Unorthodox Coalitions: The Drift Between Two Political Parties

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Unorthodox Coalitions: The Drift Between Two Political Parties

Chapter One: Prairie Populism and Labor Socialism



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After three failed presidential bids and eight years under Woodrow Wilson; the Democratic Party once again turned to William Jennings Bryan as their nominee. Bryan refused for a long while; until he finally caved in. Bryan, although significantly less active as he once was, was still an influential figure within the Democratic Party. His nearest competitor was New York Governor Al Smith. Smith was three things that most voters; especially in the South, had deep resentment for: he was a Catholic, connected to Tammany Hall, and was against Prohibition.

The question of who would be the Vice-Presidential nominee. Prior to the convention; Secretary of the Navy Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the favorite, however a group of progressive delegates led by former Congressman William Gordon of Ohio submitted Eugene Debs as their preferred nominee. This was an action that the Democratic Party considered outright treasonous, as Eugene Debs was in prison for his opposition to the Great War; and held political views that weren’t unlike those held by the leaders of the uprising occurring in post-war Russia. This led to outright brawl on the convention floor between the more mainstream Roosevelt supporters and the progressive Debs supporters. During the thirty-third ballot; Theodore Bilbo submitted his name into the Vice-Presidential ballot; shippening away Southern Roosevelt supporters; this ultimately culminated in Eugene Debs receiving the Vice-Presidential nomination on the sixty-first ballot.

After Debs received the Vice-Presidential nomination; Attorney General Mitchell Palmer secretly, without consulting President Wilson, granted Debs clemency, to the anger of the President. Debs and Bryan met privately in an undisclosed location near San Francisco, where they outlined the party’s platform. The platform eventually grew to include proposals such as joining the League of Nations, women’s suffrage, a federally-funded pension plan, and a health-insurance program for the elderly.

[Snazzrazz Mazzlejazz]

This is a really interesting concept.

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Chapter Two: New England Conservatism Takes Center Stage



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The Republican Party was in far better standing than it was eight years ago, as the Republicans stood largely united on a key issue, opposing ascension into the League of Nations, though there were some sticklers, but it wasn’t enough to influence the overall Republican platform. The early favorite was California Senator Hiram Johnson; a Roosevelt devotee whose nomination was hoped for in order to swing Progressives who voted for Wilson to swing back to the Republican Party. However, party bosses instead wanted Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge to receive the nomination in order to unite the conservative base of their party. After a convention less controversial than in 1912; Coolidge received the nomination.

Although Johnson lost the Presidential nomination; many still wanted Johnson on the ticket to retain Progressive unity. However, some party bosses wanted Connecticut Senator Frank Brandegee, an Old Guard conservative who not only opposed entry into the League of Nations, but virtually everything seen as progressive or liberal. After twenty-two contests between Johnson and Brandegee; Coolidge spoke in support of Brandegee, effectively killing any hope for winning back disenchanted Progressives who voted for Woodrow Wilson; much of Roosevelt’s supporters from 1912 remained silent on the ticket following the convention. Coolidge and Brandegee met to discuss the party platform; which capitalized on opposition to American ascension into the League of Nations, but also focused on opposing women’s suffrage, tax reduction, and restricting immigration.

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Chapter Three: A Democratic President; A Republican Legislature

William Jennings Bryan / Eugene Debs (Democratic) - 304 electoral votes
Calvin Coolidge / Frank Brandegee (Republican) - 227 electoral votes


U.S. Senate
Republican - 50 seats
Democratic - 46 seats

U.S. House
Republican - 231 seats (-9)
Democratic - 204 seats (+12)

Reflecting the previous Wilson administration, the United States is set to be governed by two opposite political factions. The Democrats will again control the White House, with the election of William Jennings Bryan as President; and Republicans will retain their majorities in Congress. Although their majority in the House lessened slightly; although they made significant gains in the traditionally Democratic South by flipping seats in the states in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas; this wasn’t enough to overcome Democratic gains in the Midwest.

This will beg the question of compromise between the two opposing political parties, as Bryan was elected on a progressive platform, whereas the national Republican ticket ran on a largely conservative platform. Bryan’s running mate and President of the Senate Eugene Debs; is a well-known Socialist who was imprisoned for expressing opposition towards the Great War in Europe. Coolidge’s running mate, Mr. Brandegee, who Connecticut just re-elected to another term in the Senate, is easily the most conservative member of the body; opposing anything seen as liberal or progressive. This will beg the question of if the President can establish his social policies such as an insurance and health-care system for retirees, entrance into the League of Nations, and women’s suffrage.

