Alternate US History (1788 onwards)

[West_Midlander]

Suffragists & Socialists
Eugene Debs approached Ella Reeve Bloor, on the behalf of President Hearst with the offer of an Ambassadorship. Bloor respectfully declined saying her work is here on the ground, in the American socialist and communist movements and in the women's suffrage movement.

Ella Reeve Bloor
William Randolph Hearst later visited Bloor and convinced her to run for political office, saying if she wishes to remain on the ground (as in the United States), perhaps she can win and do good for the people of New Jersey and get them on the way to women's suffrage. In March of 1909, Bloor announced her campaign for Governor of New Jersey (election in 1910) and was joined on stage by suffragist and personal advisor (as well as mother to William Randolph Hearst) Phoebe Hearst.

Phoebe Hearst

[West_Midlander]

The Fuller Court (1902-)
40. Justice Marshall Harlan
43. Justice David Josiah Brewer
44. Chief Justice Melville Fuller
45. Justice George Shiras Jr.
46. Justice Edward Douglass White
48. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
49. Justice Horace Harmon Lurton
50. Justice James Clark McReynolds
51. Justice George Gray
Vice President Kern advised Justice Rufus Wheeler Peckham to resign in April 1909.
 Peckham concurred and tendered his resignation from the court on April 20th, 1909.
 Socialist allies, in and out of the Democratic Party, urged the President to nominate a pro-labor Justice in order to solidify their influence for a while to come. To the relief of moderate and conservative Democrats as well as the Vice President, William Randolph Hearst nominated the aging judge George Gray. Gray was the first opponent for the nomination to endorse him, and he did so enthusiastically. The President saw fit to repay Gray. Justice Gray was confirmed 85-0. He filled a Democratic seat and the Court remained 5-4 Democratic with Independent Justice Holmes Jr.
 aligning with the Republicans.

[West_Midlander]

Delving Into State Level Politics

Hearst had met Mr. Burton K. Wheeler during his primary campaign. Wheeler was a pro-labor activist Independent, turned Democrat. He joined the party in order to support Hearst for President. Hearst wanted to repay the young man and thought he might have a bright future furthering the cause in politics. Unknowing of Hearst's intentions, Wheeler garnered the support of local labor unions. Mr. Wheeler worried that he might go down with a large loss in a Democratic primary, so he declared that he would run Independent Democratic for State House of Representatives in Montana. When Hearst heard of the campaign, he began pulling favors in the party in Montana. Hearst held particular sway with the state party and its supporters, as he carried 91% of Democrats in the primary last year and the Montana Democratic Party kept his main opponent, Parker, off the ballot (as well as Wilson and Johnson).
Hearst contacted Mr. Wheeler and convinced him instead to run for State Senate. Hearst sought to help Wheeler behind the scenes rather than make an unusual presidential endorsement at the state legislative level. Wheeler would cruise through the primary and be elected unopposed that November.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

I've been missing out on this TL, it's awesome to catch up and see what's happened. Great work, West Midlander!

[West_Midlander]

Thanks, razze!

[West_Midlander]

A Presidential Visit

President Hearst made an official Presidential visit to British Canada. The President arrived on May 12th, 1909 in the port of Dartmouth, New Brunswick. A large crowd greeted the popular President, who's following doesn't cease at America's northern border. The President traveled up New Brunswick to Amherst and crossed into Prince Edward's Island at Summerside.

President Hearst spoke informally to a quickly gathering crowd (not pictured) in Summerside, PEI. He began to talk longer and longer, as more people gathered. The President briefly gave his apologies and compliments to the people of Western Canada. He said he wished to stay longer but ought to be back to the United States after visiting a few more cities. Hearst said he would certainly be back for an extended period of time once he left elected office.
Hearst then began to talk of political change, labor unions, leftism, and socialism. He began to talk highly of the socialist third party in Britain, the Labour Representation Committee. He said that despite its 5% support in 1906, it could build itself up, as the American Socialists did. He said a shift of a major political party could happen, namely the incumbent centrist party, Liberal, as he did to the Democrats. He briefly mentioned that Canadians could organize locally, apart from Britain. He closed by stating warmly that there is an unseparable bond between "Canadians" (not Britons) and Americans. Weeks later,
 when he returned to Washington, the British embassy asked the US government about the statements. It was no official speech, with no transcript or (official) written contents, so he lied, about (not) condoning Canadian separatism from Britain. The President then traveled to Kensington and a few small villages before turning back towards mainland Canada. (Quebec City pictured above)

The President saw the Port of Quebec in Quebec City and other sights before heading south.

Hearst gave another off the cuff speech about politics and Canadian and American unity. This time his speech lasted for over two hours. The President later had to deny this speech and others to the British embassy, as well. Perhaps the seed was planted, to throw off British rule. From Ottawa, the President traveled to Kingston and across Lake Ontario back into the United States (New York).

[West_Midlander]

Polling the Electorate
The DNC under Hearst's orders gave operating funds to the newly formed Canadian company, The Independent Polling Firm (IPF). The group is pro-unification with the United States but is officially neutral.

