"ONE OF MOST CRUSHING DEFEATS FOR THE DEMS"

TALK OF THE TOWN:  DEMOCRATS MAY BE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS, 'PERMANENTLY'

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 18, 1924, G. Gould Lincoln of The Evening Star writes that six weeks after the Election of 1924 there is "talk of the (Democratic) party's going permanently out of business."

The reason:  "one of the most crushing defeats it has sustained."

Lincoln points out, however, that leaders of the party beg to differ.  They cite Democrats hold on to 40 seats in the U.S. Senate and 184 in the U.S. House of Representatives, not to mention control of governorships in many states.

They argue also that Democrats are stronger in Republican districts than Republicans are in Democratic areas such as those in the South-"the Democratic stronghold."

On the negative side, however, is the party debt.  It sits at a quarter of a million dollars as of today.  National Chairman Clem Shaver*, despite the naysayers, intends to remain in his position and is already taking steps to pay off the debt.

JFK+50 NOTE

I watched last night a review of one of the 20 greatest baseball games on the MLB network in which a manager commented, "You learn alot by losing.  You don't learn anything by winning."

That sentiment applies well to the talk of the demise of the Democratic Party after the Election of 1924.  Although its troubles continued in the next election cycle with Hoover's landslide over Al Smith 444-87 & the GOP gaining congressional seats, by 1932 there came a complete and total reversal.

FDR's '32 landslide bettered Hoover's of '28 (472-59) & Democrats gained 9 Senate seats & 90 House seats.  In FDR's re-election in 1936, he won 46 of 48 states & was elected again by great majorities in 1940 & 1944. His successor, Harry Truman, won in 1948.

So obviously, talk of the end of the Democratic Party in 1924 was not only premature, they were just 4 years away from dominating national politics and winning five straight presidential elections. In fact, the GOP went to General Eisenhower in 1952 saying that if he didn't sign on with them it might be the end of the Republican party.

*Clement Lawrence Shaver (1867-1954) was born in Marion County, West Virginia & educated at Fairmont State University (BA) & George Washington University School of Law (LLB).  CLS served as DNC chairman 1924-1928 & ran an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1934.

SOURCE

"Dems Start Rebuilding Amidst Ashes Of Defeat,"  by G. Gould Lincoln, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 18, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

C. L. Shaver

DNC Chairman

July 23, 1924

National Photo Company

Library of Congress

"SEEMS TO BE 'IN THE AIR' REPUBLICANS WILL WIN"

EFFORTS BEING MADE TO MANIPULATE ELECTION OUTCOME

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 19, 1924, N.O. Messenger of The Sunday Star reports "at this time the odds are believed to favor a clear-cut decision at the polls, in a victory for the Republican presidential ticket."

Mr. Messenger warns, however, that "efforts are being made to thwart the will of the majority and bring an outcome by manipulation and political trading." 

In his view, "it seems to be 'in the air' that the Republicans will win."

JFK+50 NOTE

The reporter's prediction two weeks before the Election of 1924 proved to be correct as President Calvin Coolidge won by a comfortable margin over Charles W. Davis.  If there was any attempted "manipulation and political trading" the outcome was not impacted by it. 

A century later, in the upcoming Election of 2024, to be held in less than two weeks, the race is a virtual dead heat but, as you know, there is concern, at least on the part of Democrats, that there may be an attempt "to thwart the will of the majority and bring an outcome by manipulation." 

Let's hope not.

SOURCE

"G.O.P. Strives To Hold Lead Claimed In Race," by N.O. Messenger, The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., October 19, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Tennessee 'I Voted' Sticker

Photo by John White

October 16 2024

"TO HELP WIN NY, NJ, INDIANA, OHIO & ILLINOIS"

DAVIS DENOUNCES KLAN, CALLS ON COOLIDGE TO DO SAME

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On October 17, 1924, Democratic candidate for POTUS, John W. Davis, called upon his opponent, Republican President Calvin Coolidge, to publicly denounce the Ku Klux Klan.

Governor Davis, speaking here in the Windy City, personally denounced the "hooded organization" by name and insisted the President "issue a similar denunciation."

William K. Hutchinson of the International News Service reports the Davis campaign believes their candidate's strong stand against "the evil empire" will help win New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois in this year's presidential election*.

