Election of 1912

Wilson, Taft, Roosevelt

2. The
Republican
Party
&
President
William H.
Taft

3. Keep
the
Whistle
Blowin
g
Taft was Taft was
determined to determined to
defeat TR and preserve the conservative defeat TR and preserve the conservative
heart of the Republican Party.heart of the Republican Party.

4. Come, Mr. President. You Can’t Have
the Stage ALL of the Time!

5. Republican Party Platform
High import tariffs.High import tariffs.
Put limitations on female and child labor.Put limitations on female and child labor.
Workman’s Compensation Laws.Workman’s Compensation Laws.
Against initiative, referendum, and Against initiative, referendum, and
recall.recall.
Against “bad” trusts.Against “bad” trusts.
Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.
Stay on the gold standard.Stay on the gold standard.
Conservation of natural resources Conservation of natural resources
because they are finite.because they are finite.

6. The
GOP
After
the
Circus
TR TR  The Republican The Republican
Party must stand for Party must stand for
the rights of the rights of
humanity, or else it humanity, or else it
must stand for must stand for
special privilege. special privilege.
Took his supporters Took his supporters
& left.& left.

8. The
Progressive
Party &
Former
President
Theodore
Roosevelt
People should risePeople should rise
above their sectarianabove their sectarian
interests to promote the general good.interests to promote the general good.

9. Theodore Roosevelt at
Osawatomie, KS: New Nationalism
(see p.597 in book)
Big business requires big government.Big business requires big government.

10. The
Anti-
Third-
Term
Principl
e

11. The
“Bull
Moose”
Party:
The Latest
Arrival
at the
Political
Zoo
We stand at Armageddon, We stand at Armageddon,
and we battle for the Lord!and we battle for the Lord!

12. Progressive Party Platform
Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.
Graduated income tax.Graduated income tax.
Inheritance tax for the rich.Inheritance tax for the rich.
Lower tariffs.Lower tariffs.
Limits on campaign spending.Limits on campaign spending.
Currency reform.Currency reform.
Minimum wage laws.Minimum wage laws.
Social insurance.Social insurance.
Abolition of child labor.Abolition of child labor.
Workmen’s compensation.Workmen’s compensation.K
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W
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W
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B
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13. The Socialist Party
& Eugene V. Debs
The issue is Socialism versus The issue is Socialism versus
Capitalism. I am for Capitalism. I am for
Socialism because I am for Socialism because I am for
humanity.humanity.

14. “The Working Class Candidates”
Eugene V. Debs Emil Seigel
for President for Vice-President

15. Growth of the Socialist Vote
Year
Socialist
Party
Socialist
Labor Party Total
1888
 
2,068 2,068
1890
 
13,704 13,704
1892
 
21,512 21,512
1894
 
30,020 30,020
1896
 
36,275 36,274
1898
 
82,204 82,204
1900 96,931 33,405 130,336
1902 223,494 53,763 277,257
1904 408,230 33,546 441,776
1906 331,043 20,265 351,308
1908 424,488 14,021 438,509
1910 607,674 34,115 641,789
1912 901,873901,873

16. Socialist Party Platform
Government ownership of railroads Government ownership of railroads
and utilities.and utilities.
Guaranteed income tax.Guaranteed income tax.
No tariffs.No tariffs.
8-hour work day.8-hour work day.
Better housing.Better housing.
Government inspection of Government inspection of
factories.factories.
Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.

17. The Democratic Party &
Governor Woodrow Wilson
(NJ)
Could he rescue Could he rescue
the Democratic the Democratic
Party from Party from
“Bryanism”??“Bryanism”??

18. Whic
h
Way
to
Jump
?

19. Democratic Party Platform
Government control of the monopolies Government control of the monopolies

 trusts in general were bad trusts in general were bad
 eliminate them!! eliminate them!!
Tariff reduction.Tariff reduction.
One-term President.One-term President.
Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.
Create a Department of Labor.Create a Department of Labor.
Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust
Act.Act.
Did NOT support women’s suffrage.Did NOT support women’s suffrage.
Opposed to a central bank.Opposed to a central bank.K
K
e
e
p
p
t
t
h
h
e
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W
i
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mm

20. The “Seas” [of Opportunity]
Open Up for the Democrats

21. Up
Against
the
Hurdles

22. Conservation
Issue:
The
Ballinger-
Pinchot
Controversy
p. 596

23. Never Again!
Taft Abandons Support for Women’s SuffrageTaft Abandons Support for Women’s Suffrage

24. Woman Suffrage Before 1920

25. Trying to Catch the Colored Vote

26. An Actual 1912 Ballot

27. Election Results
By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for
Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.
The 1912 election marked the decline of the The 1912 election marked the decline of the
Socialist movement in America.Socialist movement in America.

28. Oh,
That
This
Too, Too
Solid
South
Would
Melt!

29. GOP Divided by Bull
Moose
Equals Democratic
Victory!

30. On Uncle Sam’s Farm
The Democratic party took control of the The Democratic party took control of the
Senate for the first time in 20 years.Senate for the first time in 20 years.

31. The
GOP:
An
Extinct
Animal?