I Feel as Strong as a Bull Moose!

[The Govanah Jake]

United States Senate elections, 1918

Republican Party: Senator from Connecticut Frank B. Brandegee: -45 Seats, -5 Seats from 50 Seats

Democratic Party: Senate Minority leader Thaddeus H. Caraway: -44 Seats, +11 from 33 Seats

Socialist Party: Minority Leader Upton Sinclair - 7 Seats, -5 from 12 Seats


United States House of Representatives elections, 1918

Democratic Party: Champ Clark - 234 Seats +57 Seats from 177

Republican Party: Frederick H. Gillett -182 Seats -50 Seats from 234

Socialist Party: Victor L. Berger - 15 Seats -8 Seats from 23

American Conservative Party: Charles A. Kennedy - 3 Seats +3 Seats from 0

Prohibition Party: Charles H. Randall - 1 Seats +0 Seats from 1

The election brought big congressional wins for the Democratic party. While they lost the House and Senate in 1918, they regained the House in a huge congressional pickup of 57 Seats and were able to get a outright majority while for Republicans forcing them into a distant and indecisive second place almost 60 seats behind.

Meanwhile the Socialists lost moderately but not all of there seats and they still were able to hold onto 15 seats and gain 2 in Michigan and New York. The ACP also ran House candidates and most of them were defeated by Republicans and Democrats though 3 were able to succeed including Charles A. Kennedy who switched to the ACP in 1920 and now represented the party in a Iowa congressional district.

The Prohibition party meanwhile remained stagnant at 1 seat not picking up anything nor losing anything. In the Senate in which they lost in 1918 to newly found majority party status Republicans but in 1920 with a good victory brought them ever so close to taking it. However Republicans were able to win a senate race which resulted in a hung and 1 seat republican plurality which could very easy be flipped if Democrats find Republican votes and vica versa.

Meanwhile Socialists lost worse here losing almost half of there seats and losing alot of status though Sinclair was able to tightly hold onto his seat and remain as minority leader for the party in a California Congressional District.

All in all, the night in the Congress was a Democratic victory with a slight Republican plurality in the Senate and the Democratic majority in the House. It wasn't however the best night and they wanted a decisive control over all of the congressional and executive authority. Nevertheless Democrats would be entering the new year as a tightly held Majority party in general.

[The Govanah Jake]

Chapter 12: Modesty is the Key
Part 1: The Year was 1921





Labour Party Poster for 1920


The election was finished and the winner was clear. It was much closer then expected in the electoral vote. Glass would win a underwhelming 290 votes to Johnson's 217 electors when he was suppose to win much more decisively perhaps with over 350 electoral votes. But that didn't matter since he won and the size of the victory was much less important then whether you won. Johnson's hopes and dreams of continuing being the United States for 4 more years was crushed when he learned early into the next morning of election night that New York which called for Carter by a slim margin.

That didn't give him the victory but it put him within 20 electoral votes of winning. Johnson then learned around 6 AM on the same day that Glass won most of the rest of the swing states and he had passed the 266 needed to win and now held 20+ more needed to win. A official popular percentage county a few hours later showed a similar story.

Glass up to that point held 46% of the popular vote to Johnson's 31% and although his numbers would go up, there still was a clear popular mandate against him and so finally at 10 PM on that same day. Johnson told a aid to call Glass at his home. Carter picked up the phone to hear Johnson conceding to him saying his chances has gone and he was said to say "This Job will take so much out of you wont believe it" occurring to a local aid.

Carter thanked him and put down the phone and had now become a president elect without a doubt. He left his living space where he had been throughout the night listening to the radio to leave his home with a guard of 5 men and left for Washington DC a short distance away from his home. Meanwhile in Cleveland, Ohio the Harding campaign was in disarray. They learned of there results and throughout the night while Harding was sleeping, his campaign managers and aids were growing more and more worried until it was official that he had under performed massively with the final vote count and electoral count.

There only source of happiness was when Ohio, Harding's home state, was called for them but even that was within 2% and only won 33% of the States vote which in future elections would need massive improvements if they wanted to continue this new party. Harding woke to news off this and when outside to great his supporters which had gathered at his porch step and thanked them for voting for him. He then left into town to meet with his campaign national headquarters which was located in the city to discuss future discourse. There was a great talk that said to have happened on the future of the party and he refused to take any questions from journalists on the talk. All he said was "The Future will tell if out cause will die in vain".

Meanwhile the final of the four major candidates, Morris Hillquit, was in his New York home when he found of the results. He picked up a local power to tell him the answer. It read "Glass trumps over Johnson! Harding and Hillquit lack behind". He then looked below and found the official popular vote percentage up to that point and showed him only winning 6% of the peoples vote. Knowing what came for next, he left for the Socialist National headquarters in central New York City and remained quiet for some time.

After reactions by all the major candidates the next phase of the after-election began: The inter period or the time till Carter and the rest of the new congress was inaugurated in March of 1921. Johnson would still be president till then and be considered a Lame Duck. By New Year, Johnson decided to make one last push for his legacy until his time was up and pushed for a nationwide national law which would incriminate and disband the big company's of the day which tried to find loopholes against new federal regulation.

The justification for this was that like citizens, company's and trusts or monopoly's should follow the law and if they break we should fight back hard so others don't follow there steps. Praised by some and criticized by others it entered the House lead by a small collection of progressive northeastern representative republicans as H.R. 1684 or under a official name called the "Anti-Corporate Loophole Act of 1921", it would prevent such actions. In a last call of the progressive era, the Unions and the coalition that formed and helped pass previous progressive bills convened for one of the last time to politically push it through Washington.

 But they faced push back from many Democrats and Republicans calling it a political move due to being in Johnson's lame duck period in which a president shouldn't pass any major legislation. Democratic officials argued that "the People elected Glass to end the Legislative nonsense like Johnson wants to put up and the American people are tired of such attitudes". Some Republicans even pushed back against it calling it a uncalled for egotistic driven push by the President to give his legacy a boost in remembrance and popularity.

In the House many debates were held and a democratic congressmen even held a filibuster for 17 hours in opposition. The vote would occur on January 6th, 1921 right into the new year. The day came and the vote was held and it lasted for many hours and by 11 PM the vote was decided and was a close vote of 223 in favor with 210 against and 2 abstaining. Republicans who were the majority at that time till March combined with all Socialist votes and 15-25% of Democrats (Mostly from the Bryanite and Roosevelt wing) were able to get a majority of more then 216 and the bill was able to pass the house without a deadlock tie which was good for the President. The bill went into the senate which was controlled by Republicans.

Majority Leader Frank B. Brandegee promised to keep the vote orderly and expressed support for the bill and was able to get most republicans to vote for it. This combined with 10 out of 12 Socialist votes was able to get 51 votes total in the Senate when it came time to vote with 9 Republican defections and 2 Socialist defections. The bill was past and on February 19th was signed in law and was dubbed the "Fair Business Play Bill" by some in the media and others as the "Give more Governmental Power bill" dubbed by the New York Tribune.

The bill would go into effect on February 12th, 1922 and thus Johnson finally went into the sunlight. On March 4th, 1921 the Inauguration occurred and Carter Glass, the President Elect, and David Francis, Vice President Elect, were officially President and Vice President. His speech went on for 1.5 hours, almost 30 minutes longer then Roosevelt's 1917 Inauguration speech

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- Carter Glasses 1921 Inauguration Speech detailing his plans.

