Alternate US History (1788 onwards)

[West_Midlander]

January 28th, 1900 -- Democratic Primary Day
516 delegates to win

43.6% PV / William Jennings Bryan / 694 delegates
20.5% PV / Grover Cleveland / 120 delegates
14.5% PV / William Randolph Hearst / 118 delegates
21.4% PV / George Dewey / 98 delegates
Note: Bryan won Pennsylvania with 29.7% of the vote, my map shows the state as 30+%.
Results: Dewey surprised all by coming second in the popular vote. Hearst exceeded expectations because of how many states he won and for taking Illinois. Cleveland was expected to do much better overall and in the North but his win in Texas came out of nowhere.

[West_Midlander]

July 6th, 1900 - Democratic National Convention
As President William Jennings Bryan took the stage to accept the nomination gunshots were heard.
The other Democratic candidates stood at his side. Cleveland fell to the ground to evade gunfire, as did Dewey. Hearst tackled the President in an attempt to block the bullet. A bullet struck Hearst in the shoulder with another hitting the podium, which Bryan had not yet reached. A third struck Bryan in the chest.

Members of the crowd tackled the gunman, disarming him. He was arrested and after hours of interrogation revealed his motivation. Seeing Bryan win the nomination and get another step closer to four more in the White House led to his actions. He was a McKinley supporter riled up by McKinley's words against the President and at the thought of what four more would do to America if McKinley lost. The assassination attempt was premediated, he revealed. The attempt was successful, the President was pronounced dead.

Vice President Arthur Sewall was present at the Convention and was sworn in as President of the United States that same day.

[West_Midlander]

Note: I forgot to make a write up of who Bryan's VP was but added the following on that post.

June 18th, 1898
Newly confirmed (90-0) Vice President Arthur Sewall takes office.

[West_Midlander]

June 7th
The Democratic delegates voted unanimously to reconvene in Washington, D.C. following the state funeral for President Bryan.
June 15th
2nd Democratic National Convention
The Democratic delegates voted 936-94 to hold a new set of primaries since the race was so close between the three surviving Democratic hopefuls.
The DNC Chair decided to hold their 3rd National Convention on August 10th in Salem, Illinois—William Jennings Bryan's hometown—following July 31st primaries.
July 17th
The Republican Convention lasted for just one day. The roll call vote was suspended and McKinley was unanimously nominated. McKinley heavily denounced the actions of Bryan's murderer. La Follette following him, called for a united country in this time of mourning. Roosevelt expressed the hope that this divisiveness would end.

The sad irony was that despite his partisans' reservations, leading up to the convention, it seemed that Bryan had begun to open up a considerable lead against Governor McKinley.

[West_Midlander]

July 18th
Former Governor McKinley announced he would suspend his campaign efforts until the Democratic Convention was completed. He would hit the campaign trial again on August 15th.
July 31st
Democratic National Primaries (Take Two), 1900
516 to win

64.7% PV / William Randolph Hearst / 724 delegates
21.5% PV / Grover Cleveland / 224 delegates
13.8% PV / George Dewey / 82 delegates
Highlights: MA went for Cleveland 99.8% to 0.2% for Hearst. Dewey took 0%. In Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, Hearst was the only candidate on the ballot. Hearst was the favorite after he attempted to save Bryan. President Sewall was privately in Hearst's camp. Sewall, the DNC and most state Democratic parties were in Hearst's camp as well.

[West_Midlander]

Eugene Debs spoke at the Democratic National Convention on August 10th reaffirming his support of Hearst for President. Democrats were hopeful that Hearst's nomination would bring populist and leftist voters into the fold. Of course, sympathy for the loss of President Bryan would play heavily into the November elections.

William Randolph Hearst happily accepted the nomination promising a new era of American prosperity and unity if elected. He announced that Admiral George Dewey would be his running mate.

Privately Debs had dabbled with the notion of starting a Socialist Party if Hearst fell short.

In order to appear unbiased, President Sewall announced that Grover Cleveland would serve as his Vice President. The Senate confirmed Cleveland 80-10 on August 19th.

McKinley had waited until August 15th to announce his running mate. In a major rally in Philadelphia, Robert La Follette was announced as his running mate. Theodore Roosevelt delivered an endorsement of McKinley but was privately reluctant to do so.

