next poster add something to the story....1904.

[WalterMitty]

let's see if we can get a good story going...

in early 1904, teddy roosevelt decides not to seek election to the office.  he feels the presidency is too confining.  hed rather be on a safari or chasing buffalo in colorado.

his nemesis, speaker of the house, 'uncle' joe cannon wins the republican nomination.

cannon allows the convention to choose his running mate.....

[True Democrat]

Roosevelt, who decides to attend the convention still has many allies in the party.  He decides to use his influence to get the convention to pick Taft for Vice-President.  However, Cannon has a different idea.  His candidate, Henry Cabot Lodge, battles with Taft for the nomination.  However, by the sixth ballot, Roosevelt and Cannon agree on a compromise candidate, in the form of  New Hampshire Senator Henry E. Burnham.

[PBrunsel]

At the Democratic Convention Alton B. Parker and William Randolf Hearst battle it out over the course of 77 ballots, with Parker finally emerging as the winner. He selects the equaly conservative former Senator Henry Davis of West Virginia as his running-mate. Enraged by this, Hearst leads his delegates out of the convention while singing, "Onward Christian Soldier."

[Speed of Sound]

labor activist Eugene Debs decides not to run, saying that "The Party needs more time to gather a foundation, and you can count me in next time." Debs refuses to back a candidate, leaving 3% of the vote up for grabs, and nearly tying up the state of Missouri.

[WalterMitty]

two weeks after being nominated for vp, 81 year old henry davis drops dead from an apparent heart attack.

[PBrunsel]

With Debs out of the running Hearst decided to run for President as the Socialist nominee. At their convention in Kansas City they nominate Hearst for President and San Francsico newspaperman and physician Francis Townsend for Vice-President.

However, not happy with Hearst, Cannon, or Parker, Representative Robert LaFolette enters as the nominee of the National Progressive Party. The platfrom speaks in favor of, "Rooseveltism", and TR endorses LaFollette for President. At their convention in Milwaukee, LaFolette is nominated for President and lawyer William Borah of Idaho is nominated for Vice-President.

The campaign of 1904 has begun!

[True Democrat]

Fearing any chance of Progressive Presidency could be hurt by a splitting of the vote by Hearst and LaFollette, a compromise is made.  Hearst will drop out of the running and will become LaFollette's Vice-Presidential candidate on the National Progressive Party ticket.  Although LaFollette is first reluctant to make  this compromise, he knows this gives him the best chance of being elected.  Eugene Debs immediately endorses the Progressive Party ticket. 

Meanwhile, the Democrats must pick a new Vice-President.  The leading contender for the spot is Prohibitionist Eugene Chafin, who could bring the support of the Prohibition Party.

[Speed of Sound]

Chafin accepts the spot as VP for the Democrats, but they got an opposite reaction. The Prohibition Party calls him a Two-Party sheep. The Party backs the Natiopnal Progressive Party, giving them even more momentum, and The Chafin controversy casts a bad light on the Dem ticket.

[PBrunsel]

Chafin drops off the Democratic Ticket, as it was fool-hearty too accept. The Democrats refuse to nominate Chafin and instead select the grand old silverite Senator Francis Cockrell of Missouri. The Democratic Ticket is now Parker-Cockrell.

[Lincoln Republican]

Republican Presidential nominee "Uncle" Joe Cannon tells the Republican National Convention "Theodore Roosevelt has no more use for the constitution than a tomcat has for a marriage license." (actual statement made by Cannon, though, not at the convention)  Why would the Presidential candidate take this occasion, of all times, to attack Roosevelt?, delegates are wondering.   

Roosevelt supporters are incensed and march out of the convention, singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."  They lift Teddy onto their shoulders, shouting "Teddy for President, Teddy for President."

Roosevelt supporters quickly convene a nomination convention of their own, form the "National Unity Party" and nominate Republican President Theodore Roosevelt for President.  Teddy reconsiders his earlier decision, and accepts the Presidential nomination of the "National Unity Party."

On this "National Unity Party" ticket, Roosevelt approaches former Delaware Democratic Senator George Gray to run on the ticket as the Vice Presidential candidate.  Roosevelt is impressed with Gray, a distinguished attorney, a graduate of Princeton who attended Harvard Law School, Attorney General of Delaware 1879-85, U.S. Senator from Delaware 1885-99, currently serving as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals, since 1899, and was in fact appointed to the bench by Republican President William McKinely, who was, in many ways, Roosevelt's mentor.

Democrat George Gray accepts the Vice Presidential nomination  to run with Republican Teddy Roosevelt on the "National Unity Party" ticket, stating, "It will be my honor to run with such a distinguished leader as you, Mr. President."       

[True Democrat]

Roosevelt suffers a heart attack three days after receiving the party's nomination.  Although he survives, he is quoted as saying is "no longer as fit as a Bull Mooose".  Roosevelt drops out of the race.  Although some call on Gray to continue to the fight, both men agree to make no endorsements, though it is clear the Roosevelt supports LaFollette.  Five days after his heart attack, Roosevelt dies.

[PBrunsel]

Secretary of State John M. Hay (a friend and secretary of Abraham Lincoln) is suddenly made President of the United States. His first order of business is making a national day of mourning for Roosevelt.