He got to the White House humbled by such a moment and got to work. He first recognized his situation, he had a Democratic House and could very easily win the Senate's votes with Moderates. He first had to assemble a cabinet. Immediately he fired all Johnson-era members in the high ranking positions and got his own in there.

For Secretary of State he put in little known ambassador and potential 1920 Democratic contender John W. David. A conservative from West Virginia he complemented the administration well. For Secretary of the Treasury he chose William Gibbs McAdoo, a compromise to more progressive elements, he had been a strong supporter of the Wilson campaigns and ran for the 1920 democratic nomination as the liberals one.

For Secretary of War, he choose virtually unknown James W. Gerald. A favorite of the New York City and Tammany Hall establishments, he would favor Glasses isolationism. For Postmaster General he choose Irvin Cobb and for Attorney General he choose Pennsylvania Attorney general and strong 1920 democratic contender A. Palmer.

For the Navy he choose Franklin Roosevelt in a compromise to the  progressives in the party and was able to work partially well. He choose Robert Latham Owen Jr, A strong Nebraskan Isolationist, as Secretary of the Interior. He choose Edwin T. Meredith for Agriculture and finally he picked young Governor and 1920 contender for the nomination and party heavyweight for Labor. And after he picked Party heavyweight and 1920 contender Oscar Underwood of Alabama for Commerce. All of these were approved easily by the Senate from almost all Democratic support and a strong alliance with Conservative Republican and ACP members.

All in all the cabinet was a very big named one. From Roosevelt to McAdoo to Palmer and Smith it included almost all of the major figures in the party and virtually all of its 1920's democratic nomination.

The reason behind this was to prevent any potential future primary/third party against him by any of the people he nominated to secure his position in the party. And it worked since all accepted with Smith taking the longest being since he actual lost power from Governor of a State to only Secretary of Labor. He made up his mind and accepted in the end though.

[The Govanah Jake]

Carter Glasses Cabinet

Secretary of State - John W. Davis
Secretary of the Treasury - William Gibbs McAdoo
Secretary of War - James W. Gerard
Attorney General - Alexander Mitchell Palmer
Postmaster General - Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb
Secretary of the Navy - Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Secretary of the Interior - Robert Latham Owen Jr.
Secretary of Agriculture - Edwin T. Meredith
Secretary of Labor - Al Smith
Secretary of Commerce - Oscar Underwood

The cabinet was nominated and voted through successfully by the End of June and a series of legislation under his new term could be in order. The first act was a bill to lower the income tax (created 1915) to near zero calling the tax unnecessary and Un-American due to its overreaching affect. H.R. 1860 went into congress dubbed the "Income Tax reduction bill". The House run by Democrats passed it 254-180 with 1 abstaining with almost all Democrats and alot of Republicans voting for it.

It entered the Senate in July were it was voted on. The vote was 51-45 with none abstaining. It was settled and the President signed it into law in Mid July. The bill would officially lower the tax rate to 5.6% down from 13.8% under Johnson. The next act around the same time which was major and pushed by the president was a end to the Rooseveltian Universal Healthcare policy's. He argued that it was just one example of where Government went to far into normal american's lives and said that repealing it would be better for the american taxpayer then not repealing it.

The bill at the time was still moderately popular at 61% and many voted for Glass but were on a universal healthcare plan. Conservatives supported this and were nearly all for it while the opposite was true for the other side with moderates as the deciding vote. It entered the House as H.R. 1699 on June 13th. Dubbed the "Market Based Healthcare Act" or also by some "Glass-Caraway" (due to the presidents and senate minority leaders close work on this bill) it would soon become very divisive. The House voted on it on June 20th and it voted 220-215 against it with none abstaining. In a blow to the president he didn't give up and decided to rework it to make it more fitting to moderates since they were the reason it failed.

A new version of the bill was finally worked out on August 5th by Democratic leaders and would be put into the house of August 8th. The bill would not totally remove universal healthcare but it would make sure to establish a Healthcare agency to make sure its working efficiently and cost effective. It would keep government run healthcare but it would not for mandatory for all and made sure that there would be competition within the system so that people could increase there healthcare status. Compared to completely removing it, this was satisfying to many moderates and polled at 53% when first done after its inception. H.R. 1724 was put into the House where it was voted on 239 for-194 with 2 abstaining. It passed the House which was the first success.

It entered the Senate on September 15th where it would face for struggle. The majority leader Frank Brandegee was a close friend of Johnson and promised to fight to maintain the bill intact. He was no progressive and was a Northeastern Moderate but he kept close ties with Progressives and wanted them to remain friendly to him.

As soon as it passed the house he stated he would not accept anything more then a bill to keep what we have. Entering the Senate it was heavily debated and the Majority Leader with some progressive democrats were able to filibuster and stall the bill for quite a while. Whenever it was up to a vote, they would stall it and his coalition of Republicans, Progressive Democrats, and Socialists would make sure that happened by a majority vote. It wasn't until Late November of 1921 when his monopoly over the bill in the House was toppled on the 21st vote to try to end the filibuster and let the bill through to be voted on.

He faced mass defections from over 18 republicans on the conservative side calling for the bill to be voted through and it was enough already. It was 60-46 and the bill was to be voted on December 19th. The bill was finally voted on and by 2 AM in the morning it was decided. 49 against compared to 49 for it. It was deadlocked which stalled the situation further. It wasn't until January 30th until the Vice President could finally vote on it and he voted like expected for the bill which allowed the bill to pass.

The bill was signed into law on February 9th and went into practice on March 1st, 1923. This was the basis of a new system of multi payer healthcare which although Glass didn't want, it was the best he could get. Another focus of his on the domestic front for that year was to institute a promise which he made to supporters: Tariff Reform.

The last push for this was under the Wilson–Gorman Tariff Act in 1894 but was repealed a year later and this was under the last Democratic President, Grover Cleveland. Since then under three very tariff friendly republicans the rate has gone up to 57%-62% on taxable goods coming in and out of the United States.

Being pro free trade Glass and many Democrats opposed high tariffs and wanted for the freest movement of goods and services across nation lines as possible without tariffs scaring off potential retailers and sellers which they argued would hurt the United States Economy. Wanted to return to low tariffs rates he proposed H.R. 1801 or the "Robinson-Heflin Tariff Reform Act" would lower official tax rates from 60% at the time to 42.5% and proposed a flat tax of 3.6% on the tariffs themselves to counterbalance the lost revenues from which hey would lose from a lower tariff.

Widely praised by many Democrats and Republicans Robinson-Heflin entered the House of Representatives on September 15th and was voted for 228-201 with 6 abstaining. Nearly all republicans and socialists opposed it while almost all Democrats supported it and the bill passed the house. The bill would enter the House on the 18th and was voted on and was passed 50-44 with two abstaining and the bill was signed into law on October 2nd.

It faced criticism from republicans who argued with a high tariff rate and argued it would hurt american workers and industry. Even if the bill was settled the issue of tariffs would continue to be a issue in american politics. It should also be noted that leading American progressives in the Democratic Party like William Jennings Bryan were very much against this and free trade and voting against it in the house and senate but were not enough for a majority.

