Another 1924: McAdoo for president

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES SEPTEMBER 25, 1926

The Fair Reform

In a rally in Baltimore, Maryland along with senate candidate Tydings, president McAdoo announced the name of what he calls both the set of his passed proposals and a set of new proposals. He gave this set of policies the name of 'Fair Reform'. After listing passed reformist legislation like the 'Humane Labor Rights Act' and the 'Security Exchanges Act'as 'the first part of the Fair Reform', he announces a second part, that he would support in the next sixth years.

This new proposals include:

Fair Labor:
- Create a Federal Minimun Wage
- Install Unemployment Insecurance
- Create a federal agency to mediate labor-business disputes
- Push the Child Labor Amendment to be passed

Fair Transportation:
- Build a new Illinois Waterway to replace the old Illinois and Michigan Canal
- Promote and regulate private or state owned intercity bus services
- Fund and regulate private or state owned bus terminals
- Create a system of federal bus terminals along the federal highways

Fair Economy:
- Support sensible trade deals
- Create a Federal Bank Deposit Insurance
- Push for a new anti-loophole antimonopolic law
- New pro-steel products exportation revenue policy

Fair Life:
- Fund federal vaccination campaings.
- Create new National Parks.
- Support the control of river-water pollution.
- Increased federal funding for schools in low income areas.

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES OCTOBER 1, 1926

Replacing Mr Lodge

After the death of the noted Massachusetts politician, the Senate agreed to keep his republican temporal replacament for two years to avoid backlash as an special election in 1925 would seem too favorable to the democrats. This agreement also helped to avoid partisian discussios on the fair special elections bill. After all of this luck, Butler now has to compete agaisnt the former major of Boston John Fitzgerald. The democrat challenger is campaining on his record as major and on hi support of some of the labor McAdoo policies whie aviding to touch the "Fair Reform" new ideas. Meanwhile, Butler is campaining on protectionism, conservatism and attacks agaisnt some of the "Fair Reform" proposals.

As a catholic of irish origin, Fitzgerald has focused in the Boston area and other cities. Meanwhile, Butler is trying to maximize his protestant support. The issue of prohibition has been avoided, but some local republicans campaing agaisnt a supposed wet position of Fitzgerald. Even if the cmpaing have focused for now in the eastern part of the state, the democrat candidate plans to visit the western counties the next week. This, along with the scheduled debate on Albany between Wagner and Wadsworth, is expected to create some sort of momentum for democrats in that part of the Northeast. A sensible gamble or a waste of resources? We will know in November.

Indiana: the three way special

The special senate election in Indiana has become unpredictable as the former state cabinet member and American Party nominee Jackson has recieved good results in recent polls. The republican nominee, the former interim governor Forest, is still considered the favorite. Meanwhile, Woollen hs tried to approach to moment campaining to secure the support of the traditional democrat bases of the state as Jackson is more popular on republican leaning areas.

Both major party nominees are campining as moderate uniters, while Jackson focuses on his anti catholic and prohibitionist appeals. While republicans have also focused on the party conservtive and dry stances, Forest rallies have focused on his record and on his relationship with party leader and fellow midwestern senate candidate Longworth. Woollen has campained mostly on supporting some of the McAdoo policies and on opposing Jackson, trying to reach factory workers and catholics while trying to avoid to alineate farmers from Southern Indiana. In the last poll, Forest got 36%, Wollen got 33%, Jackson got 29% and the rest got 2% of the sample. There is no favorite, and any statement or event may help or hurt anybody of them.

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New York Debate

Q: Let's start with fiscal issues. What would be the prefered revenue policy of each candidate?

Wadsworth (R): Tariffs needs to be increased. With that new revenue, tax reductions would become fiscally sound. All of this would help the population overall.

Wagner (D): I think that the current taxes are okay. On trade and tariffs, I would try to reach an intermediate between helping consumers, getting the revenue that the country needs and proteccting some industries for the common good.

Q: Let's move to prohibition and inmigration. Which would be your stances on those issues?

Wadsworth (R): On inmigration, I would prefer either the current situation or some cuts on quotes overall. As I have said before, I support getting prohibition back to the states and avoid federal overreach both there and on economic aspects.