Poll of Canadians
What course of action should Canadians take in terms of government?
Continue as a Parliamentary Dominion of the UK 45%
Merge with the United States 28%
Gain Independence 12%
Other/Undecided 15%

After that poll result, the IPF didn't continue with a planned pro-US line of questioning, instead opting to test the waters on leaders among Canadians.

Approval of Canadian PM, Laurier
Approve 45-39

Approval of President Hearst
Approve 57-21

Approval of British PM, Asquith
Dissaprove 50-41

Approval of King Edward VII (UK)
Approve 42-37

Other leaders were polled as well, so as not to raise suspicions.

In other news, a July poll by another agency found that Bloor, if the Democratic nominee, trailed any generic Republican 38-44. Woodrow Wilson, also in the race, and the favorite of political bosses in New Jersey, led a generic Republican 44-42.

Democratic Primary - Governor, NJ 1910
Wilson 52%
Bloor 29%
Undecided 19%

Note: Bloor is running as a Democrat.

[West_Midlander]

On The Trail Again
President Hearst made a statement to the press in early June of 1909 in Washington, D.C. The President said, once the congressional recess had begun for the summer,
 he would hit the campaign trail for candidates in key races in the 1910 midterms. Hearst announced he would be making endorsements of what he called a "People's Slate" to "continue the progress."

In mid June, the President held a rally in Dover, Delaware and elsewhere in the state in an attempt to turn the red state in the midterms. On his way up to New Jersey, William Randolph Hearst announced a major endorsement (he convinced her to run but had not officially commented on the campaign), the President announced his endorsement of Democrat for Governor, Ella Reeve Bloor.

In New Jersey, the Democratic party heavily favored Hearst, allowing only him on the ballot. The political bosses in New Jersey had found their man, several weeks earlier. They called on Mr. Woodrow Wilson, President of Princeton, former candidate for President, to run. Hearst considered asking Wilson to seek another office, but his campaign was already on, and was polled to be winning. Wilson had run in 1908 with no political experience at all. He wouldn't back down now,
 even without such heavy support from the party bosses.

Hearst recognized that much of the party infrastructure, while still in his camp, would favor Wilson over Bloor. He went to the New Jersey Democratic Headquarters unofficially, since he was already in the state. Hearst spoke with a few of the higher-ups in the party and found that most if not all preferred Wilson, but out of respect for him, would not tip the scale. The Vice Chair of the State Party said he would do everything in his power to assist Wilson in getting the nomination. Hearst asked for his resignation without hesitation and the man complied the next morning.

Hearst was on his own. He was in New Jersey, so he began a vigorous rally campaign across New Jersey's cities with Bloor. (Atlantic City pictured)

[West_Midlander]

New York, New York
After a major July 3rd rally in Trenton, finishing a few weeks full of campaign events for Bloor, President Hearst relaxed on Independence Day. After this, the President was back on the move, to New York City. Upon his arrival, President Hearst spoke at a major Socialist and labor rally. He came on stage following the organization leaders and told members of the crowd to keep up the fight, to stay strong, to carry on. He talked politics for a while and then said he had a major announcement. Or in fact, a few.

Hearst said proudly, "the next stop on the People's Slate, is New York!" Applause followed. An endorsement, perhaps two was imminent. "I am proud to announce my endorsement of my friend,
 a fighter for the people and the cause, for the Democratic nomination of the Governorship of New York! Eugene V. Debs!" Loud applause followed, and cheering. Debs had moved to New York several years earlier, in order to assist in the large Socialist and labor movement in the state. Hearst continued that he had an endorsement for Lieutenant Governor as well. Curaçao-born, editor, politician, Marxist theoretician, and trade union organizer, Daniel De Leon.

De Leon ran as a Socialist third partier in the past, but would be contesting the Democratic nomination. Hearst, Debs and De Leon would have to fight the party bosses of New York as well. At least the New York party had not yet found their own candidates. Hearst knew it would be a similar situation. The party bosses only permitted him on the ballot, and this was his home state, but if they wanted a puppet in the Governor's Mansion, they would try with all their might to get it.
The President traveled across New York to campaign for Debs and De Leon. De Leon and Debs (as well as Bloor) could perhaps rely on support from leftist parties to fund them and get them through the primary, but they would need the vast resources of the Democrats to win a general election contest.

[West_Midlander]

The People's Slate
President Hearst campaigned across New York and swung back through New Jersey to campaign again for Bloor. Only in the early days of August, did the President return to Washington. With Congress about to come back into session, the President would remain in the city for a while to come. But more endorsements were on the way.

With most Congressional seats in New York in Democratic hands, and the few not, heavily Republican,
 the President sought to fill the New York slate down the ballot with political allies. Debs had drawn a Democratic opponent, but not yet for De Leon, and none had begun a run for lower office. The conservatives of the New York Democratic party began hurriedly vetting candidates to run. They needed to fill the slate with their own candidates up and down the ballot, and in the New York House seats (for any open or Republican seats), out of an assumption that the President would have more endorsements still, for socialist-rich New York.

They were correct. On August 10th, the President announced several endorsements. (The campaigns are launched, usually the day of the endorsement, as the President is convincing most of these non-politicians or non-incumbents to run for office with his support).

Socialist politician, turned Democrat, Maximilian Cohen for NY SoS


Ben Hanford, Socialist former VP nominee, turned Democrat, for NY A.G.


