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

[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."

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[PBrunsel]

Map of the 1904 Election




Benjamin Tillman/Francis Cockrell (Dixie): 169 Electoral Votes, 31.6% of the Popular Vote

Robert LaFolette/William R. Hearst (NP): 139 Electoral Votes, 31.4% of the Popular Vote

Joseph Cannon/Henry Burnham (R): 168 Electoral Votes, 31.3% of the Popular Vote

Grover Cleveland*/John Kern* (Safe and Sane Democratic): 0 Electoral Votes, 5.7% of the Popular Vote

*Neither Cleveland nor kern accpeted nomination, but a group of Gold Democrats met after the withdrawal of Parker to nominate a new ticket. A majority of these votes came from the Northeast and the state of Ohiop (thus its voting for LaFolette).

The National Progressive ticket did much poorer than expected due mainly to voter disenfranchisement with the election. The turnout was much lower than expected.