It was nearing December and the winter recess for congress would take place until they came back in February of 1922. In a final legislative push of the year, Carter called for a overhaul of the tax system calling for lower taxes across the board and to simply many progressive era taxes. In a bill officially known as the "United States National Revenue Act" it would increase all major taxes across the board and would also include a major tax cut to social and military services to reduce national debt and maintain national economic stability in a post war world.

The tax system would still be progressive however with the top rate at 62% down from 81% in the Johnson administration and lowest at 3.8% for those making under $4,000 a year. It was a true package of a bill and would not go in easily and out like he had planned. He meet with top democratic officials and many congressmen from all sides to try to get them to vote for it. He was faced with stiff opposition from the same people that opposed him in all party's but he was praised by moderate members and agreed with overall tax reduction.

But he couldn't introduce it to the congress yet as he wanted it too be as decisive as possible to prevent any stalling and also due to the winter break. He would delay any vote till next year while he was getting it ready and would present it when the congress came back into session. The Congress closed on December 13th and the Legislative agenda for the year was over and Glass was able to start a legacy for himself.

In Global news for that year the post-war year was beginning to settle a little from the chaotic 1918-1920 periods. Socialist regimes had been firmly established in Germany, Russia, and Italy and in February 2nd, 1920 Italy joined the Russo-German Pact in a new treaty known as the Treaty of Turin (1921), it would establish a economic alliance between the three country's to grow them after years of war. In Italy the new Socialist Regime banned elections and began on a economic agenda in a goal to help the people.

In the rest of Europe things were getting better but there was still struggles. In France and the UK, they emerged victorious from the war but the post war economic slump from the war which affected most major western country's hit these two country's especially hard and with the death of Andrew Bonar Law, the conservative prime minister, from throat cancer, a special election was held in March of 1920. In a surge, the young Labour Party found themselves in second place in a large surge and gained 34% of the vote but still failed.

In France meanwhile emboldened by other socialist movements, French Section of the Workers' International which was formed in 1902 from a merger of France Socialist Party's held a surge in support and in the January 1920 elections reached a record 19.5% of the vote. In the September elections of that same year they formed the only opposition to the incumbent president Alexandre Millerand of the National Republican League and gained a bigger 22.4% of the vote. They would continue to grow but a right and left wing coalition in the French Senate prevented them from getting anywhere.

In Spain Eduardo Dato was the incumbent conservative and the depression hit this country hard. In the 1920 election the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party under Pablo Iglesias got a record 21 seats becoming the third largest party in the nation.

In Sweden, the country which was neutral in the war, found a complete opposite affect as the incumbent Social Democratic Government under Hjalmar Branting faced a strong decline from a increased right wing vote.

In Hungary, the war against the communists was still going on, while in Poland a Right Wing Government comes to power and a purge in socialists occurs in the top areas of government.

In Russia the war was nearly done and Vladimir Lenin established himself the leader of the new country of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The new nation continued to try to regain lost lands and in March of 1920 re annexed Georgia and Armenia under new Soviet Republics.

[The Govanah Jake]

In Greece meanwhile the fear of Communists swept the Right into power and ousted the Prime Minister with it. In China civil war was still going on and the Nationalists were the dominant faction while in Japan a series of revolts and coups swept the country and the nation was in chaos.

But the theme that swept the world was the sense of calmness as the revolutions that hit the world the previous year were starting to wind down. And this sense occurred right as the year was ending. The clock struck 12 PM and the Year was 1922...

[The Govanah Jake]

Oh well, the 1922 file which i started and was done with was accidentally deleted because i accidentally shut off my google chrome. Here is a summary for that year since i dont want to rewrite all of that again:

1922

United States News

1. Revenues Act Passes

2. World Stabilized from previous years of revolutions and government changes

3. Champ Clark (House Majority Speaker dies) and Andrew Jackson Montague is the new house speaker

4. Two attempts at flat tax by president fail the Senate with the first set at 31.9% and the second at 40.2%. Criticism is bi-partisan.

5. Minimum Wage abolished due to progressive infighting the the House and a lack of turnout among many Socialists and Progressives to vote in the Senate

6. Slew of minor legislation occur between July and September

7. Glass produces first use of a radio by a president in September when giving a speech to listeners

8. Glass supported bill to end Haiti Occupation lead by Isolationist Dems passes the congress and troops leave by 1926

9. Glass orders troops from occupied Honduras by 1925

10. Immigrant Act of 1922 forces a reduction of immigration towards the United States as a whole but prioritizes Western and Northern European Immigrants for the ones that do get in. The reasons for the bill are due to national and economic stability too not repeat the chaotic immigrant lead 1910s.

11. Major Winter in the 1921-1922 season killed hundreds in New England and the Midwest

International News

12. Conservatives fall in the 1923 UK election and J. R. Clynes of Labour becomes the Prime Minister

13. Failed Socialist Revolt in France
14. Germany beefs up Military Spending to ensure isolationism

15. Russia finally ends Civil War as the White forces fall in Siberia by November of 1922

16. Communist Rebels in Hungary fall in the eastern poorer part of the nation after the fall of there capital city

17. Nationalists in China take the Cliques of the Western Part of China while the Socialist Party of China formed

18. 2 failed coups in Japan

19. Failed revolt in Santiago, Chile.

20. Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act in August 1922 allows for the importation of the psychoactive drug provided any opium derivatives and preparations will be for medicinal purposes only.

[The Govanah Jake]

Oh and I forgot. In the 1922 midterms, the democrats gain slightly and regained the senate and gained some in the house. Socialists lose nearly half of there Senate seats and 7 house seats while the ACP gains slightly in both houses.

[Don Vito Corleone]

Is the ACP a one election breakaway party (Think TR and Robert Lafollette's Progressive Parties, or George Wallace's AIP), or is it going to be a permanent fixture on the political scene?

[The Govanah Jake]

Is the ACP a one election breakaway party (Think TR and Robert Lafollette's Progressive Parties, or George Wallace's AIP), or is it going to be a permanent fixture on the political scene?

Lets just say its future will either involve faltering into oblivion or joining a more "friendly" Republican party.

[The Govanah Jake]

Chapter 12: Modesty is the Key
Part 3: The Year was 1923



Carter Glass is Person of the Year for the year 1923

The Year of 1923 brought a different condition to the world. 1922 brought big news to Global and United States domestic affairs but the big issue that categorized the year was a sense of settling in of a New World order. By now both of the old governments of the World War 1 era had either been pushed out by new party's or been pushed out in Evolution. Major country's throughout the world with new governments experienced major radicalization from previous governments.

In the United States meanwhile the Carter Glass Administration was in its third year. 1922 had brung a establishment and maintenance of his legislative hallmarks so far. He expanded upon his 1921 achievements while expanding into new fields to further give America his vision. He had gone along with a new congressional authority of democrats who could now pass much more easier his legislation but in the Senate still were not a majority but a plurality but a "Modern Majority" coalition of with some Republicans allowed for a pseudo-majority support for his bills and this allowed him to pass several hallmark achievements in the last year including the passing of the Revenues Act, Immigrant Act, withdrawal from the Central America's, and most importantly and recently the Minimum wage act which had sent shock waves throughout the political world of the United States and further deepened Glasses problem with Progressive's.

His own Secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt commented to a local reporter

"This bill is disgraceful to the workingmen and women and America who go by day after day barely making food scraps. A minimum wage allows for this men and women to get by with there basic necessary's and for those same people to not worry above future income as the employer is forced to pay the labor aspect of the company. This bill completely strips away at this basic right and that is why the bill is a disgrace".