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Chapter Four: New Congress, New President, Old Guards



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March 4th, 1921; President William Jennings Bryan and Vice-President Eugene Debs were inaugurated, as were the members of the Republican controlled House and Senate. The day was; for the most part, uneventful.

However, what followed days afterwards was not; the Republicans who controlled Congress were united in opposing the President’s policy goals, whereas the Democrats were more divided. Most Northern Democrats generally supported most of the President’s goals, the Southern Democrats were split near evenly; some supported the President’s plans, while others opposed. No more evident was this than in Virginia; where the only reliable vote was seen in Thomas Deal, a member of the House from Norfolk, all of the other commonwealth’s representatives generally opposed most of the administration’s agenda. This led to fears that the Southern wing of the party and most Republicans would form an ideological coalition to oppose any legislation that the President campaigned on passing.

On April 4, 1921; Representative James Mead introduced the Social Security Act of 1921 onto the floor of the House. It was subject to fierce debate; with Representative John Langley calling it “the beginning of socialized medicine in this country.” The bill saw a coalition of conservative Republicans and Southern Democrats vote against it. However, Mead managed to gather enough support from Roosevelt Republicans in the North to allow the bill to pass 226 to 209.

In the Senate however; the Republican coalition led by Mr. Brandegee was largely successful in getting the Senate to reject the legislation. The Democrats were successful in convincing Senators Johnson, Poindexter, Penrose, La Follete, Borah, and Lodge in voting for the bill, however this wasn’t enough to overcome the Southern Democrats who voted against it. Senators Brandegee, Hale, Williams, Shields, Phipps, and Willis in particular jointly signed a letter stating that the legislation was “socialist agenda that will hurt all the progress that American industry has made, it will instill revolutionary ideals that are taking over Russia at this moment.” This led to the bill’s defeat 31 to 65.

On May 2, 1921; Senator John Williams introduced a bill to an immigration act passed by the House that would outright prohibit immigration in the United States. Williams stated on the Senate floor; “if the President vetoes this legislation, that only shows that he doesn’t care about American workers, if he vetoes this bill you’ll lose your job.” The Senate passed the bill 68 to 28; with Southern Democrats and conservative Republicans leading passage. President Bryan vetoed the legislation.



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On May 11, 1921; the Senate passed an anti-dumping bill 86 - 10. However, this was not before Senator Frederick Hale led a seven hour filibuster against it, which only a fraction was spent attacking the bill as “bad for business” and much of it was spent criticizing the Bryan administration. The Maine Senator ultimately fainted, thus ending the filibuster; but cementing his status as a rising Republican star.

[OSR stands with Israel]

A Bryan/Debs Admin is Terrifying and I truly hope we dont become a socialist state

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Chapter Five: A Supreme Situation



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On May 19, 1921; Edward Douglas White, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; died aged 75. The President held off for two weeks to name a successor. Behind the scenes however; the Vice-President was hard at work looking for judges to fill the highest seat on the court.

The Vice-President flew to New York several times to meet with three left-wing judges; Isaac Shorr, Carol Weiss King, and Joseph Brosky. The Vice-President knew the uphill battle each of the three inevitably faced in the Senate. Eventually on June 8th, the four flew from New York to Washington to meet with the President.

“It is my honor to announce that I will nominate Madame Carol Weiss King to be the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.” - President William Jennings Bryan; June 11th, 1921.

The most adherent Conservatives and Southern Democrats were furious with the nomination. Senators Brandegee and Hale made pleas to Senate Majority Leader Henry Cabot Lodge and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Knute Nelson to deny Mrs. King a hearing. These pleas fell on deaf ears however, and her nomination quickly made rounds onto the Senate floor.

The nomination was not opposed on party lines as much as it was opposed by individual positions of each Senator.

“The nomination of Mrs. King will certainly lead to anarchist rule over our great nation, opening the door to Communist rebellion and socialist policies. I can not, and will not, support this nomination.” - Senator Frank Brandegee; June 23rd, 1921

“Mrs. King will do everything in her power as Chief Justice to destroy the Southern way of life. We as Southerners feel insulted that our great Chief Justice from Louisiana could potentially be succeeded by New York’s feminist posterchild for pointy-head intellectualism. I will not support the nomination, and I advise that my fellow colleagues from the South join to oppose her.” - Senator John Williams; June 25th, 1921

