I Feel as Strong as a Bull Moose!

[The Govanah Jake]

“I, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, have spent my life's work out to help people and battle the special interests. I can not sit idle nor I can not make action for what the last 8 years have brung. The party I once felt was truly the party of the people is no more. It has become the party of Big Business and corruption. The president has ensured that this process had become final. We as a nation … no, we as a party need to overcome this. I will run for president because of this”



...



"You will do it... right John" The President said

"Of Course, Mr. President. It is my honor" replied a eager John Davis

"Good. Knock out that leftist Roosevelt, and continue the prosperity!"

...

The Secretary of State walked on the stage, head held high.

He started. "Over the last 8 years, our great country has grown to new heights. Ever since the great depression of the previous decade, which was caused by leftist extremism, our economy has doubled, our GDP has grown, Unemployment is down, and people have hope in our country's future". He paused to add emphasis taking some water, "This was all due to the helping hand of our President Carter Glass. He blessed me with the Secretary of State role and with it, our country has never been so peaceful and our place in the world is strong as evah. I seek to continue this for 4 more years. We need 4 more years of prosperity and only i can bring it."

By January of 1928, the field was coming into view. The Left of the party united around Roosevelt and Glass and the Glassite wing united around John Davis as the natural successor. A smattering of smaller candidates also entered however they failed to get much attention or momentum. The upcoming primary's were not as important as the convention but they were still seen as a stepping stone towards any win in the convention. Due to progressive elements within the DNC, the new primary's would be nationwide, not only relegated to a few states. All states would have there people have a say in the choice for the democratic nominee. The primary's were not very democratic and corruption and suppression would plague alot of the state primary's, mostly in the Southern Democratic Primary's and Northeastern Machines. However it was a important step towards the eventual true democracy of picking the party nominees.

The first primary in the nation was South Dakota on March 6th. It proved to be competitive. Both candidates for the first time in Democratic primary history visited the primary state as the primary began to look competitive. The national polls at the time proved this: Davis running off of a third term for Carter Glass was in the lead 48% over his challenger Franklin Roosevelt at 37%. In South Dakota, the Chattanooga News commissioned a poll led by the editor George Milton which showed a 45-42% lead for Davis over Roosevelt in the state. Roosevelt, seeing a chance, took a train from New York City, and first arrived in Sioux Falls. There he talked to a crowd of 500 in his wheelchair in the town hall:

"We must show the country that South Dakota does not like Corruption in Washington. We must show that the people of this state and many others still have a say in Washington Politics" Roosevelt exclaimed in his deep voice towards the crowd listening in full attention. Cheers soon followed.

Davis meanwhile himself also campaigned in the state, riding up the rural parts of the state, talking to voters, and talking off moralism: "Well i know South Dakota. Ya'll don't like the leftist socialism that Roosevelt brings. He will raise ya taxes, ... he will bring the country back to the failed policy's of the last decade. I don't, its a simple choice". Davis called upon the listeners to vote for him to "protect the prosperity". Pierre, the state capital, was his main state headquarters.

Election day came:



John Davis: 45.98%, 56,257
Franklin Roosevelt: 40.12%, 52,796

Davis won by a somewhat close margin of around 5%. He had success at winning the state, and Franklin Roosevelt was distraught by the results. However he was confident of the closeness of the results and wins in Sioux City and in the Southeast of the state combined with votes from the few Native American Democratic Voters was able to give him a heft 40% of the vote. Meanwhile though as Walsh of Montana got a respectable 11% of the vote, he under performed what he wanted. He would drop out a month after the results, after failing to see a chance at winning the nomination.

After the primary, the candidates looked towards New Hampshire, the next primary in the nation. Davis, knowing he did not have much of a chance there did not campaign there and instead looked towards getting convention delegates out west. Roosevelt, seeking to win every last delegate in New Hampshire, did campaign in the state. Campaigning in Manchester and Concord, he set up a base in the state drawing large crowds in the Southern part of the state. The normally Republican state showed much enthusiasm for Roosevelt and the only real opposition in the state was from Davis surrogates attempting to save the face of Davis and win enough delegates in the state to force Roosevelt out. However, unlike in South Dakota, the delegates were almost entirely democratically given out with it going it in hand with the popular votes of the candidates themselves. They voted on the 13th and the result was as expected

Franklin Roosevelt: 61.37%. 13,563
John Davis: 29.69%, 4,001

In a expected victory, Franklin won handily by almost 10,000 votes. But Davis did not care. He was expected to lose handily either way. Getting almost 30% in the state was considered a victory by Davis and said he would wrap up the nomination by May. The third primary occurred back in the Dakotas, this time in the North on March 20th. Davis, already being in the West traveled back to the Dakota's and set up a state headquarters in Bismarck gaining the endorsements of many top state democratic officials in the meanwhile. Roosevelt, all the way back east, could not make it to North Dakota due to a massive snowstorm delaying travel through the Midwest. So instead he took his time to campaign in the delegate heavy Midwestern states themselves gaining the endorsements of Democratic Unions in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois in the process. Because of this, Davis dominated North Dakota calling Roosevelt a "Radicalist and a Socialist" to crowds of hundreds in city's ranging from Grand Forks to Bismarck. The only other candidate to actually campaign in the state was Thomas J. Walsh of Montana who displayed his Mountain West heritage openly in the Western state. He emerged as the lone progressive candidate in the state and ran on a platform of progressive reconstitution of the basic welfare state combined with a unpopular internationalist policy. He was never ever to make any impact but he did show the Democratic National Committee that Davis was not running Unopposed.



John Davis: 54.27%
Thomas Walsh: 24.13%
Frank Roosevelt: 15.19%

The victory for Davis was ensured in this relatively unimportant state. Roosevelt's Midwestern strategy however would pay off. The next major primary's to come up were in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. All delegate heavy and all within the next month with the Illinois primary on April 10th. Roosevelt was able to establish himself fully in all three states and called himself the candidate of labor. In Chicago he was even able to gain the big endorsement of Robert Crowe, mayor of Chicago, whose disdain for the President overrided his actual policy alignment with the president (he was, on most accounts, a very conservative democrat).

Davis refused to campaign much any longer on the other hand. He felt his nomination was secure and his successful dealing with delegates left with with a 300 delegate lead. He called himself the "White Mans candidate" while calling Roosevelt the "Negros Choice". He called Roosevelt too friendly to the Negro and called him a "Negro Lover" and too friendly to Left wing agitators. "He is very supportive of communist groups and would make this country like Russia" he said to a group of delegates at the Pennsylvania State Democratic Party headquarters in Philadelphia. He was able to rally White fears to a hilt and in Chicago was able to counter the Crowe Machine by gaining the support of city gangsters in Al Capone and former Republican mayor "Big Bill" Thompson who called upon the white population of the city to vote for there champion Davis. In Michigan, 8 days before Illinois, and Wisconsin, 7 days before Illinois, were able to produce a split result with Wisconsin going 61-37% to Davis while Michigan went to Roosevelt 51-48% with him dominating the Detroit area and winning the black vote though losing by varying margins throughout central and north Michigan. In Illinois, the real battle for winner was really a battle of who could suppress the most votes on both sides.

Open violence occurred in some polling stations especially in the downtown black majority areas as Capone's gang forced hundreds from voting resulting in the death of 3 Black men and 2 white men caught in the crossfire. This would forever be known as the "Day of Despair" in the Chicago history record. Davis dominated the southern part of the state known as "Little Dixie" as expected and in East St. Louis was able to use the Doyle machine to get out a mass amount of votes. Reports of double voting and dead voting were quickly suppressed by the machine owned press. By the next afternoon, the state was called to Davis 51-48% in a major blow to Franklin's hope. Later that day, Davis called for democratic unity. Roosevelt pledged to continue his fight to the convention. Over the next two months, the results produced more and more favorable to Davis. He was able to follow up his Illinois win with a win in Nebraska by big margins followed by a 48-37% win in Ohio. Roosevelt was able to slightly win the Massachusetts primary, 50-48% after the backing of the Boston mayor but lost badly in California 65-31% over Davis who actively campaigned in the state rich with delegates.

[The Govanah Jake]

In Indiana, favorite son Evans Woollen won handily while southern oriented candidate Theodore G. Bilbo running on a white supremacist platform having the open backing of the Klu Klux Klan won the Alabama primary 82-4% over Davis. New Jersey came on May 15th and polled at 53% for Davis with Roosevelt at 44% while Davis won the Oregon primary handily at 58% with Bilbo garnering a surprising second place win at 30% in the state known for being a bastion of white supremacy in the pacific northwest. By the final primary at Florida on June 5th, Davis had fully won the primary's and entered the convention with a massive delegate lead.



Going into the convention in Sam Houston Hall, Texas: It was known clearly that Roosevelt would not simply hand the nomination to John Davis. The convention halls were packed with Roosevelt and Davis delegates battling it out with the crucial other delegates being persuaded by both sides. Franklin made a deal with Walsh, both being fellow liberals and promised a place in a potential administration for the Montana Senator, if he gave his delegates to him when he dropped out. Meanwhile Bilbo and his southern delegation were openly opposed to Roosevelt and his "Socialistic and Negroid supporting" policy, however called Davis too soft on segregation with his non-support of the National Segregation Proposal back when it was up for a vote and his continued non support up until the convention, a key issue he disagreed with the president. The first day speakers on June 26th included Senate leader Thaddeus Caraway, Governor Al Smith of New York, and by William Gibbs McAdoo.

It was during Al Smith's speech in which proved controversial. His support against prohibition highlighted in the speech (something the democratic party was mostly against) and his open support of European immigration, along with his Catholicism drew a wide array of boos and cheering based on geography. The southern delegation from the states ranging from Texas to Virginia staged a walk out during the speech which almost forced him to resign from speaking his 1 hour planned speech. However the Democratic Committee allowed him to continue his speech backed on the support of the powerful Northeastern delegations of New York and Pennsylvania. After the speeches, the first ballot was cast after a momentous day.

1st Presidential Balloting, DNC 1928

Sec. John Davis: 531.52
Sec. Franklin D. Roosevelt: 395
Gov. Theodore G. Bilbo: 71.5
Sen. Thomas Walsh: 38.5
Evans Woollen: 31.6
Rep. Cordell Hull: 5.31

When the results came in, many were surprised by the amount Bilbo had taken away from Davis. Almost 35 unpledged delegates had switch to Bilbo giving him a hefty third place result. Walsh dropped out after a disappointing 4th place win and a mass defection of his supposedly solid Mountain West coalition too there other candidates. He, as planned endorsed Roosevelt and pledged his delegates to Roosevelt. Woolen meanwhile pledged to go on while Hull after some dealing around on the convention floor by the evening he had been convinced to endorse Davis and pledge his delegates to Davis. A second ballot was called  to order as no candidate received a majority on the first round

2nd Presidential Balloting, DNC 1928

Sec. John Davis: 596.83
Sec. Franklin D. Roosevelt: 419.1
Gov. Theodore G. Bilbo: 28.5
Evans Woollen: 3.3


Davis was finally able to properly secure a majority on the second round and going into the final second round shift balloting, the party convention united around Davis and his agenda as the President before him had done.

2nd Presidential Balloting, DNC 1928 after Shift

Sec. John Davis: 1017.66
Sec. Franklin D. Roosevelt: 79.34


Roosevelt graciously accepted his defeat yet refused to endorse his candidacy. He along with 58 loyal delegates fled with him from the convention. Davis on the other hand arrived at the convention on the 28th to a glorious audience. In his speech to the convention and the delegates he called for a "continuance of normalcy" and for "rational political discussion". He took a stab at his left wing critics calling them "Anti-American socialist synthesizers" and called on them to "go to the Soviet Union. See how Socialism works. I'll give ya a hint: not very good i can tell y'all that". He also attacked the Republicans calling them weak on the maintaining order and whose policy's are destroying the economic and social realities of the country

"Now lets look at the GOP ..., they are the party of violence in our city's and moral decay of the simple fact that the Negro is inferior to the White Man! They'd ratha take ya hard earn't money' then restore peace. The Democratic party has proven to restore order and restore prosperity over and over again. I pledge to continue that!"

The hunt for a Vice Presidential pick was slowly being narrowed down into either: Appeasing the Progressive wing or doubling down on Glassite Moderation. Seeing the popularity of the latter and seeing no hassle to appeal to a wing failing to have much influence anymore, he choose Senator from Georgia Walter F. George as his pick. A staunch conservative and segregationist he could double down on doubtful Bilbo supporters though annihilating any possible chance for Progressive attraction. He took his chances and meet with George to discuss the situation:

"George, i know there been speculation about my Vice President pick" said Davis sitting both himself and the Senator down into a backroom from the convention halls

"I understand John. What is this a'bout"

"We'll some say i should pick a Northern Progressive Yankee to even out the ticket. What i say is i want to double down on what is popular."

"What ya getting there"

"Well i would you to be my running mate. You can get the southern delegations to support me and help me campaigning in those rural parts"

"Well, i'd be a honour. I'd also like to help at killing those damn yankee socialists from our party"

"Guess we got a deal here."

"Thank You Mr. President"

"Not Yet.. Not yet"

The first and only vice presidential convention vote was called to order. It was never really disputed, George was really just coronation with the opposition showing a scattering of more progressive options who split it up into a divided force.