But at the same time he was praised by conservatives and many moderates who say the bill originally as a overreach of government. Governor Coolidge stated

"Good Riddance! Such a abomination of federal intrusion is contrary to the american principle of individualism"

while New York Representative (Elected 1920), former New York governor and prominent Republican Charles E. Hughes called the repeal

"A Honorable move however i find the idea of replacing the wage with other government programs as a better idea in the long term to deal with future problems that a non-existent minimum wage may bring".

But the real opinion that mattered was the American people's opinion and most polls conducted showed anywhere from a 51% to 70% approval rating and held a moderately positive to positive view from the American public.

With this he enacted it and come July of 1923, businesses would not be forced to pay such a wage. Then came the new year and then came the next year and another year of his administration. And this year with the inauguration of a new democratic senate on March 4th, would be more favorable to Glass. He would be most pleased by this and after the winter break was over in February tried for the last time to deal with the more difficult 67th congress. In early February he proposed the "Federalist Revisionary act" which would be a revisionary act to the 10th amendment reinforcing a federal mandate for the principles of federalism and the rights of individual states and this was as a response to the increasingly powerful federal government seen until recently. The bill was strongly supported by prominent figures Harry F. Byrd (a close Glass friend) and most Southern Democrats strongly.

As a reminder to his and the democratic party's southern roots, he called upon every Democrat and Republican to support the right of each state to govern independent and called upon democrats to join the bill "As Jackson and Cleveland would", alluding to the fact that the founder of the party and last Democratic present supported state's rights. The bill entered the congress by Democratic senator from Louisiana Joseph E. Ransdell as H.R. 1892 on February 8th and would be voted on February 10th in the House.

The vote came in by 5PM and the results were clear. 309 for while 123 were against and 3 abstained the vote. By clear it wasn't necessary about the vote outcome itself but by the way each party voted. All but 19 democrats (Mostly from the Liberal side of the party) supported it while around 69% of the Republican Party and all remaining Socialist house members supported it. But these weren't enough and the bill easily passed the house.

Then came the less favorable House where it was filibustered by Republican senators successfully and they successfully put up a vote to block it from being voting on which with a 51-45 vote split was successful. The vote was stalled until the new Senate arrived. On March 4th that day came and the new Democratic Speaker Joseph Taylor Robinson was put into the majority speaker position. And they finally got the bill back to a vote on March 9th. After voting it became a 49-47 vote for the Democrats and it passed the Senate with all Republicans and Socialists opposed. The president signed it as one of his first bills with the new congress on March 11th and it became US Law on November 19th.

This was despised by many Northern liberals and to many as just a ploy for Southern Racists and the polling that some ensued showed that it wasn't as popular as his other bills. The New York Times held the bill at 53% while the New York Tribune showed the bill at 48% while the Washington Post showed the bill at 44% with 54% disapproving. But this was to be expected from such a bill proposed by Southern Democrats.

To follow this bill up with something more positive and popular and boost up his approval ratings he supported a republican lead bill to give Indian's citizenship to boost bipartisanship. Labeled the "Indian Voting Rights Act" and started by northern Republicans would give Native Americans official voting rights as they would official become American Citizens unlike previous decades. The issue was first started by Theodore Roosevelt who held dozens of dinners with Native American leaders and proposed a voting rights act to Native Americans in 1918 but died and Johnson never decided to act on it. The bill was already being discussed in the House and was voted on May 27th to a 293 yes-140 no with 2 abstaining vote and went to the Senate where it passed easily with a 60 yes - 36 no vote with none abstaining and was voted into law on July 1st and became law on November of 1924 and the 1924 would be the first election they could legally vote in the United States.

The bill of course was widely popular and especially among Native Americans and Glass held two dinners in June with Cherokee leaders who agreed and heavily approved of the bill. The White European public also liked it and the bill enjoyed a 73% rating universally. Next in July came the "Federal Reserve Banking Act of 1923" which would split up the Federal Reserve (Circa. 1913) which was originally located in just one Washington DC location in 10 different Banks in major city's to split up the power between different regions of the nation and to enact his vision of "decentralized centralized banking".

The bill also ended Government control over the reserve and allowed for the reserve to govern itself and operate independently from the federal government but free of wall street domination as quoted by the bill. This was a major turn around from the previous reserve which was under Theodore Roosevelt who established the agency as merely a extension of the government and purpose as explained by the bill itself "it would function as the reserve system and currency supply operated by federal authority to better protect the citizens from the money trusts and would destroy the existing concentration of credit resources in Wall Street". However this new bill would make it independent of the government and able to operate itself.

When it reached the House on July 17th it was discussed. It became a bill of major dispute as Progressives and most Republicans immediately opposed it along with many Progressive Democrats. Many of then formed and supported the "Seger Plan" which was a counter to the bill and allowed for a independent reserve and for there to be 10 reserves but it called for heavy government regulation over there actions and a federal yearly check on the behaviors of the reserve and if negligent which return full power to the government.

The Socialists in the House formed there own plan to abolish the reserve all together in favor of a new government regulated monetary supply system to remove corruption all together however it received little traction, minus a few senators, outside of the socialist senators themselves and was known as the Berger plan. These three plans, the regular bill, the Seger Plan, and the Berger Plan, went up against each other in Mid October after months of arguing. 265 for the bill while 153 opposed the bill and 17 opposing and passed the house. In the senate meanwhile it was debate more and the closer congressional control there meant for a closer result.

The senate though held less of a Progressive influence then the House so the main opposition came from a moderate standpoint calling the bill unreasonable to work without the influence of Wall Street calling for a maintenance of the bill though moderated for the democratic congress. The bill was voted 2 days after it was voted in the House and was voted on and finished by 9PM. 51 for while 45 were against. All but 1 democrat supported the bill while all but 2 republicans opposed the bill while all Socialists opposed it.

October and November brought a slew of more small bills and local legislation of which the most significant was a bill which authorized troops to the US border to guard against Mexican cartels and would be the first form of US protection against the southern border and would evolve into more complex legislation and bureaus. But the peak of the year was over and next year would not be influenced by legislation like the previous 2 but by election season as 1924 brought a new election to the United States.

[The Govanah Jake]

Chapter 12: Modesty is Key
The Year was 1923 Continued

In the United Kingdom, the old conservative governments of different prime ministers had controlled the nation and national agenda for decades on end with breaks in between. They had very much become a dominant party in this time in both elections and the parliament and had governed the United Kingdom during the Great War. But after the war, a period which was expected to bring economic prosperity with the end of the war and the benefits of war productively boosting the nation's economy, a world wide economic slump hit most major western nations economy and in the UK the 1918-1920 period brought a national decline in GDP and unemployment reaching almost 15%.

This all happened under the Conservatives and there national polling for the upcoming elections declined massively. Discontent in London and the Northern England Industrial city's brought major riots and a chance for other party's to prosper in this time. Of these, Labour received the highest support among these voters and formed a block among these types. They began to poll in front of Liberal for the first time since the party's creation and there chances were only increased when Conservative prime minister Andrew Bonar Law died in office from throat cancer (He died later in our timeline) and a special election was held for March 1920.

