TR in 1912: A TL

[Mikestone8]

Originally Posted by Peelitebkearns

Great idea for a TL, will keep close watch on this.

I wonder if the butterflies affect the democratic convention? I imagine Wilson is still the nominee-and he'd lose to TR of course-but you never know.

Wilson probably still gets it. He has a respectable progressive record as Governor of NJ, but at trhe same time is a very respectable, "establishement" type of figure who can attract unhappy Taftites more easily than an old Bryan man like Champ Clark.

As regards November, a TR victory is possible but not assured. In CA and SD, where Taft was not on the ballot, TR did far less well than Taft in 1908. Then, Taft smashed Bryan 55-33 in CA, but TR and Wilson virtually tied at just under 42% each. In SD, TR scored a comfortable 51-42, yet four years earlier Taft had won 59-35. Swings of this magnitude, if repeated nationally, would have easily elected Wilson even in a straight fight with TR.

In fact, it probably wouldn't be as bad as that. TR would spend the next five months doing his best to pull the Republicans together, seeking to placate the Taft men without losing the Progressives. All the same, it will be a difficult tightrope act. Wilson can certainly run TR close, and might even win.

[Jim Smitty]

Baltimore July 3 1912

At the Democratic National Convention, was going on longer than anyone thought it would. Currently they were on their 47th ballot. At first it looked like Speaker Champ Clark would be named as the nominate for the Democratic party. But everything had when downhill for Clark after the corrupt Democratic political machine threw its support behind Clark.

Former Democratic presidential nominate William Jennings Bryan then gave a floor speech, and threw his support behind Thomas R. Marshall the governor of Indiana, a key swing state. Bryan denouncing Clack as the Wall Street candidate. And with who won the nominated having to face off against former President Theodore Roosevelt, this was the last thing the Democratic Party wanted, the nominate being label as the candidate of Wall Street.

Marshall had finish third in the first ballot. In the next ballot he over took Governor Woodrow Wilson to take second place in the ballot. Marshall had remained second place in the ballets till the 30th ballot, when he had finally over took Clark. In the last ballot Marshall had missed ending this by five votes. Governor Wilson had finished second, with Speaker Clark finishing in a distance third. But after that ballot Wilson and Marshall had talked, and Wilson had agree to withdraw from the race, and throw his support behind Marshall. In return, Marshall would throw his support behind Wilson for the vice- presidential nominated.

Once the 47th Ballot was counted, it was all over finally. It took over a week, but the Democratic Party finally had its man they wanted to be the next president of the United States. That man was Governor Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana.

To figure out who the Democratic Party wanted to be on the ticket with Governor Marshall only took two ballots. The Democratic ticket would be Marshall-Wilson.

[Mikestone8]

Would Wilson accept the Vice-Presidency? From what I know of him, It doesn't sound the kind of job he'd be interested in.

[metastasis_d]

Originally Posted by Mikestone8

Would Wilson accept the Vice-Presidency? From what I know of him, It doesn't sound the kind of job he'd be interested in.

Not sure. Very interesting butterfly, though.