1904 Democratic National Convention

Last updated
1904 Democratic National Convention
1904 presidential election
AltonBParker.png HenryGDavis.png
Nominees
Parker and Davis
Convention
Date(s)July 6–10, 1904
City St. Louis, Missouri
Venue St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall
Candidates
Presidential nominee Alton B. Parker of New York
Vice presidential nominee Henry G. Davis of West Virginia
  1900  ·  1908  
Opening session of the convention Opening session, Democratic National Convention, 1904, St. Louis, Mo LCCN2007663555 (cropped2).jpg
Opening session of the convention

The 1904 Democratic National Convention was an American presidential nominating convention that ran from July 6 through 10 in the Coliseum of the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. Breaking with eight years of control by the Democratic Party's reform wing, the convention nominated conservative Judge Alton B. Parker of New York for president and Henry G. Davis of West Virginia for vice president.

Contents

The Democratic ticket lost in the November 1904 presidential election to the Republican Party and its ticket of Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks.

Convention history

Opening

The 1904 Democratic National Convention was opened at two minutes past noon on July 6 in the Coliseum of the old St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall by James K. Jones, chair of the Democratic National Committee. [1] Following the reading of the official call of the convention and delivery of an opening prayer, John Sharp Williams of Mississippi was named the honorary chairman of the gathering, [1] emblematic of a return to power by the conservative Bourbon wing of the party.

The traditionalist Southerner Williams delivered an opening speech but was hindered by a voice unable to reach all of those assembled in the convention hall, many of whom, according to a contemporary press report, "kept up a constant hum of conversation that smothered Mr. Williams’s voice." [1]

Presidential nomination

After the second straight defeat of Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan in the 1900 presidential election, the conservative allies of former President Grover Cleveland regained power within the party. [2] However, with the popularity of President Theodore Roosevelt, many of the most prominent Democrats, such as Cleveland and former Attorney General Richard Olney, refused to run. [2] Additionally, Maryland Senator Arthur Pue Gorman alienated many in the South by opposing Roosevelt's policies in Panama. [2]

In this atmosphere, in advance of the convention conservative Democrats coalesced around New York Court of Appeals Judge Alton B. Parker, an ally of former New York Governor David B. Hill. [2] Parker hoped to one day sit on the United States Supreme Court, but was convinced to run by Hill, and the Parker campaign was backed by conservative business interests. [2] With the reform wing around Bryan and the ethnic political machine of Tammany Hall unable to agree upon a single alternative candidate, Parker was seen by many contemporary observers as a prohibitive favorite to win the nomination. [1]

Eight names were placed in nomination: Alton B. Parker, William Randolph Hearst, Francis Cockrell, Richard Olney, Edward C. Wall, George Gray, John Sharp Williams, and Nelson A. Miles. Representative Williams thanked the North Dakota delegation for generosity but declined to be a candidate. Over the objections of Bryan, Parker defeated New York Congressman Hearst on the first ballot. [2] In a further defeat for Bryan, the Democrats adopted a conservative platform far different from the policies espoused in 1896 and 1900. [3] However, Bryan would re-take control of the party in the 1908 Democratic National Convention.

Presidential candidates

Declined

Presidential ballot
1st before shifts1st after shiftsUnanimous
Alton B. Parker 6586791,000
William Randolph Hearst 200181
Francis Cockrell 4242
Richard Olney 3838
Edward C. Wall 2727
George Gray 1212
John Sharp Williams 88
Robert E. Pattison 44
George B. McClellan Jr. 33
Nelson A. Miles 33
Charles A. Towne 22
Arthur Pue Gorman 20
Bird S. Coler 11


Vice presidential nomination

With Democratic prospects in the November election appearing bleak, most prominent politicians expressed no interest in the vice presidential nomination, or declined when asked to consider it. The names of several lesser-known individuals were mentioned, including businessman Marshall Field of Illinois, former Representative John C. Black of Illinois, Representative James R. Williams of Illinois, attorney John W. Kern of Indiana, Edward C. Wall of Wisconsin, David Bost of Wisconsin, Governor Alexander Monroe Dockery of Missouri, and attorney Joseph W. Folk of Missouri. [3]