Isaac Hourwich, Lithuanian-born Jewish-American economist & socialist, turned Democrat, for NY Treasurer


The aging Democratic Governor of Illinois, Adlai Stevenson, decided after much thought that he would resign the governorship, he decided he wanted to spend his final years in private life with family. Gov.
 Stevenson felt that since the voters of Illinois had reelected him that past November, they should get another chance to choose who would fill out the remainder of his term. He set a special election for November 1909 and resigned his office. The Lieutenant Governor took office and confirmed that he would be running for the seat.

President Hearst saw an opportunity to get another political ally in power, so in late August he issued an endorsement of civil liberties lawyer and leader in the Socialist Party, turned Democrat, Seymour Stedman
 for the Governorship of Illinois. Yet another contested primary, but a third party race would almost certainly end in failure, and the President couldn't support a Socialist party member for public office,
 as a Democrat, himself.


As September dawned, the President had an endorsement for the Pacific coast. Socialist and pro-labor writer Jack London, registered for the Democratic primary, for the Governorship of California. Hearst offered this last endorsement, to the further dismay of the Old Guard of the Party.

[West_Midlander]

The People's Slate II
With the California a Hearst landslide in the previous year's primary,
 Hearst would have large sway with California Democrats in order to push his own nominee for Governor. The problems? Parker had been on the ballot, so he knew the party was relatively fair and balanced. They would do him no special favors and afford him no special privileges. Another point of good news was that such a Western state was far away from the centers of political corruption of the North. His nominee might face a normal challenge but not a partisan, time tested, political machine.

 That point was somewhat true for Illinois, but the Chicago bosses might want their man in the Governor's chair. Also, Illinois was one of the few Parker states in the primary. On top of that, a recently elected Lieutenant Governor, now incumbent Governor, was running and had the title of first man on the ground.

Across the nation, members of the "People's Slate" began to position themselves alongside their state Socialist and Socialist Labor parties. If they could secure those nominations or get in good graces with the party leaderships before those parties' own candidates declared, they would have a cushion against Democratic defections by conservatives and some moderates in the general. This would also provide for a resource base, in order to secure the Democratic nominations. In New Jersey, Bloor began to butter up the state Prohibition Party as well, citing her activism in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

[West_Midlander]

New Jersey
NJ Gubernatorial - Democratic Primary
Wilson 47% (-5)
Bloor 40% (+11)
Undecided 13% (-6)

Bloor was now on the upward trend, the Presidential tour garnering a lot of support, but not enough to take a lead. The gap was still very large and some were concerned that Bloor's ceiling might be not much higher than where she was now. The President of the United States was here for weeks. Just 40%. She was a woman, and a Socialist until recently. Could she win? She wondered herself, sometimes. Hearst did too, but when the two were on the trail, he assured her, "It's a long way until primary day." Bloor had a friend in the White House, but Wilson had many friends in high places,
 and a lot of money at his campaign's disposal. Hearst decided that any more personal visits on behalf of the Bloor campaign would bring on an onslaught of the political bosses in that state.

NJ Gubernatorial - General
Republican 40% (-2)
Wilson 37% (-7)
Socialist 1%
Prohibition 1%
Socialist Labor 0%
Undecided 21%

The President hadn't. He couldn't, against a fellow Democrat, but other Bloor surrogates had railed and continued to rail against Wilson's severe lack of experience. They said Bloor had not held office,
 but she knew how government worked, by working for political change for years from the outside.
 Wilson was a professor who just "wants the Governor's mansion."

NJ Gubernatorial
Republican 46% (+2)
Bloor 46% (+8)
Socialist 0%
Prohibition 0%
Socialist Labor 0%
Undecided 8%

The general election polls could be a breakthrough for the campaign. Bloor tied the opposition and outperformed Wilson by 3. Bloor's coalition is one that gains the opposition of the most conservative Democrats (chose Republican) and includes support drummed up by the President as well as registered Prohibition and Socialist voters.

[West_Midlander]

Rising Tensions
In early September, a recording made it to the office of the British Foreign Minister. It was a crude recording of President Hearst's anti-British statements made in Canada. The recorder had operated a mechanical acoustic machine from inside a store while the American President had spoken loudly outside, to the gathering and excited crowd. The recording had been passed up by a Canadian citizen to their local officials. Months passed, as officials hesitated to sent the sound parcel onward and upward. Could it be legitimate? They wondered.

The President had not,
 in fact, made any moves toward Canada since May. Eventually the recording crossed the Atlantic and rose up the ranks of the British government, to where it is now. The somewhat distorted voice could not be confirmed as Hearst's, in complete or a large degree of certainty. The Minister kept the tape but decided against further action. An unsigned letter to the PM lay on his desk, requesting persona non grata status for United States Ambassador Samuel Gompers.

Back in Washington, President Hearst decided it was about time to send another envoy to Canada.
 Not to the government, but to the people. He couldn't afford politically, to appear there again.
 For fear of backlash by the American public. He had been out of Washington for quite a time, between Canada and the campaign trail back in the States. The President also expected that another appearance so soon, by the President of the United States, would arouse outright accusations by at least some loyalists in the Canadian Parliament and the legislators in London, as well.

