1912 Progressive National Convention: Difference between revisions

| year = 1912

| previous_year =

| next_year = 1916

| party = Progressive

| image = PP1912.png

| image_size = 125

| image2 = PV1912.png

| image_size2 = 125

| caption = Nominees <br> Roosevelt and Johnson

| date = August 5, 1912

| venue = [[Chicago Coliseum]]

| city = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]

| chair =

| presidential_nominee = [[Theodore Roosevelt]]

| presidential_nominee_state = [[New York (state)|New York]]

| vice_presidential_nominee = [[Hiram Johnson]]

| ballots = 1

| totaldelegates = 2000+

| votesneeded = ?

| presidenttotals = [[Theodore Roosevelt]] ([[New York (state)|NY]]): 2000+ (100%)

[[File:Aa addams work 2 e.jpg|thumb|Progressive convention, 1912]]

[[File:Roosevelt speaking in convention hall, Chicago (cropped1).jpg|thumb|Roosevelt delivering a speech at the convention]]

The '''1912 Progressive National Convention''' was held in August 1912. Angeredatthe renominationofPresident [[William Howard Taft]] over their candidate at the [[1912 Republican National Convention]], supporters of former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] convened in Chicago and endorsed the formation of a national progressive party. When formally launched later that summer, the new '''[[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive Party]]''' acclaimed Roosevelt as its presidential nominee and Governor [[Hiram Johnson]] of California as his vice presidential running mate. When questioned by reporters, Roosevelt said he felt as strong as a "bull moose". Henceforth known as the '''"Bull Moose Party"''', the Progressives promised to increase federal regulation and protect the welfare of ordinary people.

The party was funded by publisher [[Frank Munsey]] and its executive secretary [[George Walbridge Perkins]], an employee of banker [[J. P. Morgan]] and [[International Harvester]]. Perkins blocked an antitrust plank, shocking reformers who thought of Roosevelt as a true trust-buster. The delegates to the convention sang the hymn "[[Onward, Christian Soldiers]]" as their anthem. In a famous acceptance speech, Roosevelt compared the coming presidential campaign to the Battle of [[Armageddon]] and stated that the Progressives were going to "battle for the Lord."

The August convention opened with great enthusiasm. Over 2,000 delegates attended, including many women. In 1912, neither the Republican candidate, [[President Taft]], nor the Democratic nominee [[Woodrow Wilson]], had endorsed [[women's suffrage]] on the national level<ref name="Biography of TR">{{cite web |url=http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/bullmoose.htm |title=Bull Moose years of Theodore Roosevelt by Theodore Roosevelt Association |publisher=Theodoreroosevelt.org |access-date=2012-01-06}}</ref> and the famed [[suffragette]] and social worker [[Jane Addams]] gave a seconding speech for Roosevelt's nomination.

Although Roosevelt insisted on excluding African-American Republicans from the South (whom he regarded as a corrupt and ineffective element), he did include black delegates from all other parts of the country,<ref name=" CQG, 1985, pp. 77–78">''CQG'', 1985, pp. 77–78{{Incomplete short citation|date=January 2018}}</ref> and he further alienated white southern supporters on the eve of the election by publicly dining with black people at a Rhode Island hotel.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baum |first=B. |first2=D. |last2=Harris |title=Racially Writing the Republic: Racists, Race Rebels, and Transformations of American Identity |year=2009 |location=Durham |publisher=Duke University Press |page=188 |isbn=9780822344353 }}</ref> Roosevelt said at the end of his speech " We stand at Armageddon, and we battle for the Lord."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Blog/Item/First%20National%20Convention%20of%20the%20Progressive%20Party|title=TR Center - First National Convention of the Progressive Party|website=www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-01}}</ref>

== Candidates gallery ==

Image:Theodore Roosevelt-Pach.jpg|{{center|Former [[President of the United States|President]]<br>'''[[Theodore Roosevelt]]'''<br>from [[New York (state)|New York]]}}

Image:Portrait of Hiram Johnson.jpg|{{center|[[Governor of California|Governor]]<br>'''[[Hiram Johnson]]'''<br>of [[California]]}}

