The Election of 1912: The GOP Contest
Happy New Year everyone. A new year begins, and it's an election year, the first since this community has been formed. In two days the first contest on the road to the election of 2012 will take place (the Iowa Caucuses). A century ago it was also an election year, although it was a much different time. Campaigning didn't begin as intensely yet, and candidates were chosen at conventions, not in primaries. Only males were allowed to vote, women would not get the vote for another two elections.
In 1912, the President was also experiencing some unpopularity, but unlike Barack Obama, President William Howard Taft was finding opposition from within his own party. His mentor, Theodore Roosevelt, had selected (or should I say anointed) Taft to succeed him four years earlier in 1912, but TR wasn't pleased with how Taft had performed as President. Although Roosevelt gained a reputation as a "trust-buster", it was Taft who launched 90 antitrust suits, including one against the largest corporation, U.S. Steel, for an acquisition that Roosevelt had personally approved. Taft lost the support of big business and also of Roosevelt, who felt humiliated by his protégé.
In late 1911, Roosevelt announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. But Roosevelt had waited too long. By this time Taft had already won the support of most party leaders in the country.
They did have primaries in some states in those days. Roosevelt overwhelmingly won 9 out of 12 of these, (8 by landslide margins) including Taft's home state of Ohio. Taft won only the state of Massachusetts (by a small margin). Senator Robert M. LaFollette won two states. Through the primaries, LaFollette won a total of 36 delegates; President Taft won 48 delegates; and Roosevelt won 278 delegates. 36 states did not hold primaries. Their delegates were chosen by state conventions, which were controlled by party political machines, not by the voter. Many of the state delegates were contested. Taft controlled the Republican National Committee, which had the power to make decisions on contested delegates. They awarded 235 of the contested delegates to Taft and 19 to Roosevelt. As a result, Roosevelt's delegates abstained from voting at his request.
The final tally at the GOP convention (held in Chicago in late June) was as follows:
William Howard Taft — 561 votes
Theodore Roosevelt — 107 votes
Robert La Follette — 36 votes
Abstained (Roosevelt delegates) — 322 votes
Roosevelt would go on to run as a third party candidate for what he called the Bull Moose Party. He would split the Republican vote, coming in second. Ultimately, Woodrow Wilson would win the election of 1912 with 41.8% of the vote. Between the two of them, Roosevelt and Taft would garner 50.6% of the popular vote.
Will 2012 have any party splits? Will Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich run a third party campaign? Or will the GOP unite under on candidate and strongly challenge the incumbent President? Stay tuned, it's going to be a hell of a ride.
In 1912, the President was also experiencing some unpopularity, but unlike Barack Obama, President William Howard Taft was finding opposition from within his own party. His mentor, Theodore Roosevelt, had selected (or should I say anointed) Taft to succeed him four years earlier in 1912, but TR wasn't pleased with how Taft had performed as President. Although Roosevelt gained a reputation as a "trust-buster", it was Taft who launched 90 antitrust suits, including one against the largest corporation, U.S. Steel, for an acquisition that Roosevelt had personally approved. Taft lost the support of big business and also of Roosevelt, who felt humiliated by his protégé.
In late 1911, Roosevelt announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. But Roosevelt had waited too long. By this time Taft had already won the support of most party leaders in the country.
They did have primaries in some states in those days. Roosevelt overwhelmingly won 9 out of 12 of these, (8 by landslide margins) including Taft's home state of Ohio. Taft won only the state of Massachusetts (by a small margin). Senator Robert M. LaFollette won two states. Through the primaries, LaFollette won a total of 36 delegates; President Taft won 48 delegates; and Roosevelt won 278 delegates. 36 states did not hold primaries. Their delegates were chosen by state conventions, which were controlled by party political machines, not by the voter. Many of the state delegates were contested. Taft controlled the Republican National Committee, which had the power to make decisions on contested delegates. They awarded 235 of the contested delegates to Taft and 19 to Roosevelt. As a result, Roosevelt's delegates abstained from voting at his request.
The final tally at the GOP convention (held in Chicago in late June) was as follows:
William Howard Taft — 561 votes
Theodore Roosevelt — 107 votes
Robert La Follette — 36 votes
Abstained (Roosevelt delegates) — 322 votes
Roosevelt would go on to run as a third party candidate for what he called the Bull Moose Party. He would split the Republican vote, coming in second. Ultimately, Woodrow Wilson would win the election of 1912 with 41.8% of the vote. Between the two of them, Roosevelt and Taft would garner 50.6% of the popular vote.
Will 2012 have any party splits? Will Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich run a third party campaign? Or will the GOP unite under on candidate and strongly challenge the incumbent President? Stay tuned, it's going to be a hell of a ride.