Vice Presidential Balloting, DNC 1928 First Ballot

Sen. Walter George: 993.5
Sen. Joseph Taylor Robinson: 15.2
Sen. Thomas Walsh: 8.5
Sec. Franklin D. Roosevelt: 7
Gov. Theodore G. Bilbo: 5

The status of Franklin Roosevelt and his 58 delegate group motivations remained unknown however they refused to go away into the books of history. John Davis on the other hand celebrated his victory of his party's nomination and was hoping he would led his ticket to victory for a third term come November.

[The Govanah Jake]

1928 Republican Primary's.

Former Vice President and Senator George W. Norris

The Gentlemen walked into the room

“Nice to finally be acquainted with you once more”

“Agreed. Want some water?”

“I’m good. I am truly sorry to what happened to your father. He was indeed a good man, he was a good friend. I would know”

“No need to apologize… it was not your fault.”

“I know. I just wanted to let you know”

“Well I thank you for that. I hope your representation of California has been effective...”

“Come on, its California. It’a take a dead man to keep you dead up high out here”

“Ha! Well I guess that’s true”

“Indeed, it is”

“So how is your political career so far. Congratulations to you also for being elected to the House in New York”

“It’s pretty easy to be elected her with a last name like Roosevelt”

“True but you were elected off your own merit. Now I have to go but I say you still have a bright political future ahead of you.”

“Hope to meet with you sometime in person. Until then, farewell”

The 1928 Republican nomination process was not to be an easy cake walk for any candidate. The failure of Charles Hughes to unseat the president in 1924 left a strong impression on republican hopefuls showing that this was not their American anymore. An American which elected them for decades from Lincoln to Roosevelt seemed to have disappeared come the turn of the decade into a new competitive and even democratic dominated epoch. The Republican Party leadership was in shambles as their guy lost decisively and the moderating figure of a New York establishment progressive like Hughes was thought to be a popular enough choice to win over the electorate. Apparently, they were wrong and they were left with their base blaming them for it. A blame game was played as too why he had lost, a game very similar to the power situation in the Democratic Party. The Republican parties progressive wing and supporters of it blamed the lost clearly on the fact that Charles Hughes was a Moderate and failed to ignite the progressive base, the last twin progressive republicans held. He was simply not a progressive firebrand as Johnson and Roosevelt where was what they were saying to be put bluntly. Pennsylvania Senator George W. Pepper put their concerns best into words when he was asked by reporters on Capitol Hill:

“I hope that the party leadership will get it through, that the only way to win is too offer real change to the people and to differentiate ourselves from the Democrats who offer nothing more than Segregationism. I may not agree with much parts of some of my fellow republican colleagues who agree with me on this, we all agree that offering nothing more than the same won’t get you anywhere”

Senators Hiram Johnson George W. Norris meanwhile came out and issued a joint statement condemning the Eastern Establishments attempts to control the nomination process after reports of foul play came to arise from the 1924 Republican nomination process.

 A leaked document by a anonymous Republican high ranking source claimed a colluded effort by the RNC to support the candidacy of Charles Hughes over Robert LaFollette. Inside efforts within the RNC were said to have been mainly perpetrated by members associated with the Old McKinley/Rooseveltian Eastern wing of the Moderate establishment. The man leading the charges was none other than William Butler, the head of the RNC himself and was an avid supporter of Hughes campaign. The Massachusetts senator was bombarded by charges of corruption and foul play and in a joint press conference, both senators agreed with the sentiment that he should resign. It had gotten so bad that by early 1927, the Chair and other top republican officials were forced to come together in a highly anticipated cabinet meeting.

 The contents of which have been lost to history but what is known is in it they called for an earlier than expected leadership election to try to strengthen the Chairmen’s position, more than a year before schedule. Upon hearing the news of the event, oppositional forces eager to get the head of the RNC to be a friendly force, tried to rally behind a candidate. Speculation began that Mary Booze, an African American Committeewomen from Mississippi could run. Some welcomed a run by her and continued to claim that the Republicans should prove they were the party of civil rights by giving Booze a position. A key member of the so called Black and Tan faction within the south, she also also heavily supported by high ranking senators including both Norris and Johnson. “The Republicans are the party of civil rights and progress and we shouldn’t let racial fears stop us” answered William Borah to critics of her based on her race.

 Some democrats even supported the move of hers, “Good. A n in charge of the Republican will make sure that Republican party never comes to power” called back Theodore Bilbo and most Democrats including the president. Other Republicans couldn’t fathom the idea of a “negress” in any sort of power either or especially a southerner due to the regions historic distain for the party either. All in all, the support base for her were mainly among Progressives and within them, mainly from Pro Civil Rights Westerners and Northeasterners. In the end this was not enough to rally the reformists around and her campaign never took off. Instead of her, when Representative Henry P. Fletcher of Pennsylvania, a clear reformist and close friend of the late Theodore Roosevelt, made his intentions clear that he would run to replace Butler, he got the full backing of the opposition. Butler stood no chance. Public sentiment was clearly not on his side and a clear Anti-Corruption sweep within the party swept him away on was defeated in a landslide of votes from the RNC at a 39-10 vote giving Fletcher the majority on the first ballot.

 Fletcher conceded graciously and so did much stench of the eastern establishments control over the party as the “Cowboy of Appalachia” as he was known, was now in charge. His first order of business was to fire almost all of the high ranking RNC officials elected by Butler and brought in new members on the behalf of the likes of Robert Lafollette Jr., Freshmen senator from Wisconsin, who advised the choices in order to prevent candidates like his father losing to corruption again. The progressives were finally pleased and viewed the RNC, finally, as fair play.

Members of Hughes campaign and the Old Guard Republicans welcomed the new reformed. Butler was a good friend to Hughes, however Hughes himself said that the RNC needed reforms. “I am close to William. He is a good friend. But the National Committee needs reform and I don’t think Butler is the right one for the job”. He held no comment however over the accuracy of his corruption allegations. The aging William Taft came out of retirement to make a statement calling for “intense reform” and “mass overhaul” when asked by a local newspaperman.

The overall call coincided with the beginning of the 1928 primary season. Charles Hughes said he would not run for president ever early on to make sure his was out of people’s minds as a possible nominee.

“It is past my time. I am too old and I don’t think I can stand another campaign. We need new and young candidates to bring us into the future … I am not one of those”


 A successor to his nomination was up in the air. The policy and the faction from which the new nominee hailed from was also in the air. What was seen as a basis for the nominee however was an exciting and populistic one. Names from freshmen senators from the 1922-1926 era of elections were thrown about, Robert La Follette Jr. was seen as a good candidate but the simple fact that he was too young (33) put him out of the ring. Another run by some of the old guard progressives like Norris was also considered. A big hype was also around Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge who now at 56 years old was still regarded as a saint around conservative circles and he was tempted by them to run before. This time, Coolidge made some hints at a run as his successful governing of Massachusetts began to show some boredness on him. “Silent Cal” made his intentions clear that he would seek the American Conservative nomination and not the Republicans one surprising many. Many of his Republican core supporters followed him there with him. A remaining Center Left progressive core remained in the Republican party, ripe for a progressive takeover.

 The first major candidate to declare was Irvine Lenroot of Wisconsin, followed by Addison T. Smith of Idaho, James E. Watson of Indiana, and after much speculation the former Vice President under Hiram Johnson and Senator from Nebraska George W. Norris declared his intention to run for the Republican nomination again. William Borah formed an exploratory committee, but by Early January made sure that he was not running and backed Norris. The field was capped off with the announcement of business and humanitarian Herbert Hoover of California. Endorsements soon followed with Norris getting the bulk of it. Along with that of Borah’s, he also got the endorsement of high names including Hiram Johnson, Henrik Shipstead, Robert M. La Follette Jr., and even Charles Curtis who called for Republicans to rally behind him quickly getting the backing of the moderates.

[The Govanah Jake]

With his own populism and calls for reform and progressive ideology, he was able to get the bulk of most progressive republican’s vote taking away from the likes of Irvine Lenroot who came out to be known as a candidate for the most radical progressives while the remaining candidates Smith and Watson losing some support as both tried to get the Moderate and Conservative vote respectively. The outlier of Herbert Hoover remained an outlier. Clearly a conservative in both economic and social policy, he held an aurora of populism in the businessmen sense. His conservative populism proved popular within many of the conservative grassroots however the introduction of Calvin Coolidge into the American Conservative Party hurt Hoover’s base to begin with. His calls for “directforwardness” and “common sense” still were able to hold grown as his works during the Great War were able to cast him as the races sole humanitarian. By Late February, he had absorbed much of the support for Smith and Watson and cemented himself as a strong third place competitor. By Early March, Addison Smith dropped out fearing lack of support and endorsed Norris while not long after Watson did the same, though endorsed Hoover. The first primaries on March 6th showed the race coming down to a competitive one for second place as Hoover was able to rally up an impressive 20% in some opinion polls to Lenroot’s core base of 20-25% radical progressives and party socialist’s. His calls for an expanded welfare state including that of reintroducing Single Payer Healthcare and a “railing in” of the corrupt industrialists and businessmen was able to keep his base intact while Hoover, a businessman himself, said he was the only candidate who could create actual change in a potentially divided government showing his business experience.

 But Norris remained high in the polls often averaging 40%+. Norris swept most of the primaries with the exception of Wisconsin and Minnesota for Lenroot and California, Oregon, and Idaho for Herbert Hoover who was able to actually come in second place in the primary’s popular vote, not that it meant much. George Norris was now in a solid position going into the Kansas City convention in Missouri. He rode his head high walking into the convention on the 15th and shook hands with opponents Lenroot and Hoover outside the convention hall. He entered a convention in renewed optimism in the party as the recent split in the Democratic party brought hope to many card-carrying Republicans that this would be their year. Norris was very popular within the party and spent his days in the convention halls greeting supporters and preparing policy rather than staying in the backrooms bribing delegates. Lenroot positioned himself among the Left Progressive Caucasus and tried to rally support for his candidacy while Hoover worked in the so called dark rooms getting as much delegates as possible.

 The idea of him becoming president was becoming not as bright as he thought and instead would do a wait and see strategy. He visited the Norris camp towards the left of center of the convention hall. He decided to come over the cover of Lenroot’s radicalization among radical progressives and socialists. He fought his way too try to get the second spot, truthly or untruthfully.

“Hey George”

George Norris looked up “Hold on” Norris told a policy director he was talking too. “Hello Herbert... What brings you hear”

“Well you know my situation” Hoover then hand gestured over to the Lenroot base camp not too far from the Norris camp. “Lenroot is too radical”

“It’s not like he is going to win, same with you”

“I know. But there is a chance and I briefly came over to meet with Irvine and he was talking to a Socialist Party member. We can’t risk that”

“What are you suggesting Herbert?”

“Well In order to prevent that radical from ever coming to power, I will drop out of my bid and you will make me your vice president and we can’t end this quickly”

“I know what you’re getting at her. You have no chance of winning and your latching onto my campaign in order to gain a silver of power..”

“No, I promise I am being sincere, If Lenroot were to win then he would turn the party into the Socialist Party”

“Now that is a overexaggeration. He is barely more progressive then me and he is no socialist… I know him he is a good friend’

“Fine but he has been getting a lot of delegates while you sit her doing nothing. I heard a report from an official at the RNC that you don’t have a guaranteed first ballot majority. Lenroot took a lot of your progressive base”
George looked up from the Newspaper he glanced at on his desk “Wait.. What!.. This can’t be possible, how.. I had a majority of over 1000. How could he take almost 250 in less than 4 hours”

“I don’t know but he did. Now do you see my point.”

“Is it bad?”

“Yes. Very much so”. A loud speaker in the distance called out “First Balloting in 45 minutes”

“Fine. Drop out and I will very much consider you as my VP pick. I’m warning you however that I won’t allow you to get your conservatism into my administration”

“I understand Sir!” Hoover grinned. “I thank you for this opportunity”. Hoover shook Mr. Norris’s hand and left the tent complex both grinning and pondering his next moves.

He dropped out 30 minutes before the first ballot. “I pledge to give all of my delegates to George W. Norris!” he announced to the convention committeemen. Upon hearing of this, his supporters in the hall booed or were upset, while Norris would do anything to prevent anyone but him winning. The first ballot was called

First Ballot
George W. Norris: 862 Delegates
Irvine Lenroot: 219.5 Delegates

 Norris easily surpassed the majority of 542. The supposed threat of Lenroot was vastly overplayed and Norris was both relieved and confused as to why Lenroot didn’t get as much support as he was told he was expected to get. Nevertheless, Norris was a man of his word and though tempted to go with a big-name progressive like Johnson or even Borah, he decided to go through with Hoover to many surprise. The pick itself was mixed with the opposition coming from both radical and moderate progressives who saw the pick of a conservative as strange coming from the Nebraskan Populist. Conservatives applauded his choice and
ultimately, he choice it for “party unity’ as he would say himself. The concerns for him were never put into a formal opposition and he was elected almost uniformly for the Vice-Presidential position.

1st Vice President Ballot
Herbert Hoover: 1003 Delegates
Others/Abstain: 81 Delegates

 The final day of the convention for Norris was to finalize the official platform for the 1928 Republican Party. He was able to rewrite in from the 1924 platform to show the new progressive reform calling for a “complete re-implementation of Social Welfare Programs started by the Roosevelt/Johnson administration that were destroyed by the Glass administration and an increase in funding to remaining ones”. In it they also called for Government Run Healthcare, an implementation of a more progressive taxation scheme, higher taxes of richer citizens, a constitutional push and support for the removal of the Flat Tax amendment, a balanced budget, Isolationism abroad and a continued Glassite approach, nationalization of the Railroads and public utilities, support for Prohibition, support for equal protections between negroes and whites, an anti-lynching law, among many other things.