The President called on his Secretary of State John McBride to take leave. Officially. McBride would head up to Canada and stump across the nation for several weeks. McBride would speak highly of socialist and left-wing politics, President Hearst, American republicanism, and of a united Canada-American identity. The Secretary of State crossed the Canadian border officially as a private citizen on vacation, on September 12th.

On the 15th, McBride told the audience, "Americans always work for change to better the society. We in the Democratic Party and those in the Socialist Party want to make a positive change for our fellow citizenry. I know our Canadian brethren are exactly the same. And I believe there is sentiment, from the wilds of the Canadian West to the ports of The Maritimes.
 There is sentiment for a chance at the ballot box. We, as North Americans, on this united continent,
 are fed up with the rule of autocrats. The government of Canada, a puppet of the government of Britain, will not allow republicanism on the ballot unless there is perhaps a major petition to allow it.
 The future is yours. Petition your government to let you vote for it." McBride had gone about his speech quite bluntly, but by and large the crowd response was positive.

By late September, enough loyalists had seen McBride stumping, so as to report his rallies to the local government. By early October, McBride noticed he was being trailed. He had been in the country a while, so on October 7th, he crossed back into the United States, ending his tour. McBride had tried to be somewhat subtle, Hearst had been better at it. An Ontario government report to Ottawa reports "American subversion by US SoS." The Ottawa government sent the report to London and to the office of the British Foreign Minister. The British Foreign Minister signed the old letter he had written to the PM and sent it off. The PM agreed and Ambassador Gompers was persona non grata in the United Kingdom.

[West_Midlander]

Illinois
Ahead of the Illinois primaries, President Hearst went on the radio and told supporters of his: "a vote for Stedman is a vote for myself." Hearst talked for about 20 minutes about why Illinois Democrats should choose Stedman for Governor. The President talked for a further 15 minutes about Mr. Jack London's campaign in California. He closed, wishing the American people good night and God Bless.

Socialist Primary
Seymour Stedman (write-in): 81.3% (12,921)
Other write-ins: 18.7% (2,972)

Stedman won the Socialist nomination. The Socialist party announced, they would support him monetarily and at the ballot box, as he is their nominee, even if he runs in the general as a Democrat. Stedman awaited the results of the Democratic primary, and did not comment on whether or not he would decline the IL Socialist Party nomination.

Prohibition Primary
Edward Worrell: 51.2% (3,873)
Daniel R. Sheen: 46.5% (3,518)
Write-ins: 2.3% (174)

1908 nominee, Sheen, narrowly lost renomination to challenger Edward Worrell.

Socialist Labor Primary
Seymour Stedman (write-in): 59.7% (1,901)
John M. Francis: 36.1% (1,149)
Write-ins: 4.2% (134)
Socialist Labor member, Francis, ran unopposed. Democratic candidate, Stedman, won as a write-in by a large margin. The Socialist Labor party chairman said his party is obligated to support Stedman, even if he turns down the nomination and is the Democratic nominee.

Republican Primary
Charles S. Deneen: 52.8% (116,025)
Frank H. Funk: 47% (103,280)
Write-ins: 0.2% (439)

Deneen was unopposed for most of the race. He was the 1908 nominee. Funk is a progressive Republican who entered the campaign late. Stedman had told progressive Republican supporters to register Democrat to get him through the primary. Many did but most turned back to the party when an ideologically close partisan joined the Republican race. Funk came closer than anyone expected. At the state convention, Funk announced he would support Deneen in the general, ending the prospect of an Independent run from the (future Progressive Party member) Republican. This meant that if Stedman won the primary, losses of the conservative Democrat vote could be substituted with the progressive and populist Republicans.

Democratic Primary
Seymour Stedman: 49.8% (176,539)
Joseph Gill (incumbent): 49.1% (174,058)
Write-ins: 1.1% (3,899)

Stedman won a very close race. Against his will, Gill had succeeded the office of Governor, and has now lost the nomination. Elected to the Lieutenant Governor's chair in 1908, Gill didn't expect to leave office until at least 1913 (if he lost reelection). Instead, Gill served a few months in that office, a few months as the Governor and now would be out of office entirely. By January 1910.

Illinois gubernatorial special election, 1909
Seymour Stedman: 50.2% (516,262)
Charles S. Deneen: 47.3% (485,686)
Edward Worrell: 1.6% (15,981)
George W. McCaskrin: 0.7% (7,501)
Write-ins: 0.2% (2,806)

Stedman won by less than three percent. Less than Stevenson in the previous year. Hearst, seeing Stedman's victory, by a small margin, knew there was more work to be done, to make sure Bloor and Debs could carry downballot candidates over the finish line. At least that wasn't the case this November. Stedman didn't have to carry others over the line with him as this was a special election. Stedman garnered some of the Roosevelt/Progressive Republicans but most voted GOP due to the Funk endorsement. Independent McCaskrin ran again, but received more than 3,000 votes less than in 1908 due to the race being so close between the Republicans and Democrats. The Prohibition Party also saw a large decline. Few wrote in candidates. Many conservative Democrats and some moderates voted for Deneen. Some happy to choose him over Stedman, some biting the bullet, viewing Stedman as worse. With just Republicans and Democrats voting, Stedman would've lost. By over 70,000 votes. Socialist and Socialist Labor voters carried him to the capital.