They campaigned hard for this and campaigned on  nationalization of the mines and railways, to impose a levy on financial capital, and to revise the peace treaties of the end of the Great War to give a more favorable deal towards Britain. It also promised a higher standard of living for workers, higher wages, and better housing for all workingmen. There motto was "Vote Labour! In your own interests.". Stanley Baldwin meanwhile was the Conservative party nominee and leader and was previously a mid level official in the Law Administration.

H. H. Asquith, former Prime Minister, was yet again the Liberal nominee who offered classical British Liberalism and expansion to the Basic Welfare state that was established under his administration. In the end Law won the election with 39.8% and barely held onto 310 seats (72 less then in 1918). But the real story from the election was the highest vote total Labour ever had received up to that point gaining 34.0% of the vote and won 105 more seats and held 162 seats in total while the Liberal Party gained 20.4% of the nation's vote and 51 more seats while the break off party the National Liberals lost nearly half of there seats.

But with only 310 seats he governed on a knifes edge. Baldwin offered to coalition with the Liberal party to exchange for concessions though the Liberal declined. Instead the Liberal Party governed with Labour and formed a coalition with them garnering a mighty almost 250 seats minority government and were able to block some like Tariff reform and were able to block along with Conservative defections a effort by Baldwin to limit government resources to the welfare system (C. 1916) by cutting monetary supplies to them. This struggle between party's continued for 3 long years when in March of 1923, Baldwin had enough and declared a election in July to create a mandate for Conservative leadership. Vigorous campaigning ensued and in the end the mandate he wanted was destroyed.

The final results showed a 36.4-35.3% victory for Labour in the popular vote for the first time ever. They did this off the backs of a declining Liberal vote and a strong Industrial North and London turnout. Baldwin was ousted from leadership and 54 year old Labour Leader J. R. Clynes was elected Prime Minister but with a Hung Parliament with a slight Conservative plurality. Clynes was able to work with the Liberal's in creating a government and in Late 1923 the first Labour Government in UK History was established.

The new Government went immediately into Domestic and Foreign policy and increasing of domestic welfare and International Pacifism ruled the parliament. A notable change from the previous administration and the new Government withdrew from its European duty's according to the Treaty that ended the Great War ending its watchful eye diplomacy over Germany and withdrew its Troops from the French territory's.

In the French Republic meanwhile the failed Socialist revolt the previous year did more harm then good to the Socialist cause. The revolt which for almost 2 weeks occupied Paris was launched by a coalition of Socialist Party's and the Casus belli was for "the improvement of the conditions of Frenchmen and women from the ruling classes".

After the revolt clearly failed, major leaders of the revolt were arrested and many executed by the French Government while President Alexandre Millerand launched a investigation into top French Socialist party's on there role in the revolt. Up to 500 Top Socialist leaders from around 10 party's of the Left were arrested over the following two years and almost all were for treason.

The supposed criminality of the Socialist Party's however inaccurate it may have been hit the French People and it would be shown in the 1924 Presidential Election when Alexandre was re-elected 71-20% over the Socialists. Though this did establish the Socialists as the main opposition party and in a effort to rebound in December of 1924 would establish the French Socialist Party uniting all the smaller Socialist party's into one and was said to represent the Left of Politics. A hopeful launching pad for future progress after a horrendous debacle.

In the rest of the world, new developments occurred. In Germany a nationwide road building program called the "Autobahn" would be established to connect Germany together with roads but would take up to 5 years to complete and try to deal with the 15-20% unemployment the country held still from post-war debt. Germany would establish much more social programs and also would arrest many wealth holders in the country including the millionaire and billionaire class for crimes against the "Proletariat".

A system of wealth redistribution from them to the poorer classes was wildly popular and the GDP reporting a net positive in 5 years. In Russia the premier and leader of the revolution Vladimir Lenin began to experience declining health and was increasingly not seen in public and increasingly governed in secrecy. And like in Germany, a transition from autocracy and monarchy to Socialism and Communism was under way and by late 1923 wealth redistribution was beginning and lands were being taking able from nobles and the wealthier to the serfs.

Meanwhile executions of capture White forces was taking place in the Siberian tundra. In Italy similar things were happening however a more direct approach towards communism occurred and within the first year abolished private property and redistributed wealth and land. In China the new Communist party revolted in aim of creating a communist China and found allies with other left wing Chinese forces creating the Chinese Communist Front.

In Japan a third coup in April of 1923 lead to a Military government and increased militarization.

And themes like these of small but noticeable changes and coups and party takeovers plagued the year and the year would end as the last minute hit 12 PM and it was a new year. The Year was 1924...

[The Govanah Jake]

Chapter 13: The Tale of a Giant
Part 1: The Republicans: The Presidential Primary's and convention of '24.



Robert La Follette giving a speech on the radio during the 1924 campaign

The Republicans for the first time since 1892 have lost a election. A party once seen as a inherently American party was also seen as America's only party. They absolutely dominated in the era of Lincoln through McKinley and McKinley through Roosevelt. They controlled all but 1 presidency of Grover Cleveland and although they were less dominant in the congressional path and through the Lincoln era of 1865 to 1896 lost the house multiple times while losing the Senate on more then on occasion in that time period.

And although the elections were relatively close in that time period and held some of the tightest election margins ever, the Republican agenda dominated no matter what and a Post-Civil War concession was established with Republicans in the North, Democrats in the South, and the West Republican leaning. Which lead to most elections being Republican leaning as the electoral rich votes of New York and Pennsylvania which held almost 100 votes together were all but Republican leaning spots.

The only way the Democrats could win in this time was by winning at least one of these states and they only did it once with there only President Grover Cleveland who won it twice but not in two times in a row. And this was only do to mysterious circumstances with the New York City machine and Tammany Hall and the Boss Tweed coalition of special interests.

Now imagine this and multiply this whole description of post war America and multiple that by a Hundred and that is what you have of a America Post-McKinley and up to Carter Glass. A very Republican America indeed. McKinley was to some the second coming of Lincoln. It wasn't like he was as important as Lincoln but he was like Lincoln as in he brought the Republican Party to new heights. This all started in 1896 when the Democrats went with William Jennings Bryan as there nominee, Young Nebraska Congressmen, after his famous cross of gold speech and he was cross endorsed the the Populists.

The Republicans decided to still to the North and picked Ohio Governor William McKinley who was very much a Pro-Business and Pro-Tariff Republican. He helped maintain the Party coalition and strengthen the already existing one of the Business class, Farmers, and White Ethnics to win in a landslide electoral vote but this came at the cost of losing the Republican leaning West to Populism. His coalition stayed and won in a even bigger victory in 1900 and when he was shot by a Polish assassin in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt, his vice president, took over that reign and with his populism and progressivism was able to win back the west while keeping the coalition happy and this resulted in a massive landslide of almost 60% which was the highest any republican had gotten to that point.

They also won the greatest majority's in both chambers of congress in decades. When Roosevelt decided not to run in 1908, William Howard Taft took over his reign and won in a decisive landslide, and when Roosevelt wasn't satisfied primaried him and beat him and then went on to win a good victory in November. Finally his prodigies and Vice President took over from him after he died and won in 1916. He however lost in 1920 after a Democratic wave and after 4 years of a popular Democrat this leads up to the 1924 Election.

The election itself was expected to be a easy Glass win. According to a consensus of polling of the time, Glass held above a 59.5% approval rating and the majority of his bills and most Americans were happy with his administration. A poll on February of 1924 showed that against any Republican, 48% of Americans would vote for Glass while 30% would vote for that Republican. A almost 18% gap which is the largest since 1904. But still some say some hope in the election and some didn't call it a lost cause. So the factions within the Republican party debated on what to do.