[West_Midlander]

United States Presidential election, 1900

The result was a surprise to no one. William McKinley swept the primaries and looked to the general election with hope. Unfortunately, many blamed McKinley for Bryan's death and he lost in a landslide. Theodore Roosevelt was approached on McKinley's major loss but refused to comment. Several former Roosevelt surrogates basically said, "We told you so."

EDIT: Note: The PI scenarios work pretty well but the popular votes totals are very unrealistic for the scenarios for older years.

[West_Midlander]

The US House of Representatives (elected 1900)
Democrats: 263 (+135)
Republicans: 88 (-117)
Populists: 6 (-18)
[DEMOCRATS TAKE MAJORITY]
The US Senate (elected 1900)
Democrats: 52 (+12)
Republicans: 35 (-5)
Populists: 3 (-7)
[DEMOCRATS TAKE MAJORITY]
The Populists lost a lot of ground as leftists and populists voted Democratic en masse. Democrats took control of both houses of Congress and now hold a supermajority in the House of Representatives, in fact, over 70% of seats.

Note: 1900 is the first year that parties had official Senate leaders.

[West_Midlander]

Post-election
On November 7th, per President Sewall's wishes, Vice President Cleveland resigned. Sewall nominated President-elect William Randolph Hearst to be Vice President. Hearst was confirmed by the Senate on November 8th, 82-7*. Hearst was sworn in as Vice President on November 8th, 1900. Sewall tendered his resignation, effective immediately, the morning of November 9th. Admiral George Dewey was nominated and confirmed as Vice President 85-0 with all outgoing Republicans abstaining. Within a matter of 3 days, President Sewall had transitioned power to the incoming Democratic ticket in a move to unify the country sooner by giving Americans their popularly mandated President.

*One re-elected Republican abstained and another re-elected Republican voted against Hearst. The five outgoing Republican Senators joined the Nay votes.

Fighting Bob had run for Governor of Wisconsin (re-election)* in 1900 and was sworn in for another term in January 1901.

*La Follette had won the Governorship of Wisconsin for the first time in 1892 after leaving Congress in 1891.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Sorry for not bringing this up earlier, but if 25 isn't passed earlier ITTL, nobody can be appointed Vice President until 1967.

[West_Midlander]

Sorry for not bringing this up earlier, but if 25 isn't passed earlier ITTL, nobody can be appointed Vice President until 1967.

I actually had the mind to make a point of divergence in 1825 that took care of this.

As a result, the Jeffersonian Congress will not pursue charges on Calhoun and will pass a constitutional amendment (IRL, the 25th amendment) allowing for persons who succeed the office of President to nominate a Vice President who will be approved by the Senate.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Ah. Didn't see that. Continue.

[West_Midlander]

The Fuller Court (1902-) (as of 1902)
The Ramsey Court (1864-1902) (as of 1902)
27. Rep. Alexander Ramsey (R-PA)* (1843-1902)
40. Fmr. Kentucky A.G. John Marshall Harlan (R-KY) (1877-1911)
42. Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Horace Gray (R-MA) (1886-1902)
43. Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Eighth Circuit David Josiah Brewer (R-KS) (1888-1910)
44. Mr. Melville Fuller (D-ME)* (1890-1910)
45. Mr. George Shiras Jr. (R-PA) (1892-1924)
46. Sen. Edward Douglass White (D-LA) (1893-1921)
47. Mr. Rufus Wheeler Peckham (D-NY) (1895-1909)
48. Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (I-MA)
 (1899-1935)
49. Judge on the US Court of Appeals Horace Harmon Lurton (D-KY) (1902-1914)
50. Mr. James Clark McReynolds (D-KY) (1902-1925)
*denotes Chief Justice
September 15th, 1902: Justice Gray passes away.
September 20th: Citing failing health, Chief Justice Alexander Ramsey decides to step down.
September 30th: Hearst nominates the senior-most Democrat on the Court to be Chief Justice. The Fuller Court is declared after the Senate confirms Assoc. Justice Melville Fuller for the position, 90-0.
November 2nd: The Senate confirms both of Hearst's Kentucky-born nominees. Lurton is confirmed 86-4. McReynolds is confirmed 63-27. The Democrats now control the Supreme Court.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

September 31st?