[West_Midlander]

Canada Rising
In the wake of Britain's banning of Ambassador Gompers, the deputy chief of mission became acting Ambassador to the United Kingdom. From October through December, President Hearst had Ambassador Gompers travel to the continental territories (West Canada, East Canada, Alaska) to report how things were going. Morale was relatively high, settlement was going well, and the peoples of these areas were really assimilating into an American identity.

After election day in November, President Hearst went on the airwaves and called out British actions toward Ambassador Gompers. Supporters of Independence and American annexation in Canada illegally aired the speech across the nation, drumming up more support against the incumbent Canadian government. The British government knew with almost complete certainty, that the higher levels of American government were participating in subversion. Proof, on the other hand, was sparse. Public opinion for the status-quo in Canada collapsed.

The IPF ran a set of poll questions, again.

Poll of Canadians

What path should Canada take?
Continue as a Parliamentary Dominion of Great Britain 39% (-6)
Merge with the United States 35% (+7)
Gain Independence 15% (+3)
Other 3% (+3)
Undecided 8% (-7)

Should Canada and the UK allow parties on the ballot who intend to end royal dominion-ship in Canada?
Yes 55%
No 28%
Undecided 17%

Should there be a referendum on Canada's form of government?
Yes 53% (43% said a referendum should be legally binding, 10% said it should just be a suggestion)
No 35%
Undecided 12%
(Yes voters were asked whether or not a referendum should be legally binding).

What is your opinion of U.S. President William Randolph Hearst?
Approve 61% (+4)
Disapprove 19% (-2)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 20% (-2)

Several other foreign leaders were polled for favorability (not relevant to show).

What is your opinion of Canadian PM Wilfrid Laurier?
Approve 44% (-1)
Disapprove 42% (+3)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 14% (-2)

What is your opinion of British PM H. H. Asquith?
Disapprove 55% (+5)
Approve 35% (-6)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 10% (+1)

What is your opinion of King Edward VII of Great Britain?
Approve 35% (-7)
Disapprove 32% (-5)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 33% (+12)

How should Canada align itself?
Toward the United States 43%
Toward the United Kingdom 42%
Toward another nation 1%
Toward no one/Isolationism 2%
Unsure 12%

Results of the Polls

Canadians are increasingly favoring independence, and more so favoring annexation by the United States. Most favor a British Dominion. A majority of Canadians think parties opposing the crown should be legal. A majority think a referendum should be held, and most think it should be legally binding. Hearst's approval is by the large majority, and trending upward. Disapproval is down as well. Laurier has not suffered massively but his approvals are trending downward, just above water, as more Canadians favor some sort of association with the United States. Asquith, who signed off on kicking Amb. Gompers from the UK, has seen his approval ratings collapse. More people are viewing Edward as irrelevant to their lives, with a third of Canadians having no opinion at all on their King. Most Canadians say the country should align with the US. With undecideds being what they are, the question of Canada's government and which sphere of influence she will be in is still hotly contested.

[West_Midlander]

January
President Hearst sent a request to speak before the Canadian Parliament as January 1910 began. The Canadian PM expected this would be an attempt at subversion and forwarded the proposal to London to let them reject it. They did, to Hearst's dismay.

On January 18th, Hearst sent another letter to the PM, requesting to speak before the Parliament on an American-Canadian trade agreement and other matters. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada lobbied the PM to hear the President out. He pointed out that the members of Parliament would not be nearly as susceptible to Hearst's subversion as the citizenry. The PM comes to a decision, after the Finance Minister agreed with the Foreign Affairs Minister. The Prime Minister decided to put it to a vote of Parliament, whether or not to allow the President.

Liberal PM, Wilfrid Laurier (pictured above) sticks to his guns, against allowing Hearst for suspicion of undermining the British Crown. He spoke before the members of Parliament in a rallying call to vote against the measure. He had a majority and wanted to show opposition factions that he still had a mandate. In a surprise move, Leader of the Opposition, Robert Borden took to the floor of the House of Commons and began to speak in favor of a Yes vote. He encouraged party members to vote their conscience but argued that Liberals who felt that Canada should hear President Hearst out, and also those who felt that Canada should have self-determination in its future, should vote Yes on the measure. "Canada should be the sole master of its future. I am not endorsing any path forward. I am merely saying that the people Canada are in charge!" Borden finished to loud approval from many members. Traditionally, the Conservatives stood for Imperialism. Clearly Borden (pictured below) had been planning to use this as a political ploy to get the better of Laurier, since rumour of the first request of invitation swept the House of Commons.

[West_Midlander]

Canadian Bureaucracy
In late January, a vote finally came on the Presidential visit.
The sole Labour MP voted aye. 1-0.
The Independent Conservative MP voted nay. 1-1.
The sole Independent voted aye. 2-1.
The Liberal-Conservatives (part of CON opposition) voted 3-0 aye. 5-1 aye.
The Conservatives had some defections. They voted 69-13 aye. The total is now 74-14.
The Liberals. 83 nays. 50 aye. 124-97 aye, final result.
Massive defections from Liberal allowed an overall passage by a wide margin. As the IPF prepared to run a new set of polls, the expectation was that Laurier was going to take a shell shacking. After opposing the visitation of the popular Hearst and losing a vote because of his own party's members. He had a large majority and a mandate. Arguably, that was gone.

