What if Farmer-Labor worked with the Socialists in 1920?

[RBH]

Would they have finished second in Washington? (the combo of Christensen and Debs got 21.64% and Cox got 21.14%)

Ballot access for Christensen and Debs

Both: CO, CT, DE, IL, IN, IA, MD, MI, MO, MT, NJ, NY, PA, UT, WA

Just Debs: AL, AR, CA, FL, ID, KS, KY, ME, MA, MN, MS, NE, NV, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, TN, TX, WV, WI

Just Christensen: MT, NM, SD, WY

Neither: AZ, GA, LA, VT

So basically Christiansen fared well, for being on 19 of 48 ballots.

And if Farmer-Labor worked with the Socialists, then perhaps they would approach 5%

[Dr. Cynic]

Interesting idea, the Farmer Laborers and Socialists were essentially one in the same. Clarence Darrow was really the only prominant endorsement that Parley Christensen got, and considering that, and the fact that he wasn't on the ballot in most states, he did rather well.

Debs did really well for his last hurrah, as well, even from prison.

Together, they would've contrasted each other fairly well as running mates. Rather than Seymour Steadman or Maximillian Sebastian Hays, we could've had Debs\Christensen or Christensen\Debs.

The problem?... Who would be the nominee?... Let's break it down.

Eugene Debs was well known. Parley Christensen was not.
Both were strong personalities.
Christensen was much taller than Debs (Christensen stood over 6'4. It may not be much, but for the electorate, it could've been)
Debs had been the leading Socialist in the United States, while Christensen would bounce from Republican to Progressive to Farm-Labor to Progressive to finish his life as a Democrat.
As orators, both were excellent, although Debs was arguably better.
Christensen was a bit eccentric, with an odd hairdo, and all white suits, compared to sober Debs. (Check www.ourcampaigns.com)
Christensen was a lawyer who defended unions and political prisoners. Debs was a union leader and political prisoner.

In the end, the amalgamation would've settled on Debs in my opinion.

[RBH]

Plus, a Debs/Christensen ticket could have Christensen as the main campaigner, since Debs is in prison

[Dr. Cynic]

According to what I've read, Christensen was a good campaigner, but the FL lacked money or strategists capable or raising it. With the Socialists money (They had it), the two could do very well together.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Would they have finished second in Washington? (the combo of Christensen and Debs got 21.64% and Cox got 21.14%)

Very likely, and In Wisconsin and South Dakota too.

I've long been interested in writing a scenario where the Socialists replace the Democrats as the 'second party' sometime in the 20s or 30s - this might not a bad idea to start with.