They began to question why they lost in 1920 and how to win in 1924 and of course different sides of the party called for different solutions. The dominant factions were the Progressives and the Moderates and each wouldn't to control who was the nominee in 1924.

The Progressives argued that the only reason they lost in 1920 was due to apathy rates among Republicans and the split of the Republican party. They said that as shown in 1920 when Johnson was down almost 20%, a Progressive could tighten the margin to only about a 10% margin in a matter of weeks. The way to go forward was a united party with a candidate in the mold of Johnson and Roosevelt to win and they could win easily in November and turn back many Johnson '16-Glass '20 voters to there side.

However on the other side the Moderate wing the party preached that the reason they lost was due to the radical nature of the candidates that have been hosted. America has had enough of radicalism, at least for now, and want a moderate alternative who can keep the system intact but too not due much else. They agreed to keep the welfare state set up by the previous Republican presidents which lead to a consensus (except Conservatives) among Republicans on the basic welfare state. But this was as long as they got to be able to govern there message in other ways and not to expand on it. They argued all of this and said this was a winning message going into November of 1924: Moderate rhetoric but promise to remove Glass era bans on Rooseveltian welfare programs and keep a positive outlook.

Meanwhile the remaining conservatives in the party which hadn't already left for the ACP argued for a return to conservatism in the party in the McKinley brand and that was truly the one way they could win against the increasing "Socialist tactics of the Republican Party". Each of these sides holstered there own candidates that they said should run.

The Progressives pushed on former cabinet member of the Roosevelt and Johnson administration's and Senator from Wisconsin, Robert La Follette to run for President as a Republican that year. Some in that caucus also pushed on George W. Norris, former Vice President, to run as a republican. He was a moderate in tone but a progressive in policy and was said to be a unifying figure for the party.

Meanwhile the moderates holstered Charles Evans Hughes, former Republican governor of New York to run. A true moderate he held some reformist and progressive views as governor and could also be a good unifying force for the party. Charles Curtis, Senator from Kansas, was also seen as a top contender from the Moderates and was known to reach across the isle to work with progressives of all stripes. Leonard Wood was also pushed to run by alot of Republicans as unifier and held many populist and wide ranging views which could be palatable for all.

The remaining faction, the conservatives, were almost all gone for the ACP however the ones that remained push Governor Calvin Coolidge and Former Governor Frank Orren Lowden to run as conservatives. But Coolidge upon hearing immediately refused saying he has not intentions of being president. The field was high and only one could win. And then the Republican primary's started. The first to declare who was major was Charles Evans Hughes.

It wasn't a big shock to many as he was he publicly stated his interest. Also this with the fact that he does not hold political office at that moment lead to the decision. Hughes stated to the press at his New York home "We will bring back sanity and progressive values to the white house" noting his moderate and reformist views. He is favored as of right now with no other major candidates in the race. He declared early on October of 1923 and the first poll of the season showed how he lead with no other declared candidates

New York Times Snap Poll (11/5/23)

Charles Evans Hughes: 34.5%
George Norris: 27.3%
Robert Lafollette: 17.4%
Charles Curtis: 10.4%
Frank Orren Lowden: 7.6%

He also lead in early state primary polls (first introduced in this cycle) and he lead in nearly all early ones and held big leads in the delegate rich North Eastern states which were key to the nomination. He also held great ties with the RNC establishment members and could work a contested convention.

His time of being the only declared major candidate however abruptly ended Robert LaFollette put away speculation by declaring his run for the presidency in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 14th. He said in his speech to declare he was running

"The great men and women of the American Republic i call home have been, for the last four years, been utterly and deliberately been forced to reduce there living and environmental conditions for the last 4 years. He (President Carter Glass) and his Administration have actively cut from the improvements the previous 2 republican presidents have given us and instead hide that under the "Normalcy" he oh so talks about often. This normalcy is nothing more then a chance to cut welfare programs and enhance the richer classes. This is why i run for President!".

Many prominent progressives including former President Hiram Johnson immediately endorsed him and automatically held much of the progressive vote prepared. With this updated polls came out by late December and showed him still behind Hughes put closer

New York Times Snap Poll (12/25/23)

Charles Evans Hughes: 36.1%
Robert Lafollette: 28.6%
George Norris: 21.6%
Charles Curtis: 7.1%
Frank Orren Lowden: 5.1%

La Follette was now in second place but still behind Mr. Hughes. La Follette's base in the primary's would come from the mountain west, west, and Midwest primary's unless another candidate came in to mess that up. La Follette's biggest problem came from George Norris, who if he ran, could of split the progressive and western delegates and give the nomination to a moderate.

Norris, who was still the favorite of the Progressive establishment, refused to make any statements nor any endorsements. While he was doing this another candidate joined the race in Frank Orren Lowden. The former governor like Hughes was a moderate/conservative favorite and being out of political office was more likely then not to run.

[The Govanah Jake]

Part 1: The Republicans: The Presidential Primary's and convention of '24 Continued

He said to the press "We need a real republican to be president, a real republican to stand up to the republican values of McKinley. I'm the only person in this presidential race that can deliver on this". Again another set of polls were produced and showed a slightly improved Lowden vote:

New York Times Snap Poll (1/12/24)

Charles Evans Hughes: 33.6%
Robert Lafollette: 25.5%
George Norris: 23.0%
Frank Orren Lowden: 13.8%
Charles Curtis: 3.6%

He beat Curtis for 4th place but was till majorly behind and Hughes still maintained a lead. A big campaign ensued some after once the competitive race began from January to March of 1924. La Follette barnstormed key Midwestern and Western states and also campaigned hard in states like Pennsylvania showcasing his "Labor Republicanism".

He call Hughes a elitist North Easterner who is to in bed with Big Business for true reform. Hughes rebutted by stated La Follette was a radical who could not win any national election. He campaigned in states like New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania and other key delegate states. Lowden didn't do much campaigning though did attack both candidate constantly calling La Follette a "Socialist Radical" and Hughes  a "Arrogant New York fool" running the most right wing of them all and was able to capture the conservative vote in key states allowing for him to become competitive.

But none of this was as important as when George W. Norris in Late February in Washington DC stated he would endorse Robert M. La Follette Sr. for president stating he "was the only one capable of real reform in Washington" and a "Honorable man". He held no comment on Hughes. This immediately sent his poll numbers up and a March 1st poll showed:

New York Times Snap Poll (3/1/24)

Charles Evans Hughes: 36.9%
Robert Lafollette: 33.9%
Frank Orren Lowden: 24.7%

The lead was now within the margin of error and now was a delegate race. Lowden established himself as a successful third candidate to the Progressive and the Moderate. And then the primary's started on March 12.
(Since there is no dates for each primary's on the internet or at least i can find, i will have to make then up)
There were 16 primary's in total.

The first primary was in New Hampshire on March 12th.