Independent Polling Firm - February 1910

Poll of Canadians

What path should Canada take?
Merge with the United States 37% (+2)
Continue as a Parliamentary Dominion of Great Britain 35% (-4)
Gain Independence 20% (+5)
Other 1% (-2)
Undecided 7% (-1)

Should Canada and the UK allow parties on the ballot who intend to end royal dominion-ship in Canada?
Yes 58% (+3)
No 25% (-3)
Undecided 17%

Should there be a referendum on Canada's form of government?
Yes 59% (+6)
No 30% (-5)
Undecided 11% (-1)

Yes voters only: (follow up to above question, % of total shown) Should a referendum be legally binding?
Yes, it should 44% (+1)
No, it should be a suggestion 8% (-2)
Unsure 7%

What is your opinion of U.S. President William Randolph Hearst?
Approve 64% (+3)
Disapprove 15% (-4)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 21% (+1)

Several other foreign leaders were polled for favorability (not relevant to show).

What is your opinion of Canadian PM Wilfrid Laurier?
Disapprove 52% (+10)
Approve 38% (-6)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 10% (-4)

What is your opinion of Canadian Opposition Leader Robert Borden?
Approve 48%
Disapprove 35%
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 17%

What is your opinion of British PM H. H. Asquith?
Disapprove 57% (+2)
Approve 32% (-3)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 11% (+1)

What is your opinion of King Edward VII of Great Britain?
Approve 34% (-1)
Disapprove 20% (-12)
Undecided/Neutral/Never heard of 46% (+13)

How should Canada align itself?
Toward the United States 46% (+3)
Toward the United Kingdom 40% (-2)
Toward another nation 1%
Toward no one/Isolationism 1% (-1)
Unsure 12%

Trends in favor of the United States and against the Canadian and British governments continued.
 There was a significant bump in those that seek self-determination for Canada, specifically those that favor a referendum. King Edward's approval fell and disapproval collapsed as most Canadians viewed him as neutral at this point in time. Most Canadians viewed British Parliament as the oppressive authority, not their King, as did the American colonies long ago. Though Canadians also disliked the incumbent Canadian Parliament and viewed it as a lapdog of Britain. Conservative Leader Borden was polled for the first time, and had a net positive approval of 13%, following his stand for Canadian self-determination.
 PM Laurier saw a collapse in support.

[West_Midlander]

February
President Hearst traveled up to Ottawa. While in Canada, Hearst asked Ambassador Gompers to go on the campaign for him, to which he agreed. Gompers would campaign for several weeks across Canada, speaking on the issues, for self-determination, on American-Canadian identity, and on socialist and left-wing politics. Gompers was received very well and encouraged voters to push their local officials for referendum and to allow parties to represent their interests.

While Gompers prepared to get onto the campaign trail. Hearst approached the Parliament building in Canada. He spoke in favor of self-determination for Canada and for the legalization of parties that are not pro-British in their policy. He had intended to come to the legislature humbly, and to speak carefully, mostly about what he said he would talk about. Though the vote by a large margin, to officially invite him, increased his confidence. Finally, Hearst began to speak of a political offer. He wanted to begin talks to enter a free trade agreement, ideally with a mutual free movement and settlement agreement, attached. Hearst said he had a second proposal. On his honor, once a legally binding referendum was passed and scheduled for the Canadian nation, on its self-determination,
 then he would push through Congress the passage and scheduling of referendums on the status of the northern American territories (American-owned Canada), including Alaska.

Hearst knew that the Supreme Court of Canada could rule that Canadians had the constitutional right to 'expression,' including voting. Though the Supreme Court of Canada could be directly appealed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Perhaps if legislative action was taken, there would be less oversight, or at least less just cause for Britain to intervene. He had meant what he said. He would ensure, to the best of his ability, that referendums would be held in the Americans northern territories. These referendums would include an option to join Canada, though the President also knew, on good advice (Gompers') that these regions had been overwhelmingly settled and assimilated to American culture.

While the Canadian Parliament decided what to do, Hearst returned to Washington. On March 2nd,
 on The President's orders, Hearst's Secretary of State, McBride, sent a message to the Foreign Minister of Canada. Normally, diplomatic matters would go through the ambassador in London but Hearst wanted to sidestep the British. The request was the establishment of a 'consulate' in Ottawa. Hearst's plan was to have Gompers continue serving as a British Ambassador in-exile (or unofficially, Ambassador to Canada) and to build up a 'British'-American 'consulate' in Ottawa larger than the one in London.

[West_Midlander]

An American-Canadian Agreement
The Foreign Minister of Canada, who at this point favored those standing for self-determination, was inclined to approve the consulate, if it was up to him. He forwarded the request to the Prime Minister with his recommendation and the PM, defeated, agreed to the request. Gompers wouldn't finish his tour until late March but now he would head the consulate in Ottawa,
 so he had a further excuse to campaign for the cause when he had time. Americans now had a foothold in Canada, and now sightings of officials in Canada could be written off as a visitation to the consulate. Since Gompers' departure from London, the American embassy there had been on full alert, set to forward any direct messages from the Foreign Minister or Prime Minister to Washington, as soon as possible, in case the worst broke out. A war.