Wagner (D):  I don't see why these aspects would have to be related. Despite that, I will still answer. I support a more pragmatic but fairer inmigration policy, mantaining limits and controls but without ethnic quotas on europeam inmigrants. I support ending federal prohibition, as its only actual effect is the increase of crime.

Q: What's your stance on the policies of our president and his new Fair Reform proposals?

Wadsworth(R): As senator, I have opposed most of them, but supported the ones that seemed sensible, as the Crime Bill. I would want to say that I will carry the same sporit in the next years, but it seems that his bold spending and overreach will need to be opposed as hard as a rock.  

Wagner (D): This proposals aren't that radical. All of those proposals would need interparty consensus, and I expect most senators to see the light. What's radical about supporting transportation for people and cargo?

Q: Any proposals on crime?

Wadsworth (R): Law enforcement should be mostly an issue of local goverment, but there should be some more preasure on inter-state crime. The Department of Justice should focus on this.

Wagner (D): Basically, supporting the current policies and expanding them. Our police forces need to be well funded.

Q: Will you support funding for projects in the state?

Wadsworth (R): I helped to secure the construction of federal highways in our state. I will continue supporting the construction and funding of other sensible projects for our state, and mostly the funding of our state and local goverments.

Wagner (D): I support the renovation of the old Eire Canal, especially with the prosperious economy of the last years.

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES OCTOBER 5, 1926

Senate Polls

Regular Elections



Special Elections

	D	R	FL	A	O
IN	34%	37%	0%	28%	1%
MS	48%	47%	0%	2%	1%

Undecided voters´s opinion on the Fair Reform proposals

NEW YORK
John: I agree that some change needs to be done, but the problem is how. Most of those ideas have some sense. Maybe with more tariffs and cuts to prtonage they could be afforded. On labor regulations, there would need to be some consensus with the business elements. We can´t afford factories leaving for Canada or Europe.
Lucy: I like to see that the president is finally taking some care about water quality, education and health. I would like to hear some about those topics and childcare and less about discussions on regulation or infraestructure that only translate on conflicts of interests. On my vote, one have to consider issues like prohibition too.

WASHINGTON

Mark: I think some of them are reseonable, but fiscal soundness is needed. Maybe he and Hylan could fund their dreams but that may imply the end of the McNary bill. Now, the repulicans would be divided on what to do, but they would increase agricultural tarrifs. I would like to hear more precise aspects of the Fair Transportation proposals before deciding.
Jane: I like most of those proposals, but I draw a line on those trade deal ideas. Our country needs as much autonomy as plausible. At least he isn´t talkig about the League or similar nonsense. Imagine the idea of foreigners deciding on the future of our children. I don´t understand much of his much revenue proposal, but I expect no more tariff increases.

MISSOURI

Jacob: I think there should be different legislation on labor accoding to each job. Miners, factory workers, farm workers, office workers, store workers have different realities. Outside of that, I think they go on the right direction on labor rights. The focus should be there, not on imposing vaccines or things like that.
Mary: I get that the Illinois waterway is something that increases Chicago turnout, but what about Muscle Shoals? The south can´t just be a zone of explotation by northern companies. We can´t just give up to those elites. A fair transportation and fair economy hat includes all states is needed. If they focus on getting the vote on Saint Louis, they will lose the southern part of the state. 

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES OCTOBER 12, 1926

Federal Highway Bus Lines and Terminals Bill on the making

The Fair Transportation proposal has found a surprise supporter in representative and Senate candidate Barkley, who has announced that he is writing a bill following the ideas of the president. In irst place, the bill proposes the creation of a regulatory framework for inter-city bus lines running around the federal highways. Secondly, it proposes the constructution and mantainance of a system of bus terminals around the federal highways. This system of bus terminals would be administrated by the Bureau of Federal Highways. The bill is expected to get in the Committee for the 70th Congress.