[West_Midlander]

September 31st?

Oops

[West_Midlander]

The US House of Representatives (elected 1902)
Democrats: 261 (-2)
Republicans: 125 (+37)
[DEMOCRATS TAKE MAJORITY]
The Republicans are on the rebound in the House but are still at a large deficit in seats. The Republicans took many Democratic seats but Democratic losses were minimized by the addition of 29 new seats. The Populists were wiped out of the chamber.
The US Senate (elected 1902)
Democrats: 52
Republicans: 36 (+1)
Populists: 2 (-1)
[DEMOCRATS TAKE MAJORITY]
The Populists lost one seat to the Republicans.

In January 1903, the Populists convened for a final time in Des Moines, Iowa. After massive losses in the 1900 and 1902 elections and failing to nominate a candidate in 1900, the Populists decided, with an overwhelming vote of its delegates, to dissolve. The two remaining Senate Populists announced they would serve as Independents and caucus with the Democrats. Prominent Populist, Governor James B. Weaver of Iowa announced he would join the Democrats.

[West_Midlander]

January 2nd, 1904: Governor McKinley announced he would be pursuing another term as Ohio's Governor.
January 8th: Governor McKinley was shot at a campaign rally in Cleveland, OH. The culprit was a disgruntled Bryan supporter from 1900. The culprit told authorities that the President was a "damned socialist" and McKinley stole Bryan's 1900 election by enraging supporters with his "lies."

January 10th: Major Republican Theodore Roosevelt rushed into the city of Cleveland for moral support to Mrs. McKinley. He led a mass for the fallen McKinley at a local church in Cleveland.
January 15: Roosevelt, in a fiery speech, said President Hearst had ultimately failed to unify the country following Bryan's death and that he was running to make America whole again.

[West_Midlander]

January 21st:

Governor Robert La Follette appeared at a joint rally with Roosevelt. All including Roosevelt were eagerly awaiting an endorsement.
"We need a progressive leader for America. A man to bring this country together and make it whole again...that man is on this stage."
Theodore Roosevelt offered a smile to the crowd.

"That man is me! I am announcing my intent to run for President of the United States," La Follette finished, shocking the crowd and Roosevelt.
January 22nd:
Senator Mark Hanna announced he would run to stop the popular Roosevelt.

[West_Midlander]

January 30th
"I'm running for a second term! We've seen great victories for our party and for the American people under my administration and I have every intent for those victories to continue!"

President William Randolph Hearst

February 2nd
"For too long has our President stomped on the growth of business and our economy. It's time to vote out the Socialist in Washington." -- Judge Alton B. Parker, the leader of the conservative, pro-business Democrats (The Bourbons) announced his intent to primary the President.

[West_Midlander]

February 7th
Senator Fancis Cockrell, a moderate-progressive Democrat announced his support was with the President, shutting down rumors that he would run in his own right.

News broke that Senator Richard Olney would not pursue the Presidency in 1904.

February 10th
Businessman Edward C. Wall decided not to split the Bourbon Democrats. He endorsed Parker, dispelling rumors that he would run.

February 12th
Grover Cleveland, the former leader of the Bourbon Democrats, announced that he would not endorse in the primary and would support the nominee regardless. Allies speculated that Cleveland would cast his ballot for Parker but Cleveland didn't want to divide the party when popular Republican Theodore Roosevelt led the opposition field of candidates. A damaged Hearst or Parker would fall easily.

February 15th
Mark Hanna was found dead of natural causes in his inn room, after his campaign manager sought him out after he was a no-show at a brunch with supporters.

In a surprise announcement, General Nelson A. Miles announced he would run for President (as a Democrat).

[West_Midlander]

February 20th
After much consideration, Roosevelt ally William Taft, endorsed his friend and decided not to run this year.

February 21st

Conservative Republican, Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, announced he would run. Fairbanks said to bring normalcy, calmness, peace and unity to America we need a pragmatic conservative in the West Wing.

February 27th
Hearst ally Eugene Debs announced he would support the President for a second term.