In mid March, President Hearst phoned Prime Minister Laurier to set up a meeting on Canadian soil. 5 Senators. 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans. 5 Members of Parliament. 3 Liberals and 2 Conservatives. The US Secretary of State and the British Foreign Minister were to hash out terms of the agreement over the course of several days, with an appearance on day one of the conference, by both leaders. Before appearing before the conference, both leaders conveyed to their delegates what they wished to achieve. A free trade agreement as well as a free movement and settlement agreement was on the table.

By late March, the committee had come to an agreement which included the following:
1) There will be 0% tariff between Canada and the United States.
2) Neither nation can impose a tariff on the other.
3) Citizens of Canada can travel, work, and live in the United States without regulation and the same is so for citizens of the United States in Canada.

Both legislatures worked to fast track the bill, with some resistance. Each bill came up to a vote in its nation's chambers in early and mid April, respectively.

Canadian Parliament Vote
House of Commons
153-57 passed, 11 abstaining
The majority in both parties voted for the bill.
Senate
(I can't find the composition of the Canadian Senate). The bill passed the Senate very narrowly.

US Congress Vote
US House
320-51 passed, 20 abstentions
Most Democrats and a majority of Republicans voted for the bill, as well as all Socialists.

US Senate
61-20, 9 abstentions

[West_Midlander]

North American Tensions
The British government declared the American-Canadian Association Agreement illegal. Prior to this agreement, Canada had sought free trade with the United States but its leaders decided to leave economic decisions for the nation up to the United Kingdom. At this point in time, Canada's foreign policy matters were officially, the sole business of the UK. As May dawned, the British Navy sent over several naval vessels and ten regiments of 2000 men each. Five regiments (10,000 men) landed at Bermuda and the other five regiments landed at Sydney, Nova Scotia and began to fan out over Eastern Canada in an attempt to 'restore order.' The Prime Minister's office was silent, but many other Canadian officials decried this 'excessive aggression.'

The Canadian Prime Minister told the 3,000+ Canadian soldiers around the country to stand down and await further orders. Citizen protests began to pop up against the British forces. Word of the occupation spread into the United States and Hearst ordered 15,000 men stationed to Northern Maine and 5,000 to Vermont. The United States stood at around 100,000 soldiers strong at this time and Britain stood at 400,000. Though Britain had more territory abroad, which their army was spread across. If the nations were positioning for a war, the beginning days of a conflict would be up to whichever party could afford to allocate more troops to the area.

Protests in Canada became more widespread. Canadians began to petition and campaign publicly for the legalization of political parties that proposed American annexation or Independence. Many others called for a referendum. Most of them wanted it to be legally binding. The British government was hesitant to send more men into Canada. No conflict had erupted, but if it did, they wanted the Canadians, at least some of them alongside them. London told the Canadian PM to have his troops join up with their efforts in quelling the protests. Laurier complied and upon receiving this order, one half of the Canadian forces resigned their posts. By June, the veterans and armed civilians had formed a Free Canadian Militia (FCM), the militia boasted 1,700 men as the Canadian army had eroded from 1,500 to 1,300, after losing an initial half (1,500) in mid May.

Hearst positioned a further 10,000 men in New Hampshire. He went on the radio again to campaign for his People's Slate candidates. Then he went back on the airwaves several times, calling on patriotic Americans to enlist, "for the liberty of our Northern brothers and sisters."

[West_Midlander]

North American Tensions II
As the IPF prepared to complete another set of polls on Canadians and their political sentiments, the agency was shut down by the British government under the claim of subversion of the Crown. As protests continued and Canada reeled on the verge of rioting, strict curfews were enforced in major cities.

In June, 2000 British troops entered Ottawa as the situation escalated. The Canadian militia was caught in the city and an armed confrontation began. The fighting continued. Several days later, Ottawa was still a battleground. The British had 2,000 on their side and the Free Canadian Militia 1,700 men. No one knew who had started the violence. The Canadian Militia was bolstered to 1,800 with volunteers in the city, with limited losses on both sides.

[West_Midlander]

Ceasefire
By July, the battle was still ongoing in Ottawa and skirmishes had begun across the nation, between citizens and British troops. The Canadian Army stood alongside Britain's but had dwindled to 1,000 after more defections to the Free Canadian Militia.

Prime Minister Asquith of the United Kingdom viewed the situation as un-winnable and offered a ceasefire, to which the leader of the Free Canadian Militia and the Canadian Prime Minister agreed.
 Asquith prepared to make some concessions.

I) Amnesty for those who left the service during the conflict of 1910.
II) The American-Canadian Association Agreement may receive royal assent should it achieve a 2/3rds majority in a referendum.
III) All political parties are now legal.
(No referendum on Canadian status)

All three leaders agreed to the terms. Many in the FCM were opposed without a referendum on Canada's future. The agreement passed the Canadian Parliament by a healthy margin and the British Parliament by a wide margin. British MPs were glad to keep Canada in the fold and without having to concede a referendum, which they would certainly lose.