On a rally in Oklahoma, the democrat Senate candidate Elmer Thomas talked about some of the details of the proposal: "This new law is not only to help people move to one place to another to visit a relative or make some deals. The core of this proposal is te future of the suply chains, the future of cargo. This bill will give a framework for cargo bus lines. This bill will create terminal where buses and trucks will have safe deposits at their disposal. Before our small business can take advantage of this, the construction of the terminals will give jos to thousands of construction workers an the economy of sorraunding areas will be activated.  Even if the last part doesn´t happen, at least we would have approached the recent prosperity instead of wasting it on vanities."

Republican bill fails

The Railway and Airplane Labor Act, a repulican proposal to regulate labor disputes in these critical transportation areas, has been rejected by the House of Representatives. Progressives of all parties considered this bill too favorable to employer interests while moderate and conservatve democrats, despite helping the proposal to pass at the commitee, tried to avoid a party division, as the president declared his intention to veto the bill  if it entered his desk.

Farmer Labor leader Shipstead has proposed that railway and airline workers should recieve special benefits in exchange of labor dispute and bargaining regulations for their critical sectors. He also said that those regulations should focus on helping the general economy and not the sectors' employers. Meanwhile, democrats have avoided to talk about the issue.

Longworth goes South

After his midwestern tour, the ohioan has decided to take another travel outside of his statewide campaing. In this case, he will visit Kentucky and North Carolina, to help Ernst in his senate campaing and the local representative candidates in the competitive races. As one could expect, this tour would start on nothern Kentucky along the local House republican candidate Daugherty. Republicans hope that the growth of Covington as part of the Cincinnati area will finally help to swing the district.

The tour would continue to Louisville, where Longworth is expected to reunite with the local representative candidate and the local black community. Later, he would go to Louisville to rally with Ernst. The second part of the campaing would be on appalachian North Carolina, trying to raise the turnout of local republican. His tpour would end in the Piedmont, where where he hopes to appeal to the local growing urban middle class. Most consider thi tour as only a vehicle to raise his image in expectation for the 1928 elections, but the effects of the American Party on the final electoral results make those and other races unpredictable.

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES OCTOBER 19, 1926

The president announces potential Cabinet changes

On a press conference, the president announced his intención to make chamges in the Cabinet 'accoding to the results of the midterms'. He said that if republicans got pluralities or majorities on the Senate and the House, he would make Cabinet changes to include one or two more republicans in the cabinet. Menawhile, he said that if the democrats got majorities in both Congress chambers, he would make the Cabinet all democrat.

Later, he announced his intención to combine the War and Navy departments into a 'Department of the Military'. He said that the reason for that was his intention to make the Air Force an independient force, while also wanting to avoid the need to create a new department for that.

Cascadia situations

In Washington, the republican Senate Minority Whip Jones is tourning the state for his reelection campaing. In his rallies, he focuses both on his record in favoring federal financing for projects in his state and the advantages of his seniority. On the other side, hia democrat challenger Bullitt has focused on his support of progressive measures for farming and some of the Fair Reform proposals.

In Oregon there is a three way race. The current senator Stanfield is running as independent after losing the republican primary some months ago thanks to the personal scandal of participating in a drunken bar fight. His candidacy has gotten the support of dissafected voters and non progressive wets. Meanwhile, the major party candidates have focused in supporting their economic platforms. In the last debate, the republican challenger Steiwer said "Vote using your head, not with a bottle" while the democrat challenger said "Vote for your interests, not his thirst".

Radio messages in the northeast

Massachusetts

Republican: Lodge's legacy needs your vote. Keep our state safe of any mobs and our country in our hands. Butler, a vote for common sense, protected growth and progress for all. Vote republican.

Democrat: John, the candidate for you. Tested experience in Boston, of use agaisnt unfairness and crime. Vote for John, vote democratic.

New York

Republican: Don't fear the machine. Vote for the option that will fight those mobs and work to protect our nation. Vote for the Republicans, the party for all.

Democrats: Wagner is the man for all of us. A vote for fair work and fair life. Vote for Main Street's candidate. Vote democratic.

Pennsylvania

Republicans: Vote for Vare to keep our factories, farms and life american. Vote for protected growth and safety over mob and nonsense. Vote republican.

Democrats: William Wilson is a man that has fighted for his fellow common man since his coal miner roots to his time at the cabinet. Help him to continue his work for people like he and you, not machines. Vote democratic.