*Coolidge defeated Davis in Nov 1924 382-136 winning every one of these 5 states.  Davis won the "Solid South" while Coolidge carried the rest of the country except for Wisconsin which was won by Progressive candidate Bob La Follette.

JFK+50 NOTE

According to the Coolidge Foundation, the KKK preached a message of keeping "America for Americans," that is for "white, native born Protestants." 

Klansmen of the 1920s opposed Catholics, Jews, "certain foreigners," and blacks.  The Klan reached its membership peak in the mid 1920s.  The foundation asserts that both Presidents Harding and Coolidge "rejected the Klan and all it stood for"...."contributing to its decline."

SOURCES

"Davis Demands Coolidge Rap Ku Klux," by William K. Hutchinson, The Washington Times, October 17, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"The Ku Klux Klan in Calvin Coolidge's America," by Jerry L. Wallace, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, www.coolidgefoundation.org/

 

 

 

Klansmen Drop Hate Flyers

Hyattsville, MD 

1922

www.flickr.com/

"DAVIS WILL OUT-COOLIDGE COOLIDGE SERVING WALL ST"

WHEELER ATTACKS COOLIDGE,DAWES & DAVIS

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On September 1, 1924, the Associated Press reports that Senator Burton K. Wheeler* kicked off his vice-presidential campaign on the Progressive ticket speaking on the Common here in Boston.

The Senator made no exceptions in attacking his opponents.  Mr. Wheeler, of course, had no kind words for President Calvin Coolidge or his running-mate Charles G. Dawes.

Nor did Mr. Wheeler compliment John W. Davis, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, saying he will "out-Coolidge Coolidge as a servant of Wall Street."

*Burton Kendall Wheeler (1882-1975) was born in Hudson, Massachusetts & served as US Senator of Montana, 1923-1947.  BKW was a New Deal liberal until his break with FDR in 1937.

 JFK+50 NOTE

The La Follette-Wheeler ticket won one state, Wisconsin (13 electoral votes) in the Election of 1924.  They polled 4.8 million popular votes.  Coolidge won the election 382-136-13.

SOURCE

"Wheeler Assails Both Old Parties," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 1, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Senator Burton K. Wheeler

Montana

Dec 8 1922

National Photo Company

Library of Congress

"WE ARE LOOKING FOR A WINNER IN NOVEMBER"

DEMOCRATS LOOKING FOR 'UNHANDICAPPED ASPIRANT' IN 1924

New York City (JFK+50) On June 22, 1924, N.O. Messenger reports in The Sunday Star that when he asked Democratic party leaders yesterday 'What's doing about a candidate?', the answer came back...

'We are looking for a winner in November!'

Mr. Messenger writes that winning "seems to be an obsession with them."

Democratic leaders, Messenger reports, are seeing "exceptional opportunities for a landslide" in this election year.

JFK+50

Democrats would have to wait another eight years for that 'landslide.'  Republicans Coolidge & Hoover would win handily in 1924 & 1928, but after the years of the Great Depression, Americans were more than ready for change.  

Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt won that landslide in 1932, an even greater landslide in 1936 (losing only in Maine & Vermont), & serve as POTUS until his death on April 12, 1945.  

SOURCE

"Democracy Leaders Hunt Unhandicapped Aspirant," by N.O. Messenger, The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., June 22, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Democratic Logo

Upload by Steven Braeger (2017)

"LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES COMING IN A BUNCH"

COURSE OF COOLIDGE ADMINISTRATION COULD BE CHARTED NOW

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 3, 1924, David Lawrence of the Evening Star writes "President (Calvin) Coolidge's opportunities for leadership...are coming in a bunch" in the next six weeks.  

Lawrence says these opportunities will include those "for assertiveness and for curbing the multifarious tendencies of Congress."

Lawrence writes...

"The course of the whole Coolidge administration could be charted now and may furnish the basis for discussion in the coming...campaign."