Four names were placed in nomination: Henry G. Davis, James R. Williams, George Turner, and William A. Harris. Davis, a former U.S. Senator from West Virginia, won the nomination; at 80, he was the oldest major party candidate ever nominated for national office. [5] Davis received the nomination because party leaders believed that as a millionaire mine owner, railroad magnate, and banker he could be counted on to help finance the campaign. [5] Their hopes were unrealized, as Davis did not contribute substantially to the party coffers. [5]

Vice presidential candidates

Vice presidential ballot
1stUnanimous
Henry G. Davis 6441,000
James R. Williams 165
George Turner 100
William A. Harris 58
Blank33


Closing and notes

After nominating the ticket of Parker and Davis, the convention adjourned sine die at 1:30 am on Sunday, July 10. [6]

The 1904 Democratic National Convention took place simultaneously with the 1904 World's Fair and the 1904 Summer Olympics.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1904 United States presidential election</span> 30th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1904 United States presidential election was the 30th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 8, 1904. Incumbent Republican President Theodore Roosevelt defeated the conservative Democratic nominee, Alton B. Parker. Roosevelt's victory made him the first president who ascended to the presidency upon the death of his predecessor to win a full term in his own right. This was also the second presidential election in which both major party candidates were registered in the same home state; the others have been in 1860, 1920, 1940, 1944, and 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1908 United States presidential election</span> 31st quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1908 United States presidential election was the 31st quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1908. Republican Party nominee William Howard Taft defeated three-time Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Jennings Bryan</span> American politician (1860–1925)

William Jennings Bryan was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President of the United States in the 1896, 1900, and 1908 elections. He served in the House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895 and as the Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915. Because of his faith in the wisdom of the common people, Bryan was often called "the Great Commoner", and because of his rhetorical power and early fame as the youngest presidential candidate, "the Boy Orator".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alton B. Parker</span> American judge (1852–1926)

Alton Brooks Parker was an American judge. He was the Democratic nominee in the 1904 United States presidential election, losing in a landslide to incumbent Republican Theodore Roosevelt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David B. Hill</span> 29th Governor of New York (1885-91), U.S. Senator (D-NY, 1892-97)

David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th governor of New York from 1885 to 1891 and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1892 to 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1924 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Madison Square Garden in New York City

The 1924 Democratic National Convention, held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City from June 24 to July 9, 1924, was the longest continuously running convention in United States political history. It took a record 103 ballots to nominate a presidential candidate. It was the first major party national convention that saw the name of a woman, Lena Springs, placed in nomination for vice president. John W. Davis, a dark horse, eventually won the presidential nomination on the 103rd ballot, a compromise candidate following a protracted convention fight between distant front-runners William Gibbs McAdoo and Al Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1860 Democratic National Conventions</span> Series of presidential nominating conventions

The 1860 Democratic National Conventions were a series of presidential nominating conventions held to nominate the Democratic Party's candidates for president and vice president in the 1860 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention

The 1896 Republican National Convention was held in a temporary structure south of the St. Louis City Hall in Saint Louis, Missouri, from June 16 to June 18, 1896.

The 1868 Democratic National Convention was held at the Tammany Hall headquarters building in New York City between July 4, and July 9, 1868. The first Democratic convention after the conclusion of the American Civil War, the convention was notable for the return of Democratic Party politicians from the Southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1896 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Chicago, Illinois

The 1896 Democratic National Convention, held at the Chicago Coliseum from July 7 to July 11, was the scene of William Jennings Bryan's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate for the 1896 U.S. presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourbon Democrat</span> U.S. political faction

Bourbon Democrat was a term used in the United States in the later 19th century and early 20th century (1872–1904) to refer to members of the Democratic Party who were ideologically aligned with fiscal conservatism or classical liberalism, especially those who supported presidential candidates Charles O'Conor in 1872, Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, President Grover Cleveland in 1884, 1888, and 1892 and Alton B. Parker in 1904.