[West_Midlander]

The Republican National Primaries, 1904

Theodore Roosevelt / 50.7% / 748 delegates
Charles Fairbanks / 31.2% / 236 delegates
Robert La Follette / 3% / 26 delegates
Mark Hanna (deceased) / 15.1% / 20 delegates
Many voted for Hanna despite his passing. Dissatisfied with the deeply conservative Fairbanks and the more Progressive Roosevelt, supporters of Hanna rallied with the chant, "Hanna now and forever!"
Note: La Follette's base shrunk to mostly just his home state.
Roosevelt swept the contests and took a majority of the votes.

[West_Midlander]

The Democratic National Primaries, 1904
Minnesota was on of the narrowest victories, with Hearst taking the state by 1%.

In Rhode Island, there was a six point gap between Hearst and Miles with Parker not on the ballot.

In South Carolina, Miles beat Hearst with 95% of the vote, when Parker was not on the ballot, proving the President cannot win the South among his own party (without the benefit of waving the Bloody Shirt of William Jennings Bryan).

In a race that was expected to be a Parker-Hearst contest, with Parker dominating, Miles emerged at the front of the Democratic field.

Miles was competitive in all regions of the nation, falling just short of a majority of delegates.

Parker's surprise victory in Montana also gives his campaign the qualification of regional diversity.

The President was wiped out in the South and Eastern Seaboard. Surprisingly losing Eastern and Northern urbanites, the President's base was relegated to the West Coast, Mountain-West and Midwest. Though he did not manage a sweep of these regions.

Regional voting trends fell apart as nearly all states went for their candidate by huge margins. States voted heavily out of line with their neighbors. Clearly the Democratic party is very divided.

Hearst's last bid to win the nomination would have been to triumph over Parker in delegates and to win a contested convention. Instead, just 12 men (delegates) will block Hearst's path to re-election.

516 390 delegates to win

Nelson Miles / 48.9% / 514 delegates
Alton Parker / 28.4% / 264 delegates
William Randolph Hearst / 22.7% / 252 delegates

President Hearst boycotted the convention and withdrew his name for the nomination. His delegates walked out of the convention. The DNC Chair called for a motion to reduce the required delegates with respect to the amount of delegates present. The motion passed and Miles had enough support to be nominated.

[West_Midlander]

Following the Democratic Convention, Eugene Debs formed the new Socialist Party.
The 1st Socialist Party National Convention, 1904
On August 15th, the Socialist delegates assembled, with most states represented, in Washington, D.C.

Due to the late entrance of their party to the field, the Socialists decided to skip primaries this year.

Eugene Debs was unanimously nominated for President. In a surprise appearance, President Hearst entered the convention hall and delivered a jubilant endorsement of his friend for President.

Many Hearst allies in Congress switched to the Socialist Party following this revelation.

Vice President George Dewey assured the press that the President was elected as a Democrat and that himself and the President would remain registered Democratic for the remainder of the term.

The Socialist Ticket

Mr. Eugene V. Debs* (S-IN) (picture above) / Mr. Ben Hanford (S-NY) (pictured below)
*Debs is a private citizen and trade unionist but served in the Indiana State Senate previously.



The Other Tickets

The Democrats
Gen. Nelson A. Miles (D-NY) / Fmr. Sen. Henry G. Davis (D-WV)

Davis is pictured above.
The Republicans
Gov. Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY) / Sen. Charles W. Fairbanks (R-IN)
Roosevelt picked Fairbanks to balance the ticket.

[West_Midlander]

United States Presidential election, 1904

Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Miles were in a virtual deadlock for most of the race. Mr. Debs was viewed as a major threat to the Republican and Democratic tickets as Autumn began. President Hearst campaigned extensively through September for Debs but suffered a violent physical attack by an anarchist. Hearst left the campaign trail to recover and remained in Washington through the winter. Roosevelt and Miles took this loss of open, high-profile support, to withdraw acknowledgement of Debs, refusing to debate him, refusing to attack him, refusing to comment on him. Deb's numbers fell dramatically through October and early November but the race remained close between Roosevelt and Miles. In the end, Miles mostly held the South, Roosevelt held the North and Roosevelt took most of the West, permitting him an electoral landslide despite losing the popular vote. Debs came in with 5.9% and no electoral.