SOURCE

"Coolidge Now Facing Real Test As Leader," by David Lawrence, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 3, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Calvin Coolidge In Charge

NARA & DVIDS

"COOLIDGE GROWING STRONGER ALL THE TIME"

BUTLER SAYS PRESIDENT WILL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH DELEGATES TO WIN NOMINATION BY APRIL 22

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 4, 1924, William M. Butler*, pre-convention campaign manager for President Calvin Coolidge, issued a statement declaring the President "will have (by April 22nd) 625 delegates", 70 more than needed to win the nomination.

Mr. Butler, who plans to make a run for the United States Senate, says the President "is growing stronger all the time."

JFK+50 NOTE

Coolidge won the Republican presidential nomination in a cake walk on June 12, 1924.  The President polled 1065 delegate votes to 34 for La Follette & 10 for Johnson on the 1st ballot.

*William Morgan Butler (1861-1937) was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts & graduated from the law department of Boston University 1884.  

WMB served in the Massachusetts legislature 1890-1895 & was RNC chairman 1924-1928.  He was appointed to the US Senate & served 1924-1926.

SOURCE

"Claims 625 Votes For Coolidge Near," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 4, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Senator William M. Butler

R-Massachusetts

National Photo Company (1924)

Library of Congress

"COOLIDGE WILL BE A HARD MAN TO BEAT"

DEMS 'AT A LOSS' OVER G.O.P. CONFIDENCE IN 1924

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 2, 1924, The Sunday Star reports President Calvin Coolidge "has not lost any ground in his candidacy for the (Republican) presidential nomination on account of the (Teapot Dome) oil scandal."

The Star adds Mr. Coolidge "has not suffered any impairment of personal prestige."

N.O. Messenger writes that the leaders of the G.O.P. feel that damage from the scandal is actually "fifty-fifty" between the two political parties so far as "political effect is concerned."

Messenger says Democrats "are utterly at a loss to understand the confidence of the Republicans "over their prospects" in the November general election.  

They say the President will "be a hard man to beat."

JFK+50 NOTE

President Coolidge had little opposition in winning the Republican nomination in 1924 and he won the general election in a landslide.

Coolidge received 382 electoral votes & 54% of the popular vote.  The Democrat, John W. Davis, who won few states outside the "Solid South", had 136 electoral votes & 29% of the popular vote.  A third party candidate, Robert M. LaFollette, won 13 electoral votes & 17% of the popular vote.

While my home state of Tennessee went along with the 'Solid South' for Davis, my home section, East Tennessee, was dominated by Coolidge.  In fact, only 2 East Tennessee counties were won by the Democrat.

Republican confidence in March 1924 on their odds for the November election was obviously justified.  

SOURCE

"Republican Confidence Puzzling To Democrats," by N.O. Messenger, The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., March 2, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

President Calvin Coolidge

1923-1929

www.flickr.com/

"HENRY FORD SHALL BE STOPPED AT ALL HAZARDS"

POLITICAL LEADERS MAKE IT CLEAR, HENRY FORD NOT WANTED AS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 8, 1923, Robert T. Small of the Sunday Star reports that "there is every evidence of a gentleman's agreement being formed among democrats and republican political leaders against Henry Ford for President."

Republicans are clearly behind President Warren G. Harding's renomination in 1924 and expected re-election.  The Democrats, according to Small, are "talking big" against the "flivver multi-millionaire" but have "a wholesome fear" of his potential candidacy.

"As matters stand today," writes Small, "there is a tacit understanding...that Henry Ford shall be stopped at all hazards."

SOURCE

"He Shall Not Pass, Old Party Chiefs Defiance To Ford," by Robert T. Small, The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., July 8, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Henry Ford

1919

Library of Congress 

"AMERICA HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS"

PRESIDENTIAL THEME IS 'HOLD STEADY DON'T ROCK THE BOAT!"

Somewhere Out West (JFK+50) On July 3, 1923, David Lawrence of the Evening Star reports ""Hold steady don't rock the boat'...may be the republican party and the appeal of President (Warren G.) Harding for re-election in 1924."

This is the theme being expressed in all the President's speeches on his current western tour.  It holds that compared to the rest of the globe, "America has made substantial progress. 

It calls for the American people to be patient and continue to support the Harding administration.

SOURCE

"'Don't Rock the Boat,' Slogan President May Adopt for 1924," by David Lawrence, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

President Warren G. Harding

Outside the White House

Washington, D.C.

Library of Congress