== The Platform ==

{{Wikisource|1912 Progressive Party Platform}}

The main work of the convention was the platform, which set forth the new party's appeal to the voters. It was drafted in part by [[Charles McCarthy (progressive)|Charles McCarthy]],<ref name="MJ">{{cite news | title=McCarthy of the 'Wisconsin Idea' | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19480804&id=by8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3CQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4619,1993854 | newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal | location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin | date=August 4, 1948 | access-date=10 April 2010 | archive-date=6 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506025309/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19480804&id=by8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3CQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4619,1993854 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and included a broad range of social and political reforms advocated by progressives.<ref name="CQG, 1985, pp. 77–78" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/essays/biography/3 |title=American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Campaigns and Elections |publisher=Millercenter.org |date=2012-08-22 |access-date=2012-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006095335/http://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/essays/biography/3 |archive-date=2012-10-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The platform's main theme was reversing the domination of politics by business interests, which allegedly controlled the Republicans' and Democrats' parties alike. The platform asserted that the first task of the statesmanship of the day was to destroy the invisible Government, and to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics.<ref>{{cite news |author =Patricia O'Toole |author-link = Patricia O'Toole |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1207791-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703102342/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1207791-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 3, 2006 |title= The War of 1912 |publisher=Time.com |date=2006-06-25 |access-date=2012-01-06}}</ref>

* strict limits and disclosure requirements on political campaign contributions,

* registration of [[lobbyists]], and

* recording and publication of [[congressional committee]] proceedings.

* a National Health Service to include all existing government medical agencies;

* [[social insurance]], to provide for the elderly, the unemployed, and the disabled;

* limited [[injunctions]] in [[Strike action|strikes]];

* a minimum wage law for women;

* an eight-hour workday;

* a federal [[Securities Commission|securities commission]];

* farm relief;

* [[workers' compensation]] for work-related injuries;

* an inheritance tax, and

* a [[United States Constitution|constitutional amendment]] to allow a [[federal income tax]].

* [[women's suffrage]],

* [[direct election]] of [[United States Senate|senators]], and

* [[primary election]]s for state and federal [[nominations]].

The platform also urged states to adopt measures for "[[direct democracy]]", including

* the [[recall election]] (citizens may remove an elected official before the end of his term),

* the [[referendum]] (citizens may decide on a law by [[Direct election|popular vote]]),

* the [[Popular initiative|initiative]] (citizens may propose a law by [[petition]] and enact it by popular vote), and

* [[judicial]] referendum (when a court declares a law unconstitutional the citizens may override that ruling by popular vote).

Besides these measures, the platform called for reductions in the [[tariff]], limitations on naval armaments by international agreement and improvements to [[Inland waterways of the United States|inland waterways]].

The biggest controversy at the convention was over the platform section dealing with [[Trust (19th century)|trusts]] and [[monopoly|monopolies]] such as [[Standard Oil]]. The convention approved a strong "trust-busting" plank, but Roosevelt had it replaced with language that spoke only of "strong National regulation" and "permanent active [Federal] supervision" of major corporations. This retreat shocked reformers like Pinchot, who blamed it on Perkins (a director of [[U.S. Steel]]). The result was a deep split in the new party that was never resolved.<ref name="CQG, 1985, pp. 77–78" />

In general, the platform expressed Roosevelt's "[[New Nationalism (Theodore Roosevelt)|New Nationalism]]": a strong government to regulate industry, protect the middle and working classes, and carry on great national projects. This New Nationalism was paternalistic in direct contrast to Wilson's individualistic philosophy of "[[The New Freedom|New Freedom]]".

Roosevelt also favored a vigorous foreign policy, including strong military power. Though the platform called for limiting naval armaments, it also recommended the construction of two new battleships per year, much to the distress of outright pacifists such as Jane Addams.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

list=Progressive National Conventions|

{{United States presidential elections}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1912 United States presidential election]]

[[Category:Political conventions in Chicago]]

[[Category:1912 conferences]]

[[Category:1910s political conferences]]

[[Category:August 1912 events|Progressive National Convention]]

[[Category:1910s in Chicago]]

[[Category:1912 in Illinois|Progressive National Convention]]

[[Category:Events at Chicago Coliseum]]