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES NOVEMBER 5, 1926

Senate midterm winners

REGULAR (CLASS 3)

SOUTH

Alabama: Hugo Black (D)
Arkansas: Thaddeus Caraway (D)
Florida: Duncan Fletcher (D)
Georgia: Walter George (D)
Kentucky: Alben Barkley (D) - Dem gain -
Louisiana: Edwin Broussard (D)
Maryland: Millard Tydings (D) - Dem gain -
North Carolina: Lee Overman (D)
Oklahoma Elmer Thomas (D) - Dem gain -
South Carolina: Edgar Brown (D) - Dem gain -

NORTHEAST
Connecticut: Hiram Bingham (R)
New York: Robert Wagner (D) - Dem gain -
New Hampshire: George Moses (R)
Pennsylvania: William Vare (R)
New Hampshire: Porter Dale (R)

MIDWEST
Illinois: Charles Dawes (R)
Indiana: James Watson (R)
Iowa: David Stewart (R)
Kansas: Charles Curtis (R)
North Dakota: Louis Hanna (R) - GOP gain -
Ohio: Nicholas Longworth (R)
South Dakota: Peter Norbeck (R)
Wisconsin: John Blaine (R)

WEST
Arizona: Carl Hayden (D) - Dem gain -
California: Samuel Shortridge (R)
Colorado: Charles Waterman (R) - GOP gain -
Idaho: Frank Gooding (R)
Nevada: Tasker Oddie (R)
Oregon: Frederick Steiwer (R)
Utah: Reed Smoot (R)
Washington: Wesley Jones (R)

SPECIAL

Indiana: Emmett Branch (R) - GOP gain -
Massachusetts: William Butler (R)

New Senate distribution:

Democrat 48
Republican 40
Farmer Labor 5
American 3

House Midterm results

GOP 216
Democrat 208
Farmer Labor 7
American 3
Socialist 1

The republicans won the popular vote in both elections, but the democrat Senate landslide in  1924 has helped them to win a senate majority. Meanwhile , the republicans have won again a House plurality. The elections have been a big failure for the American Party, and most expect the next elections to mean their disspereance from Congress. The Connecticut representative and GOP House Minority Leader John Tilson is expected to become the new Speaker of the House.

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NORTHERN AND EASTERN TIMES DECEMBER 29, 1926

Interview to GOP House Leader Tilson

J: Congratulations for your party's victory i the House midterms. What are yur expectatives for the next two years?

T: Our party has a plurality at the House, but McAdoo's allies still control the Senate, and he controls the presidency. I'm optimism about getting some sort of consensus. We will let our progressive wing support up to a point some aspects of the Fair Reform and as a party we will offer alternative bills in various topics. Outside of aspects were we can make concessions, our promise with the people is clear: we will stand for american autonomy on economic and diplomatic matters.

J: The Fair Reform include a number of proposals on labor. What would be your party's stance on them?

T: At first, we need a fair game. The democrats should pass the Child Labor Ammendant in democrat controlled states before asking the rest to do so. As  party, we will let state legislators decide their conscience on that matter. Out of that, I suppose we can agree some framework to push the states to decide minimun wages accoding to the cost of food in each. Maybe we can agree a sort of "fixed minimun wage" on that, but I won´t let my caucus support inflationary proposals.

J: What about Fair Life? Do you agree with some of those proposals?

T: Creating new national parks is something supported by the conservationist factions of the party, and I think we can work on that. The same thing happens with fresh water conservation. About vaccines, we could make a bipartisian or nonpartisian comitee on that to investigate. I'm optimist about the potential impact of the new tuberculosis vaccine, maybe funding research and tax breaks on its commercialization could be a better way to treat the issue.

J: Your predecessor as House Caucus leader, Longworth, has been elected as senator. What's your reflection about this changes in his career?

T: Nicholas is asensible conservative who knows how to unite voters for our core party values: american industry and independence. We may compromise on the rest, but I will oppose any trade deals, further tariff reductions and any League nonsense. This is how we dominated the Midwest in the last midterms and this is why I think he would be a good posisbility for 1928, along with various other possibilities in our great party.