President Hearst dispersed the American troops from New England, back to their posts across the country. The United Kingdom, with popular opinion in Canada against them, withdrew their 5 regiments in Canada to Bermuda, and dispersed the 5 regiments in Bermuda to the Caribbean. President Hearst didn't have to secure referendums in the Northern territories after all. He would win them, surely,
 but getting a motion through Congress to potentially allow the cession of American territory would have been damaging. To make himself clear, Hearst phoned PM Laurier and told him that the American referendums were off the table given the terms of the recent ceasefire.

With the IPF gone, Hearst ordered the DNC to allocate starting funds for the CCC, the Canada's Choice Committee, a polling and funding agency that would support socialist, left-wing, and pro-America parties in Canada. In July, many new political parties began to form in Canada as Hearst awaited the primary results for his People's Slate candidates.

[West_Midlander]

The Primaries
California - Gubernatorial
Democratic
Theodore Arlington Bell 50.2%
Jack London 49.6%
Incumbent Governor Theodore Arlington Bell faced a primary challenge from Jack London.
Republican
Hiram W. Johnson 94.1%
Socialist
Jack London (write-in) 84.6%
J. Stitt Wilson, the only running Socialist candidate, had withdrawn and told Socialist supporters to write-in Jack London. Wilson said he would run for Attorney General instead.
Prohibition
Simeon P. Meads 97.8%
After London's loss, it was always a long shot, but given the President's support for the candidate, it was a major scar on his record. Conservative Democrats in the Senate demanded that Hearst endorse Bell, now that he had won the primary. London was considering taking the Socialist nomination, and Hearst had intended to remain neutral (he couldn't endorse a Socialist as a Democratic President but wouldn't throw his support behind Bell) if London did contest the general election.
New Jersey - Gubernatorial
Democratic
Bloor 52.3%
Wilson 46%
Republican
Vivian M. Lewis 90.4%
Socialist
Bloor (write-in) 98%
Socialist Labor
Bloor (write-in) 95.6%
Prohibition
Bloor (write-in) 75.3%
With two weeks between the California and New Jersey primaries, as soon as Hearst heard of London's loss, he decided to head for New Jersey and to hold several days of large rallies for Bloor across the state. He would finish the campaign in New York City, which would be essential to the victory of his allies in New York State. No candidates ran in the Socialist, Socialist Labor, and Prohibition primaries as the state parties threw their support behind Bloor. She was selected as a write-in nominee for each (will run as Democratic).

[West_Midlander]

The Primaries II
New York Primary

Gubernatorial

Democratic
Eugene Debs 49.5%
John Alden Dix 49.3%
Dix, a businessman and friend of party bosses was defeated in a major upset by former Presidential candidate, Eugene V. Debs.
Republican
Henry L. Stimson 95.3%
Statewide, Republicans agreed to rally behind their nominees before the primaries in order to unify in the face of Democratic division.
Socialist
Eugene Debs (write-in) 99.3%
Debs was written in as the overwhelming preference of Socialist voters.
Independence League (Independence Party)
Eugene Debs (write-in) 60.3%
The Independence Party formed by William Randolph Hearst (IOTL) nominated Eugene Debs. Independence candidate John J. Hopper ran in the primary but withdrew in June. He received most of the non-Debs write-ins.
Prohibition
T. Alexander MacNicholl 95.1%
Socialist Labor
Eugene Debs (write-in) 96.5%

Secretary of State

Democratic
Maximilian Cohen 50.6%
Edward Lazansky 49%
Republican
Samuel S. Koenig 94.1%
Socialist
Maximilian Cohen (write-in) 92.3%
Independence League (Independence Party)
Maximilian Cohen (write-in) 52.3%
Thomas P. Scully 46.5%
Prohibition
N. Horace Gillette 88.4%
Socialist Labor
Maximilian Cohen (write-in) 98.1%

[West_Midlander]

The Primaries III
New York Primary

Attorney General

Democratic
Ben Hanford 53.1%
Thomas Carmody 46.2%
The party bosses in New York didn't put much effort into downballot, eventually finding lawyers to run against Hanford and Cohen (previous post). FTR, Ben Hanford doesn't fall ill as soon as 1910, ITTL, he dies in his 50s in 1912.
Republican
Edward R. O'Malley 85.6%
Socialist
Ben Hanford (write-in) 91%
Independence League (Independence Party)
Ben Hanford (write-in) 82.8%
Prohibition
Francis E. Baldwin 99.9%
Socialist Labor
Ben Hanford (write-in) 90.2%

Treasurer

Democratic
Isaac Hourwich 48.7%
John J. Kennedy 48.6%
Hourwich barely bested Kennedy, a politician and businessman. Kennedy had his contacts and his financial resources at his disposal during the primary but ultimately lost.
Republican
Thomas F. Fennell 89.6%
Socialist
Isaac Hourwich (write-in) 98%
Independence League (Independence Party)
Isaac Hourwich (write-in) 99.4%
Prohibition
Charles J. Call 86%
Socialist Labor
Isaac Hourwich (write-in) 98.5%

Bertha M. Fraser, the Socialist candidate for SoS, stepped aside to allow Cohen the nomination.
 After this (months ago), Fraser was chosen to serve as Eugene Debs' campaign manager for his gubernatorial race.