Charles E. Hughes: 71.4%
Frank Orren Lowden: 13.1%
Robert La Follette: 13.0%

Hughes as expected won by almost 60% and took every one of there state delegates.
The next primary was on March 15th and in Wisconsin, La Follettes home state

Robert La Follette: 83.7%
Frank Orren Lowden: 15.3%

Robert won in a landslide in his very on state unexpectedly and Hughes didn't even register for the state primary.
Next up was on March 27th and was the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio or the Midwestern primarys

In Michigan, Hughes won in a upset defeated La Follette 51-41% off the back off the Detroit surroundings and Detroit itself. La Follette also lost Ohio 53-37% though was less of a shock to many. La Follette made that up by narrowly winning the Delegate rich state of Illinois beating its Frank Lowden in his own home state. He however refused to drop out.
The next states were Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts and were on April 17th.

Hughes won in a landslide the states of New Jersey and Massachusetts by over 65%. La Follette put up a fit in Pennsylvania taking 43% of the vote to Hughes 48% and was able to effectively split the vote. In West Virginia, in a tight three way race Lowden wins his first state as he wins the state over the other two 36-34-31%.
The next state was Maryland on May 2nd.

Hughes easily won the primary off the back of Baltimore and the back of Black Republican voters throughout the state.
The next primary's were South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska on May 19th

La Follette won all three and easily added delegates however Lowden with his populist conservatism put up a fight in Nebraska.
The next primary was Montana on May 28th.

Another easy La Follette win as Lowden's conservatism wasn't as effective here and Hughes was equally hated.
The final primary's was on June 7th in California and Oregon.

Due to Johnson's endorsement, La Follette easily won California. Though again Lowden and to a extent Hughes put up a fight in more conservative Oregon though La Follette won there in the end 45-31-23%.

In the end La Follette won 8 primary's to Hughes 7 and Lowden's 1. However Hughes held a delegate lead due to his wins in high population enters The convention occurred in Cleveland, Ohio and would take place from June 10th - 15th. Although the delegates were close, both Hughes and La Follette agreed to keep a orderly convention the first ballot looked like this:

Ballot 1
Charles Evan Hughes: 462.0
Robert La Follette: 403.5
Frank Lowden: 203.5

After 23 ballots..

Charles Evan Hughes: 438.5
Robert La Follette: 410.9
Frank Lowden: 170.3

On the 25th ballot Lowden drops out and lets his delegates free. They nearly all go to Hughes
and it was a two man race

Charles Evan Hughes: 503.5
Robert La Follette: 431.6

On the 30th Ballot...

Charles Evan Hughes: 579.5
Robert Evan Hughes: 510.3

He crosses the 550 Delegates needed to win and was now the nominee. La Follette graciously concedes and in attempt to mull any third party run offers La Follette the VP slot. It was voted on:

First Ballot

Robert La Follette: 702.5
Charles Curtis: 153.2
George W. Norris: 67.5
Others: 176.8

[The Govanah Jake]

Continued again:

Robert La Follette was elected on the first ballot. Hughes gave his speech to the convention calling for a true return to normalcy after 4 years of Glass. The Hughes/La Follette Ticket was born!

[Kingpoleon]

Darn it. I prefer Norris and Curtis to La Follette.

[The Govanah Jake]

Poll: How should i continue the story?
In big chunks like the one's so far or in smaller but more frequent chunks of text like in most of the timelines you see in this section.

[The Govanah Jake]

Really only 4 votes? Come on, you can do better then that.

[The Govanah Jake]

The New York Times (Editorial)
The Race for the Democratic Nomination



Franklin Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan campaign for Wilson in a 1912 event.

By Lester Markel: September 13th, 1923

As the 1924 election season starts to open up, the all important primary system is in order for each candidate to be nominated. These primary's as is well known first started with the 1912 election and championed by Progressive reformers.

This gave the voters more power over the party's choice of nominee. It started in the Republican party first but soon spread to all over party's including the Democrats and Socialists. Now these primary's have became a electoral occurrence every 4 years since. These primary's however are limited to just a few states as most states just pick there delegates in state party convention which will then be sent to the DNC or RNC or SNC depending on where and when it was.

There are only about 20 primary's per election because of this since in both party's. To vote in a primary depends on what type of system. The classic 1912 style primary of anyone can vote was first started in the 1912 season and in which there is a state primary and all citizens who want to vote in that primary can no matter if there a republican or democrat. This style is championed by progressive reformers like Robert La Follette who said the Times back in 1915 "I envision a system where every single man and women can vote to choose who each major party's nominee is and that is what a democratic system is all about". This year is no different in which the candidates will have to run through the primary's.

As we are seeing on the Republican side, the primary's are shaping up to be big and competitive for them. Mainly due to a open field with a Democratic president. However on the democratic side there is not as much of a discussion. Carter Glass has already announced his intention to run for a second term and did it back in July stating to the press "I have made by intention clear. I will run for president and run for a second term in 1924 to continue our successful agenda for 4 more years" and then said "I hope the people will re-elect me again for 4 more years of prosperity". Due to this with a popular Democratic president, there are very little politicians on the democratic side who are brave enough to face off against Glass. And who could blame them.

The president according to our latest polling is at a 69% rating from the people he could get a close to untouchable in the political sense as possible with such a high rating only matched by the presidents of Roosevelt and Johnson. However even if the numbers look save for him, he does have a weak spot, with Progressives. In our latest polling with a size of 1500 participants, of people who described themselves as Progressive/Socialists, only 45% approve of the presidents actions while up to 65% dislike the Presidents overall conservatism.

Of why they hate the president, a plurality, 41% said they dislike the president because of his Anti-Minimum Wage Laws and Cuts to Welfare Programs. This is 20% more the next option. With an overall 49% disapproval from Democratic Progressives. With this date, a potential progressive revolt in the party could take place which could potential kill his nomination chances. The Progressive caucus also has revolved around several leaders. Franklin Roosevelt, who is the current Secretary of the Navy, is one possibility it. A open critic of the president even if he is in his cabinet, he was known during the Glass years for his outspokenness towards Glasses cuts towards Social Programs and the Minimum Wage. It is a wonder why he is still in Glasses cabinet, but Carter is not dumb.

He knows that he needs Roosevelt in his cabinet to keep the party together and he knows the only way to win is to keep a United party. And a United Party is the only path towards victory. But anyways, if he does run he does have a good chance. He has built a impressive name for himself as Former Governor of New York, Cousin of the late great President Theodore Roosevelt, and Secretary of War under Glass since 1921. He is also the leader of the Progressive movement within the party and ran in 1920 as the Progressives choice but was beaten by Glass in the nomination. He could build up a big amount of support combined with his already popular name recognition. There are some downsides he could face including his lack of ability to use his legs due to polio.

He can only walk around in a wheelchair or crutches and him being crippled could hurt him among the voters. But he is the biggest fear Glass has in this authors opinion. There are other democrats from the left who could run from the left including Al Smith who has become the leader of the City Left and the City Machines calling for a end to Prohibition and a modest Progressive reform for all. He however is not as known as FDR is would probably not win against Glass. However perhaps the biggest wildcard of them all is William Jennings Bryan.

Now at the ripe age of 63, the aging boy of the Platte has been a leader of the progressive and populist movement in America since his 1896 run. Although not in politics anymore and holding no elected office now, he has been quite critical of president calling his "Disdain for the poor deplorable". He has also said that "If Carter does even more damage to the American Workers, ill be damned and run for president to defeat him and give the workers a chance to recover.".

This has caused quite the speculation about him running and he has neither confirmed or denied it. A poll by our magazine showed that if it was Glass versus against Bryan, Glass would win but only taking 54% which is horrible for a incumbent popular president with Bryan taking 44%. However Anti-Evolution activism has taken up most of his time and this is unlikely.

