extraordinary diplomat to get a good deal at Versailles, and Rankin hardly fits that bill. She's only been in Congress since 1913, so she's hardly a seasoned executive. I think the most likely outcome of a Rankin victory would be that the US doesn't enter WWI at all, which could have some dramatic results.

Who is the most hawkish candidate? I want the US to do save France and Britain's ass in WW2.

That would be Chamberlain, though Fairbanks would probably intervene as well.

It appears a "stop Rankin" movement is forming.

Too late to do any good, I'm afraid. The voting period has ended. I'll have the general election up in a moment.

[Sumner 1868]

She did it.