The 1900 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention that took place the week of July 4, 1900, at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.

The 1920 Democratic National Convention was held at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California from June 28 to July 6, 1920. It resulted in the nomination of Governor James M. Cox of Ohio for president and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt from New York for vice president. The 1920 Democratic National Convention marked the first time any party had held its nominating convention in a West Coast city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 Democratic National Convention</span> American presidential nominating convention

The 1912 Democratic National Convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory off North Howard Street in Baltimore from June 25 to July 2, 1912.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1884 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention

The 1884 Republican National Convention was a presidential nominating convention held at the Exposition Hall in Chicago, on June 3–6, 1884. It resulted in the nomination of former House Speaker James G. Blaine from Maine for president and Senator John A. Logan of Illinois for vice president. The ticket lost in the election of 1884 to Democrats Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks.

The 1848 Democratic National Convention was a presidential nominating convention that met from Monday May 22 to Friday May 26 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was held to nominate the Democratic Party's candidates for President and Vice president in the 1848 election. The convention selected Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan for President and former Representative William O. Butler of Kentucky for Vice President.

The 1884 Democratic National Convention was held July 8–11, 1884 and chose Governor Grover Cleveland of New York their presidential nominee with the former Governor Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana as the vice presidential nominee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1904 United States elections</span>

The 1904 United States elections elected the members of the 59th United States Congress. It occurred during the Fourth Party System. Republicans maintained control of the presidency and both houses of Congress. For the first time since the 1828 election, no third party or independent won a seat in Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alton B. Parker 1904 presidential campaign</span>

After U.S. President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became the new U.S. President. Roosevelt's first term was notable for his trust busting, his successful arbitration in and resolution of a 1902 strike of 150,000 Pennsylvania coal miners, his advocacy against lynching, his conservation efforts, and the Panama Canal Treaty. In 1904, Roosevelt easily defeated Bourbon Democrat Alton Parker and won a second term as U.S. President.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Democratic Convention Meets, Makes a Great Demonstration Over the Name of Cleveland, Hears Williams' Speech and Adjourns Until Tomorrow BIG DEMONSTRATION FOR CLEVELAND Mention of His Name Starts Wild Enthusiasm at Democratic Convention Williams Threatened to Quit Speech Before Quiet Could be Restored INTEREST AT HIGH PITCH Dense Crowd Surrounded Convention Hall Early Elaborate Arrangements Made for the Comfort of Delegates and Visitors–Description of the Convention Hall and Decorations". The Lincoln Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. Associated Press. July 6, 1904. Page 1, columns 1-3; page 5. Retrieved December 17, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kennedy, Robert C. "Citizen Parker". New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Bryan Crushed in Test of Strength". New York Times. 8 July 1904. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  4. "Bryan Back, is Not a Candidate" (PDF). The New York Times . January 10, 1904.
  5. 1 2 3 Richardson, Darcy. Others: Third Parties During the Populist Period. Vol. II. New York, NY: iUniverse. p. 344. ISBN   978-0-5954-4304-8 via Google Books.
  6. "JUDGE PARKER AND H. G. DAVIS NOMINATED Chosen By Democrats For President and Vice President. PARKER SPRUNG A SURPRISE In a Telegram New Yorker Refused to Straddle On the Currency Question, and After Vigorous Debate the Convention Sends Him a Message Saying His Attitude Is Acceptable". Mount Carmel Item. Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. July 11, 1904. Page 3, column 1. Retrieved December 17, 2022 via Newspapers.com. The Democratic national convention adjourned sine die at 1.30 o'clock Sunday morning, after nominating Judge Alton B. Parker, of New York, for president, and Henry G. Davis, of West Virginia, for vice president.
Preceded by
1900
Kansas City, Missouri
Democratic National Conventions Succeeded by
1908
Denver, Colorado