[True Democrat]

Secretary of State John M. Hay (a friend and secretary of Abraham Lincoln) is suddenly made President of the United States. His first order of business is making a national day of mourning for Roosevelt.

What?

[PBrunsel]

Secretary of State John M. Hay (a friend and secretary of Abraham Lincoln) is suddenly made President of the United States. His first order of business is making a national day of mourning for Roosevelt.

What?

Until 1948 the Secretary of State (not the Speaker) was next in line in Presidential sucession.

[True Democrat]

Secretary of State John M. Hay (a friend and secretary of Abraham Lincoln) is suddenly made President of the United States. His first order of business is making a national day of mourning for Roosevelt.

What?

Until 1948 the Secretary of State (not the Speaker) was next in line in Presidential sucession.

Oh ok.  I forgot about that.

[PBrunsel]

Secretary of State John M. Hay (a friend and secretary of Abraham Lincoln) is suddenly made President of the United States. His first order of business is making a national day of mourning for Roosevelt.

What?

Until 1948 the Secretary of State (not the Speaker) was next in line in Presidential sucession.

Oh ok.  I forgot about that.

No, this is a fine turn of events.

President Hay (a progressive Republican himself) throws his endorsement not behind Cannon, but behind LaFolette, furthering his strength as a candidate.

[Lincoln Republican]

The nation is in a state of shock after learning of the death of President Teddy Roosevelt.

The Roosevelt family, suspicious of foul play, orders an autopsy on the body of the deceased President.  The doctor makes an astounding discovery.  "The cause of death of President Roosevelt is by a heart attack, but a heart attack brought about through poisoning" the report issued by the doctor states. 

A thorough investigation is therefore launched into the death of President Roosevelt.  The poison used is traced back to one Euripides Bodkins.  What is astonishing about this fact is that Euripides Bodkins is a top aide to Robert La Follette.

When confronted with the evidence, Bodkins makes a full confession, that he did in fact poison President Roosevelt, and that he acted alone, without the knowledge of anyone else.  He told investigators that when President Roosevelt decided to run for President, he feared this would be the biggest obstacle in the way of La Follette being elected, and that, therefore, he made the decision, on his own, to eliminate Roosevelt from the election.   

[True Democrat]

However, the investigation later learns that Bodkins was not actually working for LaFollette.  He was actually an informant for the Parker campaign.  Furthermore, telegraphs show that Davis actually instructed Bodkins in his actions.  Seeing double scandal, Parker drops out of the campaign.  However, by this time it is late September, and it is too late for a Democrat to jump in the race, and the Democratic party makes an official statement that it will sit this election out, and this is binding and nothing can change it.  Who will the South support?

I know, unrealistic, but whatever.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Senator "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman of South Carolina uses his influence to hastily organize a Dixiecrat movement.  The Governors of South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas all call their legislatures into special session to consider passing laws that return the selection of electors to the legislature.  South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida pass laws that make the change permanent while Texas approves the change for only 1904, and Georgia passes a law that gives the legislature the choice when a candidate dies.  Three other States, North Carolina, Vermont, and Oklahoma will end up adopting a law similar to Georgia's after the election.

[J. J.]

The Kaiser invades.  Just joking.

[PBrunsel]

The Democrats simply endorse the Dixiecrat Slate as there are only a mere three weeks until the election. Senator Tillman will represent the Dixiecrat banner (though he will not campaign under it) and his running-mate will be the former Democratic Veep Candidate Senator Cockrell of Missouri.

LaFolette is considered the front-runner as this crazy and controversial campaign draws to a close.

[Speed of Sound]

The craziness has brought up support for a series of debates between all candidates, in which Lafolette dominates, playing off of the death of Roosevelt, and disorganization in the top two parties. The debate is a landslide in Lafolette's favor, and it seems the election will be as well.

[Lincoln Republican]

In a show of unity, two weeks before the election, Democrats from the northeast, midwest, southwest, mountain states, and western states, comprising 100% of the Senators and Congressmen from these states, and all the Democratic Governors from these states, issue a statement.

"Under no circumstances do we support the racist and bigot Benjamin Tillman for President.  His policies, and those of the Dixiecrat Party, would move the progress of America back 50 years.  Likewise, we do not support the socialist Robert La Follette for President.  His policies and those of the Progressive Party would bankrupt the United States." 

"Under the current circumstances, we urge Democratic supporters in this election to vote for the Republican candidate, Joe Cannon.  He may not be perfect, but he is not a racist, and he espouses sound economic policies."

This statement is quickly issued into every part of America by the press.       

[Speed of Sound]

A quiet 2 weeks passes, with the election tightening up, the Progressives have to fight off the Reps in the NE, MW, and W, and the Dixiecrats in the South. As the ballots are counted, recounted, and recounted, the election of the century is over. The results are in.

[True Democrat]

No party has won the electoral vote, with the Democrats and Progressives having to battle it out in the House of Representatives, which now has three major parties: Democrats, Republicans, and Progressives.  Initial House votes have neither party gaining a majority, as many Republicans hold onto their votes.  However, after more of LaFollette's proposals for his term come out in the public, conservative Republicans begin to support the Demcorat.  In the end, the Democrat is elected President by a substantial margin.

However, the Senator is much more Progressively controlled.  Here, Hearst is elected Vice-President.