He made his voice clear through these supported positions. The announcement of the platform brought widespread acclamation from most of the party as the moderates were able to back the plan. Only the most extreme of Leftists who called the mediocre and not calling as far as expected, and most conservatives who would either jump ship to the A.C.P. or actively oppose and sit out/abstain from voting for or support the policy positions of the platform. The final hours of the convention brought Norris’s speech to the convention

 Entering onto the stage, he faced the thousands who had come to see him and the convention. He spoke “Thank You!” were his lone words. A vast applause followed. “Thank You Kansas City, together we can get real reform together!” He paused only to take a breath but the applause continued, “We Republicans need to show America that we are morally better then then the Democrats in every way. Unlike our democratic colleagues, us Republicans don’t view those who are different then us as inferior” He gestured to the Black Republicans seated in the front row.

“We view everyone as equal, every man created equal under god... We also view that everyone, everyone should have the right to have a fair chance at life and not be subjugated to extreme poverty while others have so much” The applause was more segregated as more conservative forces paused their applauding “We need a fair system for all... A fair system for not just the rich and not just the poor for all.”. “We need a American system”

He continued his speech for 30 more minutes mentioning almost every part of his platform drawing mostly applause, some louder the others. A sense of enthusiasm continued to go on within the convention and as the convention wrapped up, the Norris-Hoover ticket was viewed as a winning ticket for republicans trying to take on the third term brought on by John Davis.

[The Govanah Jake]

A Attempt at Seperation



Franklin Roosevelt speaking at the 1928 Progressive's Summit


Franklin left with his 58 delegates towards the outside world. His plans towards what he was doing seemed to be in perfect sense to him, and to the original idea sent to him by that eventful call from Burton. Roosevelt, of a well up New York English family, could afford to go for such a political stunt; a stunt many other politicians could not afford to partake in. His followers were but the most loyal of the progressive caucus, those who vowed never to fall for the Glassite takeover of the party which John Davis emphasized. Franklin rented out a local barren storage facility, just a few blocs from the convention center entering its final day. Dubbed the “Progressives Summit” by the original organizers, Franklin with close cahoots with Burton Wheeler planned a possible third party run by a new party. The actual case for the party however was in dispute, as Franklin saw the very likely chance that Republican Progressive George W. Norris could win his party’s nomination. His proposed policy’s, of reinstituting the welfare state and creating a more progressive democracy, very much appealed to the reformist New Yorker. At the time, Burton did not see the possibly of such a clear-cut progressive being able to win over the republican eastern establishment. As it became more likely that Norris’s domination of the primaries would lead to a big convention win, they reshuffled their plans, which they planned to be finalized in the so called “Summit”.

“We call this Summit to order” read aloud the announcer, who himself was a delegate from Montana. The original call for a convention was a month prior to him speaking those words, and the Republican and Democratic Nominations had been far over and decided: John Davis for the Democrats and George Norris for the Republicans. However, in that time a call to arms for all politically active politicians and activists from the Left and Progressive ideologies everywhere organized themselves in that (relatively) small Houston room. Prominent politicians from appeared there too. Burton Wheeler, Senator from Montana, was of course they’re and the main reason for the summits occurrence. However along with him stood Augustus Stanley, a close friend standing right besides him. Surrounding him sat the other prominent Democratic Progressive politicians including Thomas Walsh of Montana and the Union’s own senator in Key Pittman of Nevada, known for his avid support for the public-sector unions in the state. Also in the space stood the House members Fred Vinson of Kentucky, and grandiloquent little man Fiorello La Guardia from New York’s 14th district. They discussed the President. Vinson was a very prominent man in the convention that not only was he one of the few southerners in the room, but also one of the President’s loudest critics. Something that made him unique in a State where besides Stanley, most politicians whole heartedly supported the President till the bitter end. La Guardia meanwhile being an Italian American, one of the only in the House, was known for his small 5 feet 2’ stature, though also his grand public speaking. He positioned himself as one of the furthest left in the Congress portraying a Democratic Socialist record. After a long talk with Vinson, he walked over to Wheeler who was also in an intense discussion, though this was with Robert La Follette Jr. of Wisconsin who being a Republican fully supported Norris and came to the convention to try to round up the lost democratic progressives behind Norris.

“…But again, Norris supports it. He is a very progressive man. I know him… if he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing then I would stop supporting him”. La Follette then motioned to La Guardia who was walking to the both as they spoke. “Oh, hello there. I don’t believe we have met... And you are?” La Follette said.

“Fiorello La Guardia, Hi. Your Robert La Follette Jr. Son of Robert La Follette, right? La Guardia replied.

“Indeed, I am” La Follette shot back.

“I thought I recognized you from somewhere. That’s why. Anyway, I’m truly sorry for what happened to your father. He was one of my impersonations to become a politician, to make real change like he did.”

“No need to feel sorry. He is at peace now...” La Follette replied.

La Guardia them motioned to Wheeler. “Ah, the main man” La Follette said to Wheeler was he shook his hand.

“I guess you could call me that, ha...” Burton replied giving a hint at a smirk and a laugh.
La Guardia chuckled as well “Well… So, what is your big plan here... cus’ I just got an invitation in the House for some big Progressive gathering without much information.”

“Well long story short… before the primary’s I came up with a plan to form a progressive party to split from the Democrats... You know cus’ they have abandoned us?”. Wheeler explained. La Guardia nodded his head in agreement, “So I talked to Franklin about this and told him if he loses, and we all knew he would lose since it’s rigged… so if he lost he would leave the convention and we could find a good start to gather all of us like minded people in a convention like this”. Wheeler finished up by saying “So the point is to decide the future for out cause, should we form a party and surround a possible Roosevelt candidacy, or perhaps support Norris”.

“Ah. I see. Well from that point… I can see supported Norris. He is a good man, I met him once when I visited the Senate a few summers back. He seems to support progressive policy’s. But he is running as a Republican… and that will hold him back. The republican establishment I mean. I will make sure he gets nothing done…” La Guardia replied.

La Follette interjected “Well… he would have the same chance at implementing the policy’s then under an independent party victory. But the whole party like I are behind him and he has a mandate. If the republicans can win a majority in the House and Senate, then we can implement the policy’s like Johnson and Roosevelt did”.

“That is true, but he will still be pressured by the party conservatives in such a case to conservatize his policy’s, unlike in a party where progressives rule.” La Guardia fired back.

“But a third party will never win. Let’s be realistic here. The Republicans can win however, and I won’t be naïve in taking a very rare chance in saying that a solid progressive is running the party right now” replied La Follette who began to show redness in the face and became feisty in the reply.

“Now, Gentlemen. I think we can discuss this in the vote time” Burton said trying to break up the debate.

However, Wheeler was interrupted, this time by the loudspeaker at the podium. “Hello Gentlemen. Welcome all to the Progressives Summit! we thank you for coming and thank the delegates and the esteemed list of politicians for joining.” Said a short, obviously heavy man from the podium. “Voting on the key issue as all of you know will occur first thing tomorrow” he paused for just a second “We will now see the keynote speaker.. Franklin Delano Roosevelt!”. A loud applause was heard from the delegation

As he was speaking, a familiar face arrived to greet the three. “Heyy…”.
Wheeler turned his head. “Well look who we have here. Hey Robert. Long time no see”

“5-10 Years is say.” Replied the man whose name was mysterious to La Guardia and La Follette.

“Gentlemen, I would like to meet Robert Owens to you. Good friend... former senator from
Oklahoma!” said Wheeler turning back to the both

“Howdy there” replied La Follette shaking his hand.

“How are you sir” replied La Guardia shaking his hands too “Speech begins in 5 minutes” ran a distant voice from the stage.

A long pause ensued which La Follette broke by saying “So, how’d you guys meet?”

“Oh well he helped me in the early days with campaigning and stuff. He helped me get elected to the Senate.” Replied Wheeler.

“Yea, I taught him to be a politician all right” he said in a sarcastic tone “A god damn better politician then I ever was”.

“Nah. You will go down as a great one I promise” said La Guardia. The aging 72-year-old Owen knew he would never seek elected office again. The wild westerner he once was still there but meager. “I hope” is all he could muster up. He said too all good bye and left for his seat.
Franklin Roosevelt could be seen walking onto the stage. People began to either be seated or since they couldn’t afford it most often just stood there. He wheeled himself to the shorten podium, waving to the audience as he went. Arriving at the stage, he took out his glasses case from his pocket, took out his glasses, and put the case back into his pocket. He put his glasses on, taking out a speech. “Thank you for the gracious reception” he said, “Thank you”.
He began “We face a great choice come November, shall we continue down the path of deregulation, open bribing to the rich, corruption, and a plethora of accounts perpetrated by the Glass Democratic Party… or shall we seek change. A change from a status quo of two parties. George Norris seems like a swell fellow, but I don’t think he can give us real change our country needs”. His powerful words rocked the small, crowded convention room. “It is of my opinion, that we as Progressives need a real party to allow us to govern. Theodore Roosevelt, whom I have to keep telling you folks that I’m not closely related” small laughter could be heard from the stands. “He said in a 1916 to congress and I quote ‘the moral obligation of government towards the people, is to stand by the people, for the people, and with the people. Not to stand with Big Business’, I and I bet most moral people would agree to this statement. So why has our political class ignored these words for the last 8 years. Why have both democrats and republicans ignored this fundamental statement. I say we have a party who represents this statement since it is in my opinion that the two-major parties have failed the people and the progressive cause” said Franklin Roosevelt as his powerful words kept the room in silence.

“You convinced yet Robert?” called La Guardia to La Follette

“Not in the slightest” replied La Follette back

….

“So, I say to this chamber, enough is enough. The only way forward is too form a Peoples Party, not joining the Republicans”. His final words were as intense as his first. Roosevelt wheeled himself off the stage the same way he came, to the left. It was over.

[The Govanah Jake]

Voting began early the next day. Presiding over the commission was Burton Wheeler himself along with 10 other convention officials and delegates. The question posed, “Do you support the creation of the so-called Progressives Party as a separate entity from the Republican and Democratic Parties, or do you support supporting the candidacy of Republican George W. Norris for President”. Out of the whole population at that convention of about 2700, 970 were delegates from the many different states and territories which allowed for such delegates to be sent. This meant a noticeably lacking amount of the Southern delegation whose State Democratic Party’s refused to legally allow them to be sent. In Louisiana, the corrupt Democratic Governor refused to even send a small representational force which some other states in the region like Arkansas allowed. His iron rule of the state with support of the elites in New Orleans was only cut through partially by rising star in the state Huey Pierce Long who personally attended the meeting. His flamboyant composition was taken note at the convention.
In a very continuous event, every vote was said to have sent into the balance. By 10 AM, Wheeler announced “The Gentlemen from Iowa vote 16-7 against the measure for an independent party. This gives the total so far… to uh… 421 against the independent party, and 370 for the proposition.”. What was sought to be contentious however the against vote was leading all through the voting process. A move which went against the whole idea Wheeler had for the convention.

In a somewhat dreadful calling, Burton replied to a congressman on the final results, “Congressmen I have just got the results here. It says 498-472 against the move.”

“The Body declares that with a vote against the creation of the party, the official Body’s position will be to endorse Republican George W. Norris for President.” Said Burton. There was a mix of applause and booing, but the result was final
A young reporter, a young chap no older then the age of 30 ran to the location of Franklin Roosevelt to tell him the news, “You see these results. They gotta endorse Norris now or you run independent” he said to Roosevelt as he handed him the paper of the final results

“Well I’ll be damned. I thought that was a good speech out there. Well its not the end of the world, Norris is not that bad.”

“Will you endorse Norris, and will you run anyways?” inquired the reporter.

“I won’t endorse anyone except myself, but I won’t run alone.”

Then came through the door came Burton Wheeler. “Hey Frank, you see these results”

“Yea, this fine lad gave them to me”. Wheeler greeted the man and shook his hand

“Reporter?” replied Burton

“Yes. He works for the… what exactly do you work for”
“Houston Daily” replied the Reporter.
“Anyway, you should run anyway”
“Come on we agreed to this. I would support this convention if you respected the outcome of the vote”
“I know but endorse Norris, really”

“I won’t endorse him, or anyone for that matter, and I won’t run too. The Progressive in this race is already covered, this is not my year. 32’, 36’ maybe”

“Oh, let’s not get so speculative here… I’m surprised by the vote. That speech you gave was moving and it seems most here support you”

“Probably the Republicans and Norris lackeys in the audience. I mean that have become the Left Party right now home to Teddy and Hiram.”

“You do have a point. La Follette is an example”

“Didn’t he die?”

“No… the other one… Jr.”
“Anyways” the reporter interrupted “Do you guys see any possible split in the party’s anytime soon”
Wheeler went first “We had a chance here and it failed. We can’t afford another one of these so probably not”. (leaning towards the cost of the event)

“Thank you” was all that broke the silence as the young reporter left the room.