“I believe that we should give Mrs. King a fair chance to serve on the Supreme Court. Sure, we may have policy disagreements, but I don’t think it’s fair to make judgements about how she’ll rule when she hasn’t even been confirmed yet. I support the nomination.” - Senator Hiram Johnson; June 23rd, 1921

“Mrs. King will be a great addition to the Supreme Court, I believe she has the proper credentials to lead the court. She very clearly loves our country, she believes in the opportunity and value of every American. I unequivocally support her nomination.” - Senator Atlee Pomerene; June 24th, 1921

The nomination was confirmed by a margin of 50 - 46, and Mrs. King became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

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Chapter Six: The Tulsa Massacre



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On May 31, 1921; white rioters looted and burned a predominately-Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thirty-six people were killed, and 10,000 African Americans were left homeless. On June 3rd, President Bryan arrived in the city; alongside laborers who were sent to help rebuild the neighborhood.

“We will stand up to the perpetrators of this violence; we will make sure that justice is served to all parties involved. I’ll make it a priority that we will pass legislation that will prevent another massacre like this. We will also make an opportunity for those who have recently lost their homes can help rebuild them alongside our fine laborers.” - President William Jennings Bryan addressing a crowd in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 3rd, 1921.

On June 7th, Vice President Debs instructed the Attorney General Osmond Fraenkel to investigate the riot; with Clarence Darrow being appointed lead prosecutor. The investigation eventually led to the realization that Tulsa city officials aided the white rioters in conducting the riots. The Vice President eventually ordered the Attorney General to sue the state of Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa on the grounds of committing crimes against humanity.

While Senator Owen helped rebuild Tulsa and Senator Ferris remained silent; three Southern Democrats were very outspoken towards the Attorney General’s actions. In a joint statement; Senators Shields, Williams, and Glass stated that “the actions taken by the attorney general tread over the sovereignty of the state of Oklahoma, Mr. Freeling and Mr. Evans have our full support in their lawsuit against the Communist lawyer Fraenkel.”

The case was heard by Judge Robert Williams in December 1921. After a week of hearings, the judge ordered that the state of Oklahoma pay reparations to the African-Americans who have lost their homes in the riots; and that the city officials who aided be imprisoned and stricken of the ability to serve in government capacities ever again.

Chapter Seven: The Civil Rights Act of 1921



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On July 13th, 1921; Representative James Mead of New York introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1921, which would outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, prohibit segregation of any sort, and prevent unequal application of voter registration requirements.

The Southern wing of the Democratic party was outraged to say the least, as it threatened Jim Crow laws in the South. The leader of the opposition was Hubert Fisher, who gave a thirty-six hour speech in opposition to the bill, ending when he fainted. Fisher almost gathered enough votes to stop the bill from being passed in the House, but he ultimately fell short; as the bill passed by one vote in the House.

But Fisher wasn’t quick to give up, as he met with Senate Majority Leader Henry Cabot Lodge in an attempt to stop the Senate from taking up the legislation. Fisher stated that it would hurt Republicans in 1924 if they took up the bill at all; it would hurt in the South if they passed it, and it would hurt them in the North if they actively opposed it. He also attempted to persuade Senate Minority Leader Oscar Underwood to block it from being, saying that it would hurt the Democratic Party in the South if they passed it. Both attempts proved unsuccessful; as the Senate took up the bill.

“We, the Democratic Party of the Southern United States, will oppose this socialist, undemocratic, unconstitutional legislation at any whim, as it would spell the end of the Southern way of life.” - Excerpt from a letter signed by Southern Democratic Senators

Nearly the entire Southern Democratic delegation voted against the bill; save for McKellar, Owen, and Culberson who voted in favor, and Underwood who voted present; while nearly every Democrat in the North voted for it. The Republicans who had no seats in the South yet more than half of the Northern seats were more divided among ideological lines.

“This legislation is another example of intruding on the sovereignty of the states, as the President has done in Oklahoma. This legislation is likely unconstitutional, but with that new radical woman who runs the court; the unconstitutional may as well be constitutional. I oppose the legislation.” - Senator Frederick Hale; July 27th, 1921

“Although I do have reservations about the legislation; I can not say that I oppose it. It will empower the downtrodden that have faced discrimination in the South for too long, I will support the legislation.” - Senator Boies Penrose; July 24th, 1921

The Senate did not pass the bill; as it was defeated by a vote of 43 - 52. Mr. Fisher wasn’t done yet, as he went so far as to attempt to kick Representative Mead out of the Democratic caucus. This plea was mostly ignored, with House Democratic Leader Claude Kitchin dismissing it as “petty”, though it did stick with a few Southern members of the House.