This race in the Democratic party shouldn't be treated as gone for and should be watched with speculation...

[The Govanah Jake]

The Daily News
Politics: Democratic Heavyweight Al Smith enters race for Democratic Nomination!



Al Smith giving a announcement speech in New York City.

By: Joseph Medill Patterson: September 29th, 1923

NEW YORK CITY, Yesterday on September 28th, Governor of New York and one of the leaders of the Democratic Party announced his run for the Democratic Nomination to challenge President Carter Glass. Smith said to reporters from his New York City home on that day

"Carter Glass has proven time and time again to go against the people of America. He has betrayed the Democratic cause of Good Government in exchange with Republican conservatism. He has forgotten that Government should work with Business to ensure proper American Welfare.

He has forgotten the Government part and has gone straight to business and because of this the people suffer. I declare from my home right now that i will seek the nomination of my party to restore the ideals of Good Government, ensure a proper stability, and maintain that the welfare of the people shall not be forsaken.

And if i am humbled to get my party's nomination, i shall promise to defeat whoever the republican nominee is and restore the Good Government and Liberal Values that have made our country great".

A more then a hour long speech he filed to run at the local registration station and became a candidate. He however later maintained he will not resign from the Governorship and continue to govern while campaigning.

News of his announcement went wildfire in the political atmosphere and soon reached Washington by Telephone. It soon reached the office of Carter Glass and a official White House statement stated "The President welcomes such competition in a election and is what elections are all about.

We wish to see Smith on the campaign trail against us come the primary's and we wish the American people too decide who should lead". His announcement is considered a surprise to many as Glass is a popular incumbent and was seen as untouchable by democratic politicians. Which such a big name as Smith joining the race, can this trigger a chain reaction from other big named democrats?

But what we do know is that Glass is still favored to win the nomination. A latest poll from the New York Tribune Magazine found that 56% of respondents would support Carter Glass in a Democratic Primary while 30% would support something else and 14% are undecided or not know.

They also added in a Smith option and in a Glass V Smith Race, Glass leads 56-42% over Smith but the race does seem closer...

[The Govanah Jake]

The Washington Star
FDR to President: I wont challenge you for the nomination.



Roosevelt at his Official Navy Secretary Office in a June, 1923 picture

By Clifford K. Berryman: October 19th, 1923

WASHINGTON DC, Earlier this week on Tuesday Franklin Roosevelt declared to the press at his Washington DC official office for the Navy Secretary that he wont run for president and denied any rumors that he would.

He said this in a 15 minute long statement at the White House Briefing room in which most major newspapers showed up. He declared in it that:

"I know many of you in the news media have been spewing this narrative that i would run for President this year and try to challenge the President. Well i called this appearance today to put a end to that rumor. I will not run for president. I am perfectly happy here and my post here under the President and plan to stay so. I had a lengthy discussion with the President about my decision and both him and myself are happy with it. We have have our disagreements and that to many could seem like a lot. However both him and i have a main focus and that is to serve the people of this great nation who elected us in the first place and bickering wont get us anywhere.
Reporter: Mr. Secretary ...".

With Roosevelt officially out, a big relieve must be coming off of the President's back. Most pollsters and political experts have agreed that without Roosevelt, Glasses best-shot challenger is gone and he can have a easier time at getting the nomination.

We however have to wait and see as the primary's don't start until next year.

[The Govanah Jake]

Los Angeles Express
Long shot William Gibbs McAdoo decides to give it a go



McAdoo at the Telegraph

By John Kenneth Turner: December 15th, 1923

SAN FRANCISCO, On a cold mid December day, seemingly out of nowhere, this former 1920 DNC option and DNC Vice Chairman declared he wants another shot at the presidency and stated at the capital building of California in Sacramento:

" Yes, if you are asking, i am running for president. Our current president is in no way capable of real progressive change and must go. He has proved himself to be a person of the past endorsing the racist actions of the old past and in our modernizing America must go. He is nothing more then a conservative and his promises of progressive reform have been a rouse.

His economic policy has destroyed the good economic reform this country was on path towards and turned it into his own vision against everyone else's likening. He has handed the Federal reserve to the Wall Street Investors and not to the american people where they belong. This is why he must go and this is why i will run for president. I hope i can get your vote and hope to get the country's vote next November."

He is the second major challenger to the president after Al Smith, and although not as known as Smith and not a politician at the moment, he is still widely known in many political circles and his Progressive Pragmatism can appeal to both Progressives and Glass Moderates and could be a winning strategy.

Also he is from the western half of the country which is rare for the Southern and Northeastern areas  most Democrats usually hail from and this could give him a base out in the western primary's and as a base in delegates.

However due to him being on the West Coat news of this only reached the White House on the 20th which then responded that the President has no comment on his announcement. With a second figure in the race, the competitiveness which seemed to only be on the Republican side is creeping over to the Democrats.

A first spark of a political campaign was in Mid November when Smith attacked the president for failing to find a replacement program for the Minimum Wage and just letting it die. He called his actions "Immoral to the people".

Glass responded back calling Smith a opportunist to any potential issue. This exchange neither helped or hurt both of them in the polls.

However McAdoo has been know to throw a nasty political discourse but we will have to watch for this...

[The Govanah Jake]

Newark Evening News
New Poll Conducted for Democratic Primary: Glass in the lead but competitors polling well
By Wallace Scudder: January 5th, 1924

As the Democratic Primary's get closer, we here at the Newark Evening News have decided to do some polling on the race. With a sample size of 863 residents of the Newark great area, all of whom are democrats, we got a clear result

Democratic Primary Poll, January 5th

Carter Glass - 58.4%
Al Smith - 39.4%
William Gibbs McAdoo

Glass holds a big lead of up to 20% according to the polling. What this can only mean is that the President is favored to retake the nomination for a second time and go onto November. However vigorous campaigning by the other two candidates could change that...

[The Govanah Jake]

The Democratic Campaign for Presidential Nomination
From "The Progressive American: 1900-1950" by Martin J. Sklar

From Page 69, Chapter 12 - The Troubles of the 1920s

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[The Govanah Jake]

Jamestown Weekly Alert
The First Democratic Primary in the Nation: North Dakota
By Marshall McClure: March 12th, 1924

As the heated fight for the nomination continues, the first primary in the nation occurs and its in our very own state of North Dakota. Due to it being a Democrat-only primary and due to its unimportant nature only 1300 people voted in the primary as a estimate. North Dakota holds 10 Delegates which will be decided at the national convention and already before the primary, 5 delegates were already assigned to Smith and 1 assigned to McAdoo. The 6 delegates still available however went to McAdoo when he narrowly defeated the incumbent president here.

* Delegates shown from only the North Dakota Primary

North Dakota Democratic Primary, 1924

William McAdoo ------- 44.62%, 4 Delegates
Carter Glass ------- 41.10%, 1 Delegate
Al Smith ------- 11.82%, 5 Delegates

[Kingpoleon]

Interesting... Have the Bryan brothers endorsed anyone yet?

[The Govanah Jake]

Interesting... Have the Bryan brothers endorsed anyone yet?

Both haven't but as mentioned WJB does not take kindly to Carter Glasses policy's so he probably wont endorse Glass. Charles, first elected as governor in 1923, has not endorsed anyone but is leaning towards William McAdoo