The vote would be one of the most momentous in the history of the American Left. It was here in which the American Left would firmly side with the Republican Party, sliding away in a drastic pace away from the Democratic Party which was slowly sliding into the party of Southern Reaction and increased Fiscal Prudence. The body’s endorsement of George W. Norris on that eventful July 19th day greatly helped unify the Left around Norris. Speaking with Hiram Johnson on this the day after, George Norris displayed great excitement in the new update.

“Hiram, this is great. We are finally united for once in a long time” said George Norris as he finally got Johnson on the phone line over a thousand miles away.

“I know. And we got to thank that La Follette of Wisconsin. Somehow, he did the job we asked him to do” replied Johnson.

“I will when I go to Washington D.C. next Week. We could have a chance at the presidency with this”

“That’s the plan. With the combined Republican base and Democratic votes, there is no way we can lose, combined with Democrats 8 years in power”

“I wouldn’t be so overconfident but yes, this is great news!”

[The Govanah Jake]

1928 General Election Results

John Davis (D): 356 EV, 50.68%
George Norris (R): 175 EV, 40.13%
Calvin Coolidge (AC): 0 EV, 7.45%
Norman Thomas(S): 0 EV, 1.91%: 0 EV, 1.01%

In the end... it was not close. The election was decided by the economy and the economy was booming. The American People wanted the status quo... a fact George Norris and the Left didn't belief was true.

- Donald Hinckley, A History of the American Left (1987)

[The Govanah Jake]

1928 Senate Elections






-------


1928 House Elections

Democrats continued their dominance over the House. Riding off a wave of the booming economy and the soaring economy, the Democratic candidates in the House knocked off 10 Republican and Socialist seat incumbent to ride the new Democratic majority of more then 311 seats into the new Congress and into the new John Davis presidency. They would achieve the highest control of the House in the party's history and gain 71% control over the House political makeup. Meanwhile it would prove that the House in this time period would be more divided by the factions within the democratic party then any real Republican effort. As the Republicans under Gillett were reduced to under 100 seats standing at just 99 seats. The minority leader himself was forced into speculation on whether he would keep his job when he was subject to a incredibly close race in his nominal Republican district. It wasn't after 2 weeks of recounts in which Gillett could claim victory over his Democratic opponent. Gillett however faced the prospect of running a party in a important branch of Congress which held only 99 seats out of 435 seats total. He was already being blamed for the party's severe losses as of before the election and he couldn't take the scrutiny from fellow Republicans any longer. In May of 1929, he would thus resign effective immediately as even his moderate stances didn't prove in line with the increasingly progressive Republican base. His successor would too many surprise be none other then Fiorello H. LaGuardia, a outspoken and pompous New York congressmen who won a surprise race over many more established politicians. His victory would signal a steep change in the overall Republican message.

The American Conservatives meanwhile fared well under their new spokesmen Calvin Coolidge, who although failed to get as much of the vote as he wanted, still got a good 8% of the vote and coming second place in Massachusetts. With his defection, a signal was sent to over conservative republicans to get out. Thus with the gain in new crossover Republican, the party would able to gain 20 seats, the most the party had ever gotten in its existence so far. Charles Kennedy, the de-facto (and real as of May, 1927) leader of the American Conservative caucus celebrated the win for the party and said the results "signal a new turn towards American Liberty and Conservatism".

The Socialists however were to the opposite end of the spectrum. They continued their decline in the House losing 6 seats entirely to Democratic challengers and were reduced to a distant fourth party with only 5 seats total. Victor Berger, the minority leader for the party, was one of the lucky few who survived and was able to use his Milwaukee based machine to hand votes to him giving him a usually large re-election victory.

Overall the results proved to the direction the country continued to held throughout the 1920s: Towards the Democrats. The future, and the economy, looked promising for many, and Democrats looked into the Party's future with continued hope and optimism.

[The Govanah Jake]

Trouble on the Horizon



President John W. Davis posing for a photograph, 1929.

The scale of Norris's defeat was incredible. John Davis was able to single handily oust and destroy such a high ranking Republican senator easily and effectively, besting the President's 1920 and 1924 electoral vote margin, and winning more then 10% over Norris. In response, Norris and the Republicans were humiliated. George couldn't believe the results at first and it took until late the next day to hear a concession speech and concession call to the new President elect. John Davis on the other hand was exhilarated in excitement. The small named and literally unknown official less then a year prior was know the president and with that responsibility promised to hold the power of the office effectively.

"I thank you" he started his victory speech. "Thank you to the voters who wanted more prosperity, more jobs, and continued economic growth". He promised in his speech to tell the voters what his administration would be about. He said "My new administration will make growth and reform a priority and i promise to continue to give small business life in the country with little tax and little regulation for all!". The crowd went wild with the words that came from his mouth, their was a sense of excitement that to many political insiders should not have been so noticeable after 8 years of that same incumbent party's rule.

George Norris would never seek the presidency again. The run changed him according to close sources to him and his usual fierce personality was absent for some time after. The stress from the post-campaign scrutiny on him by other republicans meanwhile would eventually lead to a heart attack in 1935. He would survive but resign as Senator never to seek elected office again. His fellow republicans were also in a dreary mood for the immediate future. However some saw it as a positive. Hiram Johnson would later recount in a 1937 interview, "You know looking back, it was better that we lost in 1928. We wouldn't have been so prominent otherwise". But for the time in which John Davis was president, Republicans felt it was increasingly unlikely that they could ever achieve the presidency again with Democrats taking the Republican tittle as Party of Prosperity. They were able to regain the west, but the once Republican Midwest broke for the Democrat while the Mid-Atlantic, also a historic strong Republican area was becoming more and more a problem for them. A sense of struggle within the Republican Party too after his lost didn't help their chances. And with a good economy, they needed something big to come back.

In a surprisingly cold March day, the President elect became the president. In a small crowd, filled with supporters and passersbyers, he gave his 20 minute long inauguration speech. The speech he prepared with the help of speech typers highlighted a "continued national normalcy". "A new era of national growth and reform" he said to the crowd and called upon bipartisanship too, even if he and his party didn't need it with such big majority's. He called on Republicans and Democrats alike to align themselves behind his plans for a mass reform of government agency's and removing the "waste" from it, along with lowering the tax rate further for all. He meanwhile emphasized the need to avoid international war while maintaining alliances and keeping friendly to the world nations. His time as Secretary of State gave him a more pragmatic approach to isolationism, a key difference from the staunch isolationist president, and left him in good company with internationalist Republicans, while being portrayed as distinctively unwelcomed in Isolationist circles. He would enter the White House regardless with high approvals and a mandate to govern.

He first shook up the cabinet list appointed by Glass, to prove he was serious on reform in government. With the blessings of the previous president, (whom he would be in contact almost regularly for the rest of his cabinet) he set to create a new and more diverse cabinet and took it upon himself to ride old Glass appointees from their office.








His next push was towards a reform and slashing of the "wastes" of key government agency's held by his newly appointed cabinet members including those of the Labor department, State department, and that of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, whom since appointed to the position by Glass in 1924 was beginning to show signs of corruption and malpractice in regards to various investigations. However that was cut swiftly and shortly in the Summer of 1929 when severe Race Riots swept the South. It all started when a White man, whose name is unknown, shot a Black man by the name of Eli Brown in Little Rock, Arkansas. The background to the shooting is unknown, however Brown was believed to have threatened the White man. In response, he picked up a gun from his pocket and shot to death the Black man 10 times. When the cops arrived in response to the gun shot noise, he was arrested. However after receiving a swift court case, he was sentenced to not be guilty and was let go the next day.

The obviously biased court opinion set off fires within the Little Rock Black community and protests and riots began because of this. Soon a all out race riot began between the Black and White community's in the city with looting and lynchings becoming commonplace in the streets by white mobs upon black protesters. The police could not stop it, and the police department even took the side of the Court against the Black protesters. By nightfall of August 16th, 1929 23 Blacks were dead by lynching or by gun shot while 2 whites were officially dead with 15 others injured. It got so bad that the Governor William Lee Cazort, a unofficial Klu Klux Klan supporter himself, issued a statewide emergency against "dangerous Black radicals". Riots and protests became statewide.

News of this incident spread nationwide but spread but fervently in the South. Upon hearing news of the unfair court opinion, other black community's rose up in protest. The large Black populations in many of the southern city's frightened many of the white populous already and when these community's rose up in protest, they couldn't let their city rule crumble. They retaliated in a harsh reaction. With virtually all State Governments south of the Mason Dixon line unofficial supporters of the established segregationist principles or even outright supporters of groups like the Klan, hundreds of White protests retaliated against these protesters without much resistance from the state governments or local sheriff departments. Battles between the two became a all out war in street in city's including New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, and Birmingham. Hundreds were reported dead on the streets and some reports but it into the thousands by the end of August to early September. The only force to try to put a end to the massacre was seen in that of Huey Long's Louisiana. The new elected Governor knew it was in the best interest of the State reputation, and his reputation, to end the violence at once. He issued a State emergency and issued city-wide lock-downs in Shreveport and New Orleans, the city's with the largest riots, and ordered the State guard and local police forces to end the riots at once. He could successively get his state in order by October of that same year, and would gain a title of respect from outside sources.

Upon hearing news of the riots, many in the North were appalled that such massacre on United State's soil could be done and tolerated by state government's. White Liberal and Progressive groups and most Northern politicians of all stripes and creeds (excluding the core Glassites) issued condemnation to the white protesters while others issued a condemnation to both the white and black protesters. "You know the Black Radical's started this but both groups should be condemned" replied newly elected Senator from Michigan Arthur Vandenberg to reporters asking of the incident. Most appalled however were Northern Black civil rights groups. The NAACP issued a immediate message calling the southern actions "horrible" and decried how only could allow this to happen on open note. They sent a letter to the president urging him to take action and end the violence. The President however took a rather silent tone. Though a early supporter of black civil rights before his entry into politics as a West Virginian Lawyer, he had to tow a tight line with the largely Pro-Segregationist Democratic Party with the president openly supporting the failed National Segregation amendment. He thus remained silent throughout the entire endeavor. He failed to offer any support to the black protesters being massacred, however didn't support the white protesters calling their actions "wrong and despicable". However he also said he couldn't support "radical Black activists who are destroying southern city's either. He called it a state issue and said his office and the presidency had no right to involve themselves in southern state issues. Vice President Walter George however took a very different tone. "Those Black Socialists are being finance by Yankee Businessman and are trying to destroy southern values" he said to the press. The fierce segregationist at heart was seen as a compromise to the Bilbo supporters in the 1928 convention, but even he didn't support the white protesters. Instead he attacked the black rioters saying as he said to the press that they were financed by northern industrialist businessmen in a conspiracy to destroy southern "values".

[The Govanah Jake]

The new administration's refusal to involve themselves in the conflict proved to be a decision which both hurt and partially helped them. The President was able to fully get the backing of the ardent Segregationist crowd who backed Bilbo and his push for "States Rights" style of argumentation in the situation gave him support from American Conservatives and ardent conservatives. Senator Vandenberg, a ardent Democratic conservative himself, called upon himself to graduate the president for "sticking for small government values in hard times like this".

However his support among liberals and progressives that stuck with him plummeted over night. The Republicans as a whole from Progressive, Moderate, and the occasional conservative attacked him over his inaction. Progressives and Moderates alike united behind the narrative that he was opening supporting the killing of southern blacks at the hands of white racists. The Republican Party, still knowing that still openly support black civil rights, would not go well with white voters, instead went with the lines that Davis was actively ignoring the right to Life for all citizens, including black ones. Progressives like Johnson and Norris attacked him jointly as a supporter of the massacre of Black citizens and the "enemy of Black citizens everywhere". La Follette Jr. of Wisconsin called him a "baby killer" too after the report of the massacre of 10 "Negro boys and girls between the ages of 1 and 10". Black support (for the few who could vote) for Davis dropped overnight, to otherwise low numbers, to now hovering zero as Republicans fully became the party of the black voter.

But overall, the polling for the president did take a hit but it was minimal at best. He dropped to 54% polling at the worst Fall 1929 period but soon rebounded to the upper 60% range according the New York Time by the Winter months when the protests finally winded down. By Late December of 1929, the protests had grinded to a halt as unusually large amounts of snow rained into the southern city's. The final death count for the 5 month regional riots stood at 3,500: 2,900 Black, with 600 White's caught to death in the crossfires or seen as "n Supporters". It was truly a massacre and race tension were at the worst they were ever at under John Davis's tenure.

Entering the new year however, there were other signs to worry about for the president and the country as a whole. The early 1930 jobs, and economic growth support saw a sharp decrease in growth overall to the lowest they had been in 5 years. Meanwhile actual growth took a hit and the Spring reports showed the first economic decrease since 1922. This worried the president deeply as unemployment rose to a high of 7.5% by the summer of 1930, the highest since late 1923. The stock market meanwhile showed worrying signs too as mass inflation began to become prevalent and overpricing began to become out of control. Top economists warned a crash unless government action was took.

