Rise of the Circus Tent: 1920 Circus Tent Coalition Presidential Primaries Round Two
A marvel of inter-party unity, the Circus Tent Coalition has managed to get their primaries into action. Despite worries that the coalition would not have been able to organize their primaries, it appears that they have been able to agree upon a direct course of action. As directed by the Coalition leadership, primaries were decided to move within regional sections. Starting in the industrial heavy region of the Mid-Western states, it produced results that while not definitive it surely shows a pattern.
Starting in the state of Illinois, the majority of the Coalition Delegates leaned towards longtime Activist Eugene V. Debs of Indiana. Though Forty-Seven of these delegates moved to support the longtime socialist, the remaining Eleven decide to endorse Progressive Republican Senator Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin. It is believed that this result towards the end of February is what ultimately caused Senator La Follette to seriously consider a bid for the Presidency as the Circus Tent Coalition’s nominee, instructing respective members of his voting pool to actively campaign for him in the Republican and Circus Tent Coalition primaries.
His direction for respective voters to campaign for him seems to have paid off as he managed to capture the twenty-four delegates of Minnesota, a feet that surprised many as the state was expected to be unpledged. Due to the states close proximity to the sate of Wisconsin (which has also pledged its twenty-six delegates for their own Senator) allowed for more Pro-La Follette activity to make rounds in the state. It also didn’t complicate the issue that the Labor Party of America is seriously interested in a La Follette nomination, actively campaigning for the Senator.
Something that did increase the shocks waves within the Coalition is the support for Senator Thomas Walsh of Montana in the states of North and South Dakota, not winning the entirety of the delegates but still managed to earn a few. Winning Five delegates in total (Three from North Dakota and Two from South Dakota), his entry into the primaries had interrupted momentum that Former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska had built within the state of North Dakota (the remaining seven delegates going to Former Secretary Bryan). It is believed that this is the result of an agreement between the Nonpartisan League, the National Woman’s Party and a small faction of the Prohibition Party, all three parties believing that the Senator from Montana could appeal to a broader audience then the current selection (the National Woman’s Party turning away from the Former Secretary because of his lack of steam towards Woman issues during his campaign). What rose him to the prospect of a true contending candidate is his public announcement that he is supportive of being a nominee, stating that he would actively campaign as nominee for the Coalition if he managed to garner support among the Western States (which is the next region that shall engage in primaries).
In a manner that wasn’t unexpected, the States of Nebraska and Indiana fell behind their respective home born sons (sixteen delegates going for Former Secretary Bryan and Thirty going towards Mr. Debs respectively). Though this was equally followed with Michigan following their neighbors around Lake Superior, awarding twenty of its delegates for Senator La Follette (the remaining ten being undecided
The final primaries ended in a rather unimpressive stalemate, none of the candidates winning anything that gave a deciding factor. It was believed that Former Secretary Bryan would have been able to garner support in the States of Iowa, Kansas and Missouri but the split within the Prohibition Party and the National Woman’s Party had left those states divided. One delegate from Iowa ultimately would devote themself to Senator Walsh while the rest of the state decided to go undecided, Kansas and Missouri similarly decided to not to pledged themselves to any candidate. The final Mid-Western State of Ohio sought a similar result, the primary in the state being the most hectic as no majority was able to form (though Deb managed to place highest with 38.6% of the vote and La Follette following closely with 32.3%).
It is apparent that Mr. Debs and Senator La Follette are clear frontrunners in Coalition Primaries, Former Secretary Bryan not having the same appeal that he once had as a third-party interest. As the next portion of the nation goes into their primaries, many are wondering who will be able to carve themselves out a better portion of the public
Activist Eugene V. Debs of Indiana
A name that needs no introduction, Activist Eugene V. Dubs has performed many accomplishments for the Socialist Party of America. Rising to prominence as a Trade Union leader, he founded the American Railway Union in 1893 and in 1894 organized one of the most consequential strikes in United States history. After being convicted for defying a court injunction against the Pullman Strike, he spent six months in prison and became an ardent socialist. Founding a slew of political parties, he eventually became the founding member of the Socialist Party of America in 1901 and ran multiple times as its presidential candidate. Running on as the candidate for workers rights and opposed to child labor, he has constantly presented himself as the proud voice for the working class whether man or woman. Greatly opposed to the U.S. entry into the Great War and the oppressive measures placed upon those who dared speak out, he was sentenced under the Espionage Act in 1918 and has been serving a ten year stint ever since. If elected president it may bring about serious questions about if a current inmate can hold the office, that is if he is selected.
Senator Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin
Despite being as Progressive as one can get, Senator Robert M. La Follette has always found himself under the shadow of the late President Theodore Roosevelt. Initially entering national politics as a member of the House of Representatives in 1884, he established himself as a friendly Republican who occasionally strayed from party doctrine. After losing reelection in 1890, he converted into a firm Progressive and managed to become elected to the governorship of Wisconsin. Implementing a direct primary system, a commission to regulate railroad rates and the nations first comprehensive worker compensation system, his reputation as a reformer was solidified. Winning election to the U.S. Senate in 1906, he continued his fight against monopolies and powerful money trusts. Though expected to be the front running Progressive in 1912, the late Theodore Roosevelt blocked out Fighting Bob’s hope for the candidacy that year. In recent years, he has been very vocal in his opposition for the U.S. to join the League of Nations and the treatment of many Americans during the war such as the infamous Palmer Raids. Though a preferred candidate among the Labor Party of America and the Non-Partisan League, would he be willing to accept nomination if he continued to appear in the Republican Primaries.
Former Secretary William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska
A figure familiar with earning support from third parties, Former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan has had a storied career. First entering politics as a member of the House of Representatives in 1892, he made a name for himself as a remarkable orator who took the cross of Progressivism on his shoulders. Arguing for the regulation of trusts and the coinage of free silver, he became a well regarded expert on the national economy and used that reputation to help establish the first federal income tax during peace time. Moving the Democratic Party away from the Conservative Bourbon Democrats and after delivering his remarkable “Cross of Gold Speech”, he managed to become the youngest Presidential nominee in history at 36 in 1896. Managing to win the Democratic nomination two more times, he had managed to establish himself as anti-imperialist, Pro-Women’s Suffragist and Pro-Campaign Reform. Becoming Secretary of State in 1913, he would resign from that position in 1915 because of his opposition to the Great War. Pro-Prohibition and moral reform, he has become the front running candidate for the Prohibition Party and some from the National Woman’s Party but has faced some resistance from some factions in recent days. Though a strong candidate in some regards, would the nation be willing to vote for him again after so many years.
(This Coalition part has proven so much more difficult then I had originally hoped, sorry for the long delay).