John Davis refused to be welcomed to big government but wanted to save face too. In a attempt to save the economy and regrowth the economy, he was able to pass a bill with full democratic bill to cut the tariff rate to 21%, the lowest since the founding of the country. The logic was that low tariffs were able to boost the country in the 1920s, and they would do it again here. At least for now the scare was over as finally by late 1930, the "1930 Economic scare" was over. Or at least it seemed. Inflation in the stock market and the inflated value of the stocks continued to climb and climb. Rampant speculation a possible collapse reached a high in almost a decade as economist after economist warned of that possibility. People feared a crash, and Davis refused to use any governmental actions to interfere in the economy. There were calls from Republicans and some Democrats alike for a Stock Market reform bill to try to reign in the uncontrollable inflation within the system. The bill put up by Republican senator Thomas Gore of Oklahoma, called the "Investment and Management Reform Act of 1930" would reform the way inflation was handled in regards to Stocks and Bonds and hoped to regulate it. But the "Glass Consensus" in the Congress refused to let such a "big government monstrosity", in the words of Thaddeus Caraway, pass it. It got the full backing of Republicans and some worried democrats but failed to pass the House at a 286-140 loss on October 15th, 1930. The next day "Black Wednesday" occurred. The biggest Stock market crash in United States history had occurred and the 1930 Midterms were right around the corner.

[Bidenworth2020]

lets go davis!

[The Govanah Jake]

lets go davis!

Um...

[Bidenworth2020]

lets go davis!

Um...

I posted this before the most recent post . Are the effects of the great depression at all different from OTL?

[The Govanah Jake]

lets go davis!

Um...

I posted this before the most recent post . Are the effects of the great depression at all different from OTL?

Virtually the same. Glassite de-regulation vastly exceeded that of OTL Republican presidencys and removed most of the Rooseveltian regulation in his tenure. The remaining regulation left over was able to stall the depression for a little under a year after.  So when it does it hit, the effects are around the same in OTL.

[The Govanah Jake]

1930 Senate Election



New House Republican Minority Leader Robert L. Bacon of New York, CIRCA 1927

The Senate elections of 1930 would largely be ignored by the Economic Crash that occurred less then 2 weeks prior, same with that years House elections. People were too preoccupied with the new economic news to be bothered to vote and thus the lowest turnout for any national senate election occurred in 1930 with only 34%. Much lower from the 55%, 2 years prior. The few voters who did decide to vote finally put a end to the Democratic streak of building on their total Senate majority since the early 1920s. The Democrats failed their first total lost in Senate seats in almost 8 years while the opposite was true for the Republicans. In Colorado, Republican George H. Shaw, a local county executive defeated incumbent Senator Lawrence C. Phipps. The latter was considered the favorite throughout much of the race and was able to successfully label Shaw as a Dangerous Left Wing radical, at least until the final weeks. The crash collapsed the National approvals of Democratic incumbents everywhere. Shaw pounced on the opportunity and in the final weeks put up the infamous "A Vote for Phipps, is another vote for John Davis" slogan combining the economic collapse, Senator Phipps, and the President together. On the 2nd, the Coloradan Democratic establishment was shocked when Shaw won 50-44% over Phipps.

Wisconsin incumbent senator Emil Seidel on his way to the congress building in Washington DC was run down by a stray car. He would remain hospitalized for 2 weeks until his final death on September 19th, 1929. The old Socialist titan was dead. Back in Wisconsin, upon hearing news of his death, Governor Philip La Follette put into the new vacancy George Lippert. Lippert, a La Follette republican and district attorney to Marathon county, was on par with the La Follettes, Robert and Philip. They were close friends and both held the common goal of ending their Socialist rivals based into Milwaukee, whom both viewed as too radical. Philip also put up a special election to go on par with the Senate elections the following year. The Socialists put up Daniel Hoan, former mayor of Milwaukee, running on efficient and honest government. He easily united Socialists around him. The only potential competition was from Representative Victor Berger, who failed to see true socialist credentials in Hoan. Berger would unfortunately be struck dead by a car in Milwaukee on December 15th, 1929, which Hoan brought up in the campaign for the need of a Public bus system in Milwaukee (which would occur in 1931).

Lippert and Hoan failed to be very different in policy and instead the election was on tone. Lippert a Western countryboy versus Hoan the Big City Socialist. Lippert campaigned throughout the western industrial heartlands running on farm subsidies and agricultural reform while Hoan didn't do much campaigning and instead relied on his Milwaukee machine and campaign staff to get out the vote and his ideas. The Economic collapse in the final week of the campaign did little to effect the race, unlike in most others, as both were still viewed as outsiders. The Democratic Party in this time already running a lesser known candidate collapsed in polling even more and endorsed Lippert.







Republicans picked off one more Seat from the Democrats in Illinois with the candidate of Joseph M. McCormick, former Illinois Representative. After failing to win the 1925 Republican nomination, he attempted suicide but was stopped before doing so. He would run again in 1930 and go up against incumbent Senator Anton Cermak, a prominent immigrant activist in the Chicago area who after failing to win the Mayorship of Chicago ran for the Senate instead. McCormick was able to easily beat the "easy candidate" that was Cermak. Chicago mobsters who hated the Senator for this friendliness to the Immigrant an minority groups in Chicago ranging from the Poles to the African American Community made a infamous deal with McCormick for their support in exchange for the "ignoring" of these groups. Mayor Thompson who held a personally grudge with Cermak lent his support to McCormick too getting his machine to back him. Come Election Day, McCormick was able to smack Cermak out of his job with a 57-40% victory for the former representative.

Overall, the 1930 Senate elections were a clear lost for Democrats losing 2 seats and reduced to 2 less seats at 57. The Republicans held a good night with 3 gained seats while the Socialists lost one with the lost of Hoan. Were these signs to come?





-----------------------------


1930 House of Representative Elections

Montague reign over Congress however remained firm losing only 13 in the small Republican wave. The new Republican leader Robert Bacon of New York, who took over after the aging finally decided to retire, took a much different approach to leading the party then before, taking a somewhat populistic control over the minority party. He lead his party to its first victory in almost a decade gaining 10 seats and gaining over 100 seats again at 109 by the end of the night. The third party's of the Socialists and the American Conservatives also had a good night with the American Conservative receiving one seat from a retiring Democratic incumbent while the Socialists took a net positive gain in the House for the first in some time under their new leader Meyer London. They received 2 new seats as worriment of the economy finally lead the Socialists into their prime area of governance, in times of economic crisis.

[The Govanah Jake]

Destruction of the American Dream

Teddy Roosevelt Jr, posing for a Picture (CIRCA 1932)

The Economic downturn raged throughout the Newspapers. "STOCK MARKET COLLAPSES" put in bold was printed across the front page of the New York Times Daily October 16th edition. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle read "WALL STREET IN TURMOIL" that same day while the United Kingdom's Daily Mail reported "BIGGEST CRASH IN WALL STREET HISTORY". Readers across the country, with each of these Newspaper's readership in the millions, read of the horrible crash that occurred later the preceding day. The Market, each of these papers repeated was at a all time high, less then 2 months prior with the Dow Jones Industrial Averaging at 423 Points on August 17th, 1929. It had remained stagnant since, until that fateful day. Months of Speculation and Economist predictions finally came to a head when the Market dropped tremendously in Stock values across the board. The Dow Jones, the primary Stock trading platform, dropped from 419 at 4 PM Closing Time October 15th to 389 at Closing Time the next day. A drop of 12.5%, the biggest since the 1893 Panic which it rivaled and later would dwarf in the size of this downturn. By October 25nd, 10 days after, the Stock Market ended it's sharp decline but in the time stood at 227 Points according to the days Dow Jone's closing results. A drop of almost 200 points within a month lead to immense fears from investors and brokers throughout the country. Fears of further collapse lead to a mass withdrawal, or at least an attempt, of stock holdings which lead to panic in financial institutions throughout the country. Banks and Financial Firms were hectic with an angry populous demanding their returns back were forced back by a lack of any real financial support to support the financial institutions themselves. People were forced into bankruptcy with this new reality. Major financial institutions were forced into bankruptcy or severe monetary trauma for months and years on end. Unemployment rose in every state, every county, and every city and this was none more evident in the Home of Wall Street itself. Riots in New York City in Early December of 1930 were demanding financial support and a return to economic normalcy by their governments. The Mayorship of the face of the Laissez Faire Glassite Jimmy Walker was blamed as the head of the misery in America. His coziness to Tammany Hall and the Business Establishment in the City, which these protesters believed both let and continued the financial problems, was hated after the Crash but his charisma and good charm kept him afloat. That was until the final blow to his Administration. Corruption scandals rocked through City Hall in the Late wintry December days of 1929. Reports of financial dealings between the Mayor and key officials within the Legal and Police systems showed clear examples of Pay to Play corruption. Walker vigorously denied such claims. A probe on more examples showed a deep vein of corruption running throughout the city, which everyone already new. He refused to show his personal bank account when asked and when questions on such examples including the finding of "$490,000 under a Pot in his Home" were asked - he instead gave vague and broad answers and tried to use his charisma to get himself out of argument. Seeing a weakness in the Mayor, his political opponents pounced on the opportunity. The powerful Socialist Labor faction in the city lead by City leaders including Morris Hillquit accused the Mayor of "Greed" and "Poor-ophobia", a term coined by Hillquit himself or the fear of the Poorer classes in the City. The Republican Party saw a chance at electoral opportunity with the sudden turn of misfortunes for Walker, and the Party which was out of power for decades was already bringing in funds and building up support from key demographic groups for the incoming victory (Immigrant ethnics, City Blacks, Poor Whites) yet they still failed to yield a candidate nor a real opening for them with Walker still in office.

They were able to get one of those openings in a rather unfortunate way: With the Death of Jimmy Walker. While strolling down the streets of Broadway with a posy of officials and guards (due to the protests) he still seemed to keep personal popularity to a high. He still held the same ole "Walker Charisma" and was still said he could woe anyone with just his look. He greeted passerbyers happily like he didn't have a care in the world. That was until things took a turn to the worst. Walking on the other street, a young man no older then 23 years old screamed in the air "Care for the Poor you Rich Bastard!". Walker looked to the man as him and his posy stopped. Within seconds, the Man pulled out a small Hand Gun and shot Walker once in the Arm and another in the Chest. His guards rushed him in the way, in the process of the shooter shooting one of the guards and killing a high end Democratic assemblyman from Queens and a high end Tammany Hall member, the identity and names of each were never given in the eye witness account of the event. Walker was rushed to the hospital and put into the nearest Ambulance. As it past, word of the shooting past throughout the city with some of the protectors cheering while most took a rather solemn tone to show respect for the still personally popular Mayor. Unfortunately he died of his injury's to his Chest, though put up a impressive fight for more then a day. On January 18th, 1931 the Mayor Jimmy Walker was dead. The city generally mourn for his lost, Poor and Rich. His controversial and tragic demise would put him as one of the most remembered of all the New York City Mayors, for better or for worse.

The Mayorship was replaced by Joseph V. McKee whom was a key member of the Walker administration. He easily passed the City Council vote receiving 40 votes to the other 10, off the backs of the assassination. Promising a end to the riots in the City he meanwhile ordered the police department to put a end to the protests and in the promise elected top officials involved in it including top Laborite leaders, to the outrage of many of the Laborite Left. He though kept his promise. By the Spring of 1931, the Protests had ended but the unemployment in all 5 boroughs rose constantly higher and reached 13% in May of 1931. He issued a special election in November of that Year with the approval of the city council and the friendly Governor who backed both him and the Tammany Hall. He would run on the sympathy vote of the death of the late Mayor along with a promise of a City wide Jobs program to end unemployment. He also pledged to rid the old Walker cabinet and put in new "Uncorrupted" members in his words and to use city deregulation to end the collapse. He said "The Reason for the collapse is not the Market's fault but the lack of any real Market" which gave him full backing of the Conservative Lower Manhattan affluent residents worried with the loss of their own investments with the crash. He got the endorsement of the small but stable NYC American Conservative Party in which he handily won their primary due to Ballot Fusioning.

The Republicans in the city looked for the candidate with the view that McKee was too weak to actually win a election. Representative La Guardia was first to be attempted to be drafted by the Party, and his rise inside the Republican Party rose his status into a Party Leader instead of a lowly Long Island based politician. He denied such attempts quickly and said he would focus on National Politics instead. The next major person was known other then Franklin Roosevelt. Then unemployed, he had failed in his New York political ambitions in the 1920s and had instead became a prominent promoter within the Progressive ideology itself with his failed run in 1928 and his "Peoples Summit". He was seen as a very strong candidate and opinion polls showed he blasted McKee away in a City Election.

After strong consideration from Roosevelt, he eventually choose for it. "I have nothing better to do" he said to the New York Times. The newly born Republican announced his run on May 19th, 1931 to a cheering crowd. He quickly got the backing of the City Labor Machine and won the Socialist and Republican nominations easily, along with the backing of the Laborite focused Labor Party and a plethora of smaller Leftist party's. He would battle McKee not in actual physical campaigning, but through his preferred communication method of Radio. He would tell of the citizens of New York through the Radio and even bought Radios for some who could not afford it to listen. He called McKee a "Snobbish fool" to listener and said the "Wealthy Folks in Lower Manhattan would love him to win" and wrapped it up with saying that the "Crash was because of Walker and McKee". This last quote was used to pounced onto by McKee as Outrageous and ridiculous. Attempts at labeling Roosevelt a radical however failed big time when Roosevelt responded to claims saying that he would "work with everyone who supports this depression to stop". The first major battle in the New Depression world showed to truly be brutal.

The results proved a new era for New York City as Roosevelt won a convincing victory throughout the 5 boroughs winning 3 of them and 55% of the vote. His wins of 58% and 59% in the Bronx and Queens respectively showed the formation of a winning path for City Republicans, one through the City Poor and Minority groups instead of relying on Business voters and the votes of the Well off which they used for almost a century prior. The Socialist absorption into the City Republican Party killed off the Party's ability to win in the city through pushed the Republicans firmly on the Left. The Depression ranging, Mayor Roosevelt had alot on his plate with rising unemployment and rising unrest throughout the city.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

[The Govanah Jake]

In Response to the Crash, the Nation's business elites tried their best to boast public confidence back into the Market. Families of the Gilded Age era establishment including those of the Rockefeller's and Morgans bought millions of shares into the Market in a attempt to end the Panic. These efforts ultimately failed however. The collapse continued and continued for days on end in rapid chunks of decline per day. Panic struck both Business and Politics. Massive layoffs of company's occurred throughout 1931 with the most heavily effected areas also being the areas most heavily industrialized or relied on industrialist forces. Both Urban and Rural areas were effected. Farmers in the Plains saw surpluses yes but the collapse of their buyers out East put many Farms into bankruptcy throughout the Great Plains. Unemployment rose steadily throughout 1931 from 6.5% nationwide in January to 11.0% nationwide in December of that year, almost a doubling and no one new how to stop it, certainly not the President.

The crisis complexed him. A country in economic trauma seemed to only be getting worse when he applied every method he thought would end it. He lowered Taxes yet again to a flat rate of 32% (In accordance with the maintained Flat Tax Amendment) with support from the Congress yet that month produced the largest number of Bankruptcy among American citizens in United States History. He lowered the Tariff again and set up and passed a comprehensive Tariff reform and Free Trade bill dubbed "1931 Free Trade Law" and more American Manufacturers that were thought to benefit from Free Trade were closed or laid off hundreds to thousands of employees. He even was able to get a Financial Reform Bill, which was dubbed by more conservative critics as a smaller version of the 1930 bill of similar character. It would for time regulate financial corporations to make sure they engaged to fair play and finally end speculation and raise the market again, or so they thought. It passed with Bi-Partisan support in August of 1931 but failed to give much relief to the failing economy and market. That Month alone showed the Dow Jones drop to 157, a drop of 17 points in that Month alone. Across the World, similar governments were facing the problem of the collapse of the Stock exchanges in not only America, but the World too. Following that of the American one, the London Exchange collapsed in November of 1929 sending the country into a recession and in some occasions a depression. Similar to ones in France, Germany, and Russia among others, the economy's of the major nations of the World collapsed in comparison to the 1920s.

Davis was begged by critics to take actions. Even some in his own "coalition" like Thaddeus Caraway urged Davis to take some Government action citing the growing radicalization and unrest among the American public. He reportedly said to him, "Government is the Problem you Fool" a quote seen as a rallying cry for the modern Conservative movement. Throughout the country he was growing to be hated as a figure for his lack of actions. So called "Davisvilles" sprang up across the country as shanty towns full of the unemployed and poor caught in the depression's grip. A notable Davisville in DC itself openly mocked the President personally. He decried them as lazy and told them "Your not going to get better by doing nothing!". A statement that would later haunt him. A new jobs report meanwhile showed the President at a approval of 41% from the people, a fall of 15% from the 56% of last year. "How the Mighty have Fallen" thought many of Davis as he struggled to keep control of his party as many in the Party knew they needed to act to end the crisis and couldn't let the "Stubborn" (In the words of Thomas Gore) president block it and ruin the party

The winter brought even more pain towards the administration when the own Army revolted. Members of the United States Military wanted to get their pay check in. In December of 1931, a collection of 14,500 World World 2 Veterans and about 35,000 to 40,000 of their families and other affiliated veteran groups demanded to see their government mandated bonuses for them serving in the military be seen. These veterans were struck hard by the depression and the organization said that most of these veterans failed to ever were their bonuses received. They camped in the Davisville in Washington DC and marched on the Capital early in the Day on December 26th in the dead of Winter with a force of almost 12,000 veterans on the first day alone. Marching done the streets of DC, the police force and military were put onto high caution mode carefully guarding the collection down their march. They arrived at the White House. They would encamp their facing a collection of a dozen or more police officers. There they demanded their bonuses saying chants including "We Demand our Money!" or "While we Die, You Buy" aimed at the president. Davis was locked in his White House and refused to give into the demands. This so called "Bonus Army" were already denied their bonuses under Carter Glass when he said "Patriotism doesn't come at a price". Davis refused to give in and ordered the Army and District Police force to remove them the following day. They complied and led by General Douglas MacArthur and Major George S. Patton, they called on the group to back from the White House federal property. At 4 PM, after refusal to compile from the leaders of the March, Major Patton ordered his troops to charge into the group. It would turn bloody when one solider in response to the sight of gun grabbing in the Bonus Army pulled out his rifle and shot one of the protesters dead. This would set off a chain reaction and by 7 PM, 18 Bonus Army veterans stood dead while 5-10 victims from their family's were caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile thousands more were injured and only 3 soldiers of the United States Army laid dead while the official report reported only 594 injured. The Bonus Army dispersed in panic. The horror in the nations own capital sent shock waves throughout the country. "How could the Government shoot our beloved veterans dead in our very own capital" thought many citizens and those of the press corp. The New York Times read the next day "GOV. SOLDIERS SHOOT BONUS SOLDIERS DEAD, PROTEST ENDS."

Meanwhile to the North in response to the bonus Army protest, 21,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians planned a similar march to the Capital to meet with the Bonus army. They were led by Roman catholic priest James Renshaw Cox and demanded a Public's Works Program, Anti-Poverty measures, and the end to the Flat Tax amendment in favor of Progressive taxation. They were supported by Philadelphia Mayor Gifford Pinchot, whom was a member of Progressive Republicans. He offered then financial assistance and ordered free gas towards the protesters motor vehicles as they marched. The "Cox Army" was panicked at the sight of the Massacre in DC and many didn't want to meet the same fate. Nevertheless they persisted and marched in the beginning cold of the new Year onward's. Upon hearing news of the new march, the President didn't want it too add as bad for him as the previous one had done to his politically. He ordered the army this time to stop them before they arrived in D.C. and told Maj. Patton, who would lead this small task force, to try to be as peaceful as possible.

The two forces meet right outside D.C. in a plain in Central Maryland, about 75 miles from Baltimore. Leading like he was in battle, Patton ordered a traditional battle formation for his troops in response to seemingly "endless" amounts of the unemployed. Patton, at age 43, was a rising member throughout the US Military and was very likely to be promoted to General. He needed this to go well but he took no chances. "Go Home" he yelled at the protesters when a battle was increasingly becoming likely. He got no major response from the unemployed. Patton meet with key officials from the March including Cox. Cox said himself ans his men would not leave until their police demands were meet, he suggested that Patton go tell Davis about them so he could do it. "I have orders James. Go Home!" he reportedly said in response. The two backed off into their corners, Cox refused to budge. Patton then ordered a charge to scare the marchers away. The marchers wouldn't budge. The few who brought guns pulled out their guns, the preferred choice was the Rifle. One of them pulled at their rifle, put in a bullet and shot at one of the soldiers, he fell dead. The battle was inevitable. The soldiers shot at the protesters while the few protesters with guns shot back as they finally dispersed. Patton ordered his soldiers to but down arms but it was too late. The battle was over by 5 PM but at that time 24 of the Marchers laid dead while hundreds or thousands were injured. 5 Soldiers in comparison laid dead with a hundred or two injured. Patton, who laid the expedition would never recover from this publicity incident. The Press had their day with the incident. "How much more will die demanding decent living standards?" argued one key arguer in the New York Times edition for the next day. The President was devastated by the incident. The President angry at Patton relieved the Major from command of the Eastern American Solider units and he would be vilified as the face of authoritarian militarism in the Domestic United States. His jobs ratings stood at 35% in February of 1932.

Meanwhile a push was being made nationwide to repeal the Flat Tax amendment. Arguing off the grounds that the Poor could no longer pay for a rate of 32%, while they couldn't lower it any more as they needed to fund the government, the only way proponents said was to repeal it and go to the tax system before. A bill to repeal it was put into the congress led by concerned republican and democratic representatives. "The Flat Taxation Removal Act" proposal was put into the House. John Davis saw this and refused to budge on supporting it, remaining firm as ever. The bill was a longshot at getting 2/3rds majority put a growing concern from democrats who overwise wouldn't vote for it, due to job fears. On April 19th the Bill failed to get a 2/3rds majority even if it held a majority. 241 for, 171 against and many not voting for either option. Davis was relieved that it was preserved but was still dissatisfied with a Jobs report showing unemployment rising to 16% in the Spring quarter of 1932 and the Stock Market still crashing to 110 at the Dow Jones. His own Job stood at 30%, a all time low and the lowest any president had ever gotten since the beginning of any polling for presidents began.

[The Govanah Jake]

Then he had too think of the 1932 election. Going into it, he was at a severe disadvantage. Republicans were motivated and as united as ever to win and knew they would win. The Progressives in the party were in anticipation of the eventual victory and would go on to spent the months preceding it purging the last Conservative and Center-Right officials from the RNC, of spent millions on primary's and killing those Center-Right Republican Senators. And they were very successful and flipped 5 Republican Senators in exchange for more Progressive counterparts (including that of Gifford Pinchot in Pennsylvania) and more then 16 House Members. The remember seeing they were increasingly unwelcome in the now Official Center Left Republican Party either joined the American Conservatives or the Democrats who welcomed 3 new Conservative Republican turn Democratic senators into their Caucus (Samuel Shortridge, Albert Johnson, and Frederic C. Walcott to many's suprise.). However 2 Democratic senators flipped to the Republicans in Huey Long of Louisiana whom was just elected to the Senate and allowed Oscar Allen to take his place as governor. He cited his "Disgust" for the Party leadership and the President and said "His stubborn do-nothingness is the reason our economy gets worse and worse". He also said Davis was a "Puppet to Northern Elitists like the Rockefeller's" and said he betrayed the core Democratic values of Populism. He was joined with fellow Southerner Thomas Gore to many's surprise again and cited many of the same reasons as Long. Davis on the news called both of them "Traitors". "I always knew those little Socialist bastards would join the Republicans" he would say to reporters.

John Davis was easily renominated by his Party for another term. He was still popular within his own party and no major politicians dared to challenge him. The only politicians who did really score any delegates was Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi who called Davis a "Negro Lover" after his relatively inactionite effort in the 1929 Southern Riots and offered support for White Social Programs and "White Economic Prosperity and Recovery". He ultimately failed in his effect winning only 56 delegates all from the South while Davis took over 900. The DNC for that year drafted that the Democratic Party would recover the nation and prosperity by "Choosing to follow aggressive Free Trade and Low Government Spending Policy's. Only these will fix the depression as we have seen in the past, and will spur Business to grow and Unemployment to fall". In his convention speech he said "Brighter times are coming again" "We shall return to prosperity and America will recover and expand to new heights i can promise". There was a generally optimistic mode in the DNC itself but most knew he was doomed.

The nominee for the Republican Party that year was in dispute until the Convention itself. Many different candidates had declared their candidacy yet not one seemed to dominate at all. The official list entering the convention of candidates who held a chance stood at the following:

- Former Senator from Wisconsin Irvine Lenroot
- Senator from Wisconsin Robert M. La Follette Jr.
- Minneapolis Mayor Floyd B. Olson
- Senator William Borah of Idaho
- Businessmen Herbert Hoover of California
- Former Governor of Ohio James M. Cox
- Fiorello H. La Guardia
- Senator from Utah Reed Smoot

The primary's failed to provide a true front runner and proved that they were dominated by simple favorite son home state wins and regional splits between all of the candidates. However the ones who were held by many inside the Party's and the Media included those of La Follette Jr, Borah, La Guardia, and Hoover. La Follette Jr, son of the late Senator La Follette was viewed as his natural successor to the Progressive movement. But he was only 37 and his young, and "relative" inexperience were at his disadvantage. William Borah meanwhile was of the Old Guard nearing 70 but maintained himself as the standard bearer of originalist Progressivism which but him at odds with some of the more radical members. He though had party backing for the most part and promised to return to "Sane Fiscal Policy's" to get the United States out of Depression. Fiorello La Guardia was a new member of the Congress and the Party but rose through its ranks quickly and became a key member of the party. Short but charismatic and loved by his constituents in his New York district, he was also a radical and identified himself as a "democratic socialist" and was able to rally the Radicals of the Party around himself. Finally of the major candidates stood the newest face of the 4 - Hoover. Haven run as a Republican 4 years prior, he was able to use the same Maverick Populist appeal to get him into the finalists yet again. Saying "Only a Businessman can fix a Depression", he offered hard Protectionism and higher taxes on the Rich and a end to the Flat Tax. He also campaigned on more progressive government efficiency and a end to Government Corruption, bold yet it appealed well to the electorate. The problem however was all of these polled roughly the same and the possibility of a contested convention was more then likely

Fears of a contested convention scared Republican officials who wanted the unity to last past the election. The urged lesser known candidates to "get out of the way" to narrow the field and increase the possibly and a shorter and 1-10 ballot convention. This worked to some extent. Irvine Lenroot decided to drop out the first day of the convention in favor of La Follette Jr, fellow Wisconsinite. Meanwhile Olson of Minnesota endorsed fellow Radical La Guardia saying on the floor "He can best represent the interests of the Poor and the Working Class and that's why i endorse him". However Cox and Smoot refused to drop out until the delegates voted.

The first ballot produced the result people were expecting:

William Borah - 305 Delegates
La Follette Jr. - 246.5 Delegates
La Guardia - 227.5 Delegates
Herbert Hoover - 209 Delegates
Reed Smoot - 87.5 Delegates
James Cox - 64.5 Delegates

The results were split almost equally between the top 4 candidates. Upon hearing the results Former Governor Cox dropped out and let his delegates decide there choice on the floor of which they split evenly between the top 4. Smoot refused to resign but was courted by Hoover multiple times for his delegates in exchange for a Vice President spot. Borah in the lead called on Party Progressives to unite and discard of the "Radicals" in the party. He was responded by La Guardia who said "Is it Radical to want a good standard of living for myself and my children? If so i and the majority of Americans are Radicals Mr. Senator (Borah)". Going into the second ballot the 4 candidates didn't budge:

William Borah - 328 Delegates
La Follette Jr. - 274 Delegates
La Guardia - 246.5 Delegates
Herbert Hoover - 232.5 Delegates
Reed Smoot - 67.0 Delegates

Smoot decided to drop out after being convinced of the offer by Hoover after him dropping 20 in the second ballot. Late that day he endorsed Hoover and gave his delegates to Him. Hoover found himself know in second place and Progressives of all kind were becoming worried of his victory as his own progressive credential didn't convince them. After 5 more Ballots showing the same - Borah in a slight first place position with Hoover behind him, and La Guardia and La Follette Jr. battling for third place, a call for a Unity candidate was beginning to grow. By the 12th Ballot Hoover was in a slight first place lead at 421 total Delegates and La Guardia had finally passed both La Follette Jr. and Borah for a second place slot. La Follette Jr. and Borah were becoming more and more worried at their own chances and both began to talk of some unity between the two. However they couldn't agree with who would hold the first position and who would hold the second, and talks ended as quickly as they started.

In come Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Son of the Late President Theodore Roosevelt he was already viewed as president ready and had become a New York Representative in 1926. Talks began to place him as the Compromise candidate the Party needed and he would neither deny or accept if he was running. Seeing the Contested Convention however and seeing himself having no choice, with the support of Progressives ranging from La Follette Jr. himself to Johnson and Norris who both enthusiastically supported the prospect. A Moderate Progressive he was able to quickly unite the party around himself. Borah, though a stubborn independent who refused to ever back down, knew his control of victory was becoming less and less his own as Teddy Jr sucked up whatever support he had. Teddy promised Borah a key government position in which Borah choose Secretary of State. Teddy agreed and Borah dropped out on the 17th Ballot. On the 18th, Teddy Roosevelt Jr. put his name in the running with the full backing of La Follette Jr., Borah, and the Progressive Establishment. La Guardia and Herbert Hoover were the only one who opposed, both arguing on different groups.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - 721.5
Herbert Hoover - 237
La Guardia - 191.5

Roosevelt was able to walk out of the Convention victorious. Both Herbert Hoover and La Guardia graciously conceded. In a appeasement to the radical wing of those including La Guardia and Olson, he picked Mayor Olson as his Vice President. Olson would say to the convention "Under myself and Mr. Roosevelt, we shall bring America out of Depression and bring Prosperity and Justice for all citizens". The RNC official platform with the support of Roosevelt and Olson went the furthest anyone had ever allowed. In it, the official Republican Party endorsed:

End to the Depression by:
- Promoting vigorous Protectionist policy's and tax rates. Anywhere from 55-70% due to the Depression
- Supporting the elimination of the Flat Tax amendment and support for Pre-Amendment Progressive rates
- Raising taxes on the Wealthy, lowering those on the poor
- Creating a National Public Works programs to lower unemployment
- Vigorous Anti-Speculatory Business Legislation

Support the American Middle Class and Poor by:
- Support the Minimum Wage and raise it more then the 1916-1919 High.
- Reinstate a Universal Healthcare System
- Support nationalization of the Railroads and other public utilities.
- Support Farmers by giving to Farming Subsidy's
- Support an Ban to Lynching
- Racial integration of Federal Departments
- Support Labor Unions and Labor Rights.

[The Govanah Jake]

Foreign Policy:
- Support continued Anti-Interventionist Beliefs
- Support League of Nations
- Battle Worldwide Communism and help groups fighting for freedom from Communism
- Trade Block Mexico, Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, and other country's under oppressive regimes
- Support the Independence of the Philippines

The Roosevelt/Olson ticket proved a big challenge for Davis. Both Roosevelt Jr. and Olson were Young and Charismatic while Davis was older and more intellectually toned. He really stood no chance however he tried to not end embarrassingly. He called Roosevelt a "No-Nothing Dimwitted Ignoramus" and said that he supported "grand generalization's". However these failed to stick. Whether Roosevelt Jr. went, he brought large crowds and large applause's for his policy's. He called Davis a "Stubborn Capon" and "Misguidedly Naive". Unemployment stood at 21.5% in the Autumn of 1932 and the Job rating of the President was now below 30% at 26.5%.

Roosevelt also gave open support against Prohibition, a position that was growing with steam during the Depression. Davis did not support this but he didn't attack it either seeing his position failing to get much support. A bill to end the Prohibition Bill meanwhile in this time was able to easily Pass the House and Senate with 359 votes in the House and 70 Seats in the Senate. The push for its removal at the State Legislature began and it became a hot topic issue once again in these houses throughout the country. Roosevelt also popularized "Happy Day's are Here Again" as his campaign theme song providing a sense of Hope and Optimism around his campaign, exactly what he wanted.

In a attempt to regain some support, he used Carter Glass to his advantage when campaigning. Glass, still popular among the People, campaigned with Davis throughout the Upper South and Mid-atlantic. He was quoted as saying that Roosevelt Jr. was a "Yankee son ofa bitch who is only famous cause his Daddy was President". At nearly 70, he was old and very much tired from his presidency, but he was still very much a fiery campaigner for his Secretary of State. But it was too late, the People would never accept Glass to decide the outcome of the Election, especially when the Economy was in shambles.

[Bidenworth2020]

jeez, i though 1930 was gonna be a pub wave. You confused me their

[The Govanah Jake]

jeez, i though 1930 was gonna be a pub wave. You confused me their

It would of it happened say in real life, a year before it. In OTL, it happens less then 2 weeks before it and the effects aren't as shown for their to be any real wave.

[The Govanah Jake]

The results pored in. New England results showed signs were troubling for the Democrats as within a Hour the major news stations in New York City reported easily victory's for Roosevelt Jr. in all states in New England with reports showing him above 60% in all of them (In the End, he would receive just under in Connecticut at 58.9%). When New York State was reported their was some hope for Davis as the results at first were close but Theodore's home state loved him and he received large crowds when he went. He would pull out and win New York easily in the end. It would only go downhill from their and it wasn't until the Solid South in which Davis even won states. Even then, states like Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana (where now Democrat turned Republican Senator Huey Long actively campaigned against Davis in the state and endorsed Roosevelt Jr in October) could not be called at closing times. Virginia was called at first but was retracted when Appalachian and North Virginian results favored the Republicans for a change. It would eventually fall to Davis but at a reduced 55-44% margin. West Virginia was called immediately for Roosevelt, the state of Davis himself and would lose it 57-40%. The Mid-west and West produced even less favorably results for the President. He would not even win 40% of the popular vote in every state west of Kansas with the exception of New Mexico while getting only 56% in Solid Texas territory. The end results showed he was only viable in the Solid South states... and even then it cracked tremendously with Tennessee ultimately being the closest state at a .17% win for Davis. He was easily ousted and Theodore Roosevelt Jr would become the first since the Adams to elect him Family twice to the Presidency. His victory proved one thing - American wanted change, but could he give it. The Progressive Republican brand was for the first time in a Decade be able to control the nation decisively and Theodore pledged in his victory speech to fight for all and leave no one behind, offering a new day for a America with nearing 25% unemployment and millions out of work. Davis left office with 16% approvals and he thought he could do better for it was not the right timing of his presidency. The Socialists ultimately endorsed Roosevelt in the final days of the election. Although their was a large element who wanted to remain calling Roosevelt a "Elitist" and calling him and his family Capitalist traitors, the hard Left of party which won out in the convention halls of that years Socialist Convention lead by Thomas ultimately endorsed Roosevelt seeing their numbers under 5%. Roosevelt welcomed the endorsement and called for unity "in a sick and weak state of affairs we find ourselves now". The American Conservatives, former Republicans themselves refused to endorse. They renominated Calvin Coolidge once again whom by this time retired from the Governorship. He ran with Joseph Frances, Republican from Maryland in a cross nominating ticket in attempt to get Republicans behind him and not the "Idealist and Naive" Roosevelt Jr. The strategy failed but Coolidge use of Far Right populistic tactics in campaigning was able to latch onto a fear of resentment in a struggling America. Calling Davis a "Klansmen's Snob" and Roosevelt a "Nepotistic Fool" he was able to still receive a respectable 5% of the vote and proved that the Depression would not wipe his party out. In fact he would use it to build his party even more. A new day dawned upon the horizon in the American Political arena.

1932 Presidential Election





Rep. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (R-NY)/May. Floyd Olson (R-MN)]: 407 Electoral Votes, 56.87%*
* With Cross Endorsing of the Socialist Party

Pres. John W. Davis (D-WV)/ Vice Pres. Walter George (D-GA): 124 Electoral Votes, 36.93%

Former Gov. Calvin Coolidge (AC-MA)/ Joseph I. France (R-MD): 0 Electoral Votes, 4.98%

[The Govanah Jake]

Political Shakeup

Winning the 1925 Election, the Second MacDonald ministry was set to be governed with less tension then the previous. The Labour Party the previous year campaigning on the seeming elitism and corruption of Conservatism while pledging to "Conquer Unemployment" was able to win the majority of seats in the House of Commons on their own rite. Their Liberal coalition partners were no longer needed as a source of obtaining a Left Majority. Left Labour in the Party rejoiced at this fact of removing the more Moderate Liberals and urged the new Prime Minister to take efforts to implement the true Socialistic policy's their platform offered. But MacDonald, always the Realist refused to simply neglect the Liberals and offered a renewal of the Old Coalition, which spited many to his Left and showed his Social Democratic roots rather then any real Socialism. Conservatives MP meanwhile were left without any real Minority Leader after the surprise departure of Baldwin Post-Election. His successor was unknown and not Handpicked but they quickly rallied behind MP from Epping Winston Churchill who offered a new vision of Reformed Toryism. Many of the old Traditionalist Tory wing however favored rising MP Neville Chamberlain. The former Minister of Health under Baldwin offered the continuation of "Baldwinism" resorting to a Strong Nation with ethos of nationalism while maintaining Traditional Isolationism, both which Churchill and the Reform Tory's agreed upon. In the End however it was never enough for Churchill's rising star and his popularity among the Party base resorted in the Election of him as Party Leader. He promised to work smoothly with the new Labour Government and even agreed upon the establishment and continuation of the Welfare State, a position which put more of the Conservative MPs in a increasingly desperate state

Conflict arose not to long after the election of the New Ministry. French-German relations had soured to a tee post the 1924 British Elections. A incident along the Rhine River border involving the death of a French patrol officer on German Soil heightened tensions and nationalistic fervor on both sides. French Prime Minister Raymond Poincare, a known Anti-Communist and thus Anti-German government politician used the incident to his political advantage saying that "The Communists are approaching from the East. They killed our own countrymen!". The Prime Minister ordered the German Government to hand over the Solider who performed the act to be testified under a International governing body. This of course would not be taken so well by them. Karl Liebknecht, the First "Peoples Minister" of the German People's Republic (whom was elected after the collapse of the brief early period of Military Junta that ruled the country after the Civil War) refused to comply to such ridiculous commands. "Why shall a German die because a Frenchmen failed at his duty's?" he would say of the incident. Not wanting to look weak at the hands of Communists and with the Fear of Socialism in France already intense the French in the Spring Months of 1925 ordered a increased Military buildup on the German Border on top of the troops that were already their. He appealed to the League of Nations to follow up with member nations lending troops to aid the buildup effort. But any such appeal failed by a wide margin. In fact the League officially condemned the Minister for such Minister. In response he threatened to leave the League. MacDonald needed a French League member on the Continent against the Communist threat. He sent Stephen Walsh, his War secretary to try to deal with Poincare. Liebknecht in response to the buildup while this happened condemned the "Capitalist imperialism" of the action. The Soviet Union's Joseph Stalin, a ally of the German Leader called Poincare a "Pig" while Grimsci of Italy put Troops on the Franco-Italian border for good measure. The Summer of 1925 looked like a explosion would occur with Soldiers marching across Europe with the memory's of the Great War still fresh just 6 years after. Luckily Walsh was able to negotiate the French Prime Minister out of further escalation but the response proved Europe was a hot bed. He agreed to a escalation of Tensions and rescinded his threatening of the League. Germany agreed to give "110,000 Dollars" in reparations for the incident to France, which remained controversial in both country's while both country's agreed to a 50% reduction of Soldiers near or at the border. MacDonald "victory" was widely used as a positive in the British Press. "MacDonald saves Europe" read the Daily Europe the day after the Talks succeeded.

Pressured by the Labourist members who threatened to revolt in his party, he agreed too give some domestic concessions. The 1926 Agricultural Assistance Act increased Agricultural wages by 25% and was able to raise Pensioner's wages by almost 35%. He nationalized the Schooling system creating a second schooling education system and centralized the different local education authority's behind a set of new regulations. The Tenants Rights Act that same year provided more choices towards the Tenant of a Building against his/her landlord. Outlined by Socialist MPs these Landlords would have to follow a strict guideline of living standards from which the building and the Tenant shall be treated and maintained. The Railroad tracks of the country were set officially under Government control as per the Railsroad Nationalization Act of 1927 while a National Plan for Roads was set up in order to accommodate the growing English population boom of the 1920s. A Electrical service was also established and the Secretary of the Electrical System was set up by MacDonald. Tariffs were lowered by 15% and MacDonald allowed for International Trade, a move which also angered some Trade Unionists. Steps towards a similar Healthcare system like during the Rooseveltian times in the United States were set up with increased funding of local government run boards of Health as per the Local Authority's Health Act and were increased towards a system of healthcare insurance for the unemployed in 1928. More improvements towards the disenfranchised in Society continued throughout his Term with a add on to unemployment housing of the 1924 Housing Act with the 1928 Housing Governance Act offering a increase in spending and house buildup towards Housing services for the Unemployed.
But perhaps the biggest achievement of his second Ministry was the introduction of the Women's vote in Federal Elections. So called "Flappers" were announced the right to vote per the signing of legislation which gave them the right too. They were first able to vote in the 1929 election and MacDonald didn't need to fight for their votes with the anticipation that they would vote heavily for the Labour Party.

MacDonald was able to perform himself well and statesmanlike on the International stage. He would meet with President Glass 4 times before he left office and meet with Davis often too though staying out of any American drama especially with the Southern Riots raging. He had disputed relations with the French minister but went out of his way to try to be friendly with hostile nations. He was able to talk with Grimsci into allowing British naval ships to pass Italian waters in a attempt to supply their colony's in the Middle East and Africa, a area before heavily disputed territory. The League of Nations at this time was at its peak of glory and was forming more and more a real organizational force. MacDonald's United Kingdom along with the United States were able to form a pair of dominance over the League though and their policy's very often allied with those of the Anglo Nations, a fact the French hated. More members though kept joining. Poland after a long waiting period worried of the Communist threat on both borders agreed to join while Hungary and Austria joined in October of 1927. A Coup in Romania however in 1928 installed a Socialist Government in the country overthrowing the Decades long Monarchy. They quickly allied themselves with the Soviet Union and Germany. The Western Powers were quite suspicious of the Coup and would be later proven to be Soviet originated and funded.

The Conservatives scrambled to find a candidate suitable for the 1929 General. The Party Leader Churchill refused to represent during the election and only former Baldwin era High Chancellor Douglas Hogg opted to run. Without any real opposition he easily won the Party's nomination and advocated to a return to Baldwin era rules. Going from a high class family of Hoggs he resented the creeping "Socialism" MacDonald and Labour offered. His slogan read "Socialism begone from the Isles". He attacked MacDonald on the excessive governmental power he used and although support "Baldwinism" practice of forms of Governmental welfare assistance called for Sane Policy's. His intellectual and mostly boring speechs however failed to rial up anyone and with MacDonald popular, he was easily cast as a out of place aristocrat. "Hoggs for Big Business!" read Labour posters with Big Business crossing out "the Conservatives. The Liberals on the other hand decided to run from Labour not wanting any more absorption into the Party. Their leader David Lloyd George offered to the country the Liberal positions of ending unemployment and creating more Jobs programs and unemployment services. He positioned himself and his Party as a check on any "potential socialism" Labour could offer for worried voters. This plan proved to be unsuccessful in the end however as Labour was able to expand their majority in 1929.

[The Govanah Jake]

The Celebrations of the victory however would not last long. The Third MacDonald Ministry would be cut short by unfortunately presiding over the Great 1930 Market Crash. Troubles in the economy became apparent in 1930 as speculation and inflation began to take its toll on the London Financial district. In the Fall the House of Commons and Lords were able to pass a speculatory lending bill to cut back the inflation on exchanges like the one in London. However the crash of the United States market in October could not save them any longer and the London Stock Exchange, the main lending vehicle in the country crashed by 45% giving the country a depression. The economy soured and the Ministry was the one to take the blame. Any attempts at extending his Welfare state he was crafting was put on halt to deal with the downturn, a decision which made enemy's with much of his own party, while attempted to try to pass spending cuts in Middle 1931 to save the Government from indebting. Instead a Budget crisis ensued. The Conservatives pounced at the opportunity and election was called early as per the the Prime Minister's approval. The aging MacDonald was fast approaching 70 and the times were getting onto him. He refused to however go down in history as a failed Prime Minister after all of his reforms and deeds. The Liberals split from MacDonald citing his cutting back of the Welfare state. George was able to get Independent Labourite's to his sight of account of him disapproving of MacDonald's actions and promised to "Truly end Enemployment" and create a Job's program to get the country out of depression. The members were becoming increasingly divided over the issue of Free Trade but the leadership of George was able to unite under rather vague terms on the issue. Unemployment was not as high as places like the United States but at 16%, the country was weary of MacDonald's attempts. Churchill was happily nominated by the Party and he promised to end economic weary's and bring new prosperity and optimism to the country. He meanwhile supported both Baldwinism and most of MacDonald's welfare state and supported Welfare Toryism. Ultimately he would carry the day.



Riding to victory, it was a absolute landslide. Churchill was able to take a severely minority party into a slim majority in one blow while knocking their opposition more then 100 seats behind. But he only held a 1 seat majority and a smooth sailing parliament like before would not come to be. Labour and Liberal were forced to try to recreate their coalition but the issue of Trade and the means of ending the depression divided them too. All in this time, MacDonald resigned from his position and meet a defeat he would hoping would not occur.

[The Govanah Jake]

Ever since the State of Arizona became a state, it became a Democratic stronghold. Yes it occasionally went in Federal Election to Republican candidates but at the State level it was as Democratic as Arkansas and Tennessee. Dubbed the "Southern most Western state" due to its voting habits, the State legislature was ruled by the Democratic Party with a iron fist and the Senators it sent and the Governors that lead them had almost always been Democratic. Some attributed this too the influx of Southerners to the Territory after the Civil War while others contributed that it was due to the geographical and cultural occurrences that happened in the early territory but the rule of the Democratic Party was certain. Certain, that is, until the Crash of 1930. A small state in population by the time of the crash, it was hit especially hard by the crash with ranchers, farmers, miners, and government environmental employees feeling the hardest of these effects. Governor Fred Colter tried to combat it buy issuing the creation of a large scale water diversion project aimed at controlling flooding from the Colorado river on local rancher property's. In order to re-employ the unemployment he was able to get about 16,000 to work on the project. The water was diverted to a artificially made Lake and was able to significantly lower the devastating effects of the floods while providing new water access for ranchers in the arid central regions. He also ordered the creation of numerous more job building Dam projects on major rivers. A most famous of these included the Glen Canyon Dam which took 16 years to build at the cost of 21,200 workers and formed a key blockade of the Lower Colorado river. Ultimately the help from this works projects were short lived. More and more ranchers declared bankruptcy, unable to afford their ranches anymore and many moved to the big population centers in places like Phoenix to find work to no avail. The state Democratic Party which was divided between the rancher populists of Colter and the Urban machine dominated by longtime Phoenix Mayor Frank DeSouza began to grow more divided as Colter failed to end the unemployment numbers. DeSouza thus entered a unsuccessful bide for governor in the Democratic Primary. Large amounts of "vote creation" was reported come election day coming out of Phoenix but Colter was able to easily win nonetheless. The events of the primary disgusted Colter and he began to openly despised both the State and National Democratic party's had taken. He re portly wanted to "re-assess my world view". In September of 1932, he shocked the party when he made the announcement that he was shifting towards the Republican Party and would become one fully after he won the election. Party loyalists in the state could not take this. "True Democratic" forces refused to vote for the "Traitor Fred" and split from the voter along with most of the state Party itself. They re-held a new convention under the tittle of "Arizona State Democratic Party" in spite of Colter who would still be running under the Democratic Party label. DeSouza easily won the nomination on the 1st ballot and called himself the "True Democrat" in the race, thus giving the party the nickname "True Democrats". Republicans in their convention almost unanimously nominated Fred Colter out of view of electability with only minor ruffles from the Left and Right of the Party. Polling coming out of the major Phoenix newspapers which watched the race showed the shaping of a close race. The Weekly Journal-Miner showed a 53-45% polling average for Colter-DeSouza by October. But news from a anonymous source on the supposed "rigging of virtually all elections DeSouza ever ran for" sank him. Colter instantly lashed DeSouza around the allegations and labeled him a "Corrupted Insider". The election showed the state was in no mood for such allegations anymore.



The death of majority leader Thaddeus Caraway was not only a shock to the country but the world. The longtime, quote on quote "Strongman" of the Senate Democrats presided over the economic heaven which was the 1920s under Presidents Carter Glass and John Davis. He was found dead in his Arkansas home by his Wife (whom was running a congressional campaign at the time) whom quickly called the Police. The main cause of death would for a mystery for years to come. A relatively healthy man at the Age of 61, his death was thought to either be suicide or some complicated plot towards his death. But no handmarks or any signs of suicide appeared. It was eventually ruled that he died of Heart Attack after further examinations of his artery's but their were still other ideas. The Democratic Party was shocked by the news and the search for his replacement in the Senate began. At home, the Arkansas Governor Tom Jefferson Terral, a good friend of Caraway appointed his wife Hattie Caraway into her husbands old job. She happily agreed to the proposition and the following special election in 1932 was won by her despite a rather strong 35% Republican showing due to the wave that year. She ran on a platform of banking reform and Anti-Corruption while promising lower taxes, a end to Prohibition, and a fight to end the Flat Tax amendment which had become especially unpopular in the state. By January of 1932, the Democratic Party were able to decide among Hugo Jack, Senator from Alabama as their leader which both angered Northerners but cemented the Party as one of Southern interests.

However she was not in good company throughout the country. Republican Senator (whom would go to re-election in 1934) Huey P. Long would recall "That Year showed the Democrats that the Working Class and Poor can end 'em just as much as they can build em'". Losing throughout the country Senate race after Senate race, they were ousted of Senate control by the triumphant Republican Party. New Majority leader George W. Pepper, who replaced Charles Curtis due to his age, would preside over a new Senate of 52 Republican Senator which Anna Dickie Olesen of the Socialist's offering support for Social Welfare initiatives. They were able to make close races in states like Louisiana where Huey Long's republican shift followed him by a large influx of life long Democrats switching to the Republican Party. His colleague, the Governor Oscar Allen followed him though it would take some time for many prominent Louisiana's confident of his to make the switch too. One of these included John Fournet who ran for the Senate as a Longite democrat faced a democratic primary which was shifting from Huey Long's control and thus less favorable. He barely survived a primary challenge from Cecil Morgan, a former executive of the Standard Oil Company and a great admirer of the President Carter Glass and his politics. He would go on to face a tough Republican challenge from graying former Representative Lewis L. Morgan. The two didn't differ on much policy wise and the election itself was dominated by outside affairs. Morgan said Fournet was part of the "Party of Fiscal Poor-Hatred" while Fournet labled Morgan a Washington insider and part of the New Orleans machine. In the end the Republicans in the state were able to get 41% of the vote to Fournet's 57%, this highest in decades for the Republicans. But it was not all bad news for the State Republicans. Less then a month after his election he switched party's to join Huey Long as the two Republican Senators from Louisiana raising the number to 53 in total. "He played the Party like a fool" recalled later Democratic representative Jared Y. Sanders Jr.



Meanwhile Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut also flipped to Republicans. Races in New York, and Florida barely held on to Democrats. But nationally the Democrats were soundly rejected and overnight slow gains by Democrats in the Senates for more then a decade was swept away.

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The House elections that year showed yet more shift towards the Republicans. The effects of the Depression crushed Democratic candidates everywhere that year as expected and the once strong Democratic majority there was crushed overnight. Dropping 119 seats, they were reduced to 179 seats but were able to keep Republicans from a majority. The Republicans became a plurality party in the House of Representatives with 11 less then required, at 207 seats total. But they jumped 98 seats in total. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the House Elections was the massive growth the third party American Conservative and Socialists had grown. New York Republican turned American Conservative Bertrand Snell led his small party to a 7 seat gain at the expense of mostly all Democrats incumbents. The Socialists meanwhile also nominated a new leader in Norman Thomas who was able to run under the socialist banner in 1931 in a special election and win in his tiny New York City area Representational seat. He lead his small party to a even bigger gain of 13 seats to 20 total, more then doubling his party control.

After long negotiations Robert Bacon and key Republican officials were able to forge a coalition with the Socialist Party into order to gain a Majority. Come March of 1932, Robert Bacon was handed the speakers Gavel from Andrew Montague, whom would retire from politics less then a year after, and his Republican-Socialist majority coalition presided over one of the smallest ruling House coalitions in history.





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(I had this whole write up for the lead up to these but they were lost... why must this site not save my write ups when my chrome crashes... so here are the infoboxes anyway)

After a election viewed as being largely made up of fraud, Vargas mysteriously is assassinated by "Juan Rivera", a member of the unemployed.