When James P. Roosevelt, Jr., took the presidential oath of office on Tuesday, January 14th, 1919, he and his brother Cornelius became the only siblings in American history to both serve as President. J.P. Roosevelt had high hopes of what he and his new administration might accomplish in the new term. Unfortunately, the tide of history had other plans. While far from the worst president in collective memory, his time in office is marred in much the same way Patrick Hannah’s presidency was by the continuing aftermath of the Worldwide Economic Depression. Roosevelt is generally seen as having been able to stem the tide, but only slightly, and some historians are quick to point out the later problems caused by the selling off of the US Railway Company and other “austerity measures” taken by the Nationalists.
Peters, Dr. Cole. History of the Presidents, 1789-1989. Franklin, DW: UUS Press, 1989.
---- SHOWDOWN WITH FIRST SECRETARY
FRANKLIN - Unnamed sources at Washington House are reporting that a showdown occured between President Roosevelt and First Secretary Murphey over the president’s cabinet appointments. According to reports circulating around the nation’s capital, Mr. Murphey showed up for his first meeting with the president since his inauguration, with a list of “acceptable” cabinet appointees in hand. After the list was presented to President Roosevelt, the nation’s chief executive ordered all the aides and assistants out of the room so he could have a private discussion with Mr. Murphey. Raised voices could be heard coming from the Presidential Study, and after no more than ten minutes, the First Secretary emerged, looking flustered, and quickly exited the building.
“Showdown with First Secretary,” Boston Eagle, January 23, 1919.
---- ITALY ELECTS NEW KING
ROME - The Italian Council of Electors has announced that the King of Venitia has been chosen as the 4th King of Italy, following the death of 63-year-old King Umberto I on the 27th of last month. The new monarch, styling himself Victor II, after Italy’s first king, is 38 years old, and has only been the ruler of Venitia for 5 years. Some feel it is a controversial choice, and there had been a strong early argument for an older, more seasoned choice, like the current King of Sardinia, but in the end Victor II convinced the other electors that he would be able to help guide Italy through the bulk of the 20th century, and that his relative youth was an asset, not a hindrance.
“Italy Elects New King,” Franklin Observer, January 29, 1919.
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In his attempt to wield the same sort of power as he had over Woodlark, Jacob Murphey maid a major miscalculation when he met with newly inaugurated President J.P. Roosevelt in January of 1919. He showed up at the executive mansion with a list of almost all Nationalists whom he wanted the President to appoint to the cabinet. After ordering everyone out of his office other than the First Secretary, Roosevelt proceeded to tell Murphey, in no uncertain terms, that he would appoint whoever he pleased into the cabinet, and that he’d only gone along with the “so-called coup” because he believed President Hannah was a poor leader. He further told the First Secretary that he served at the pleasure of the American people, and so long as they put faith in his party to lead, he, as head of that party, would be the sole decision maker on things like the cabinet. Murphey left Washington House with his tail between his legs and would not return until the July 4th celebrations that summer.
However, despite this embarrassing episode, precedent had already been set. When the political winds shifted later in the Roosevelt Presidency, the president did accept recommendations on cabinet reshuffles to reflect the new makeup of Congress, both in 1921 and, more drastically, in 1923.
Olsen, Dr. Leon. The Murphey-Gunther Coup and the Birth of the Modern First Secretaryship. Franklin: UUS Press House, 2017.
---- PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PRIVATIZATION OF RAILWAYS, NATIONAL ROADS
FRANKLIN - In a speech given yesterday at Washington House, President Roosevelt announced a new austerity plan that he hopes will help pay off the nation’s debt and also stimulate economic growth. The new plan essentially calls for the dissolution of the Federal Bureau of Improvements, which has maintained control over both the National Road Network and the United States Railway Company. The President’s new plan calls for both to be sold off to private firms, giving the government a fresh influx of cash and also encouraging greater private economic competition.
It remains to be seen whether or not this bold idea will survive Congress. Despite Nationalist Jacob Murphey remaining in office as First Secretary, with his party now clearly the largest in the House, he still relies on the support of the Federalists to remain in power, and there are many in that party that see the FBI and all of its projects over the years as one of the longest-lasting legacies of the Federalist Party, something that they are loath to dismantle. LIberals and the CPUS also remain opposed to the idea. However, when asked about the potential lack of support, the President told reporters that he feels confident that First Secretary Murphey will be able to strike a deal with his fellow representatives to make this proposal a reality.
“President Calls for Privatization of Railways, National Roads,” Franklin Observer, February 2, 1919.
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President J.P. Roosevelt’s most controversial act as president, as many historians see it today, was the dissolution of the United States Railway Company, which he successfully achieved by April of 1919, just a few months into his presidency. The USRC Dissolution and Sale Act was passed along party lines on April 9th of that year. It set a two year deadline for the entire network to be fully privatized. Every Liberal and Communalist member of the House voted against the bill, but the Federalists were eventually coerced to support the legislation after the bill was altered to preserve the Federal Bureau of Improvements and federal control over the National Road Network, which party leaders felt were more important parts of Federalist legacy than the USRC.
First to go would be the actual rail service itself. By September of 1919, all passenger service had been sold off to private companies, with almost all cargo transport handed over by early February of 1920. The entirety of the national rolling stock had been sold by March of that year, leading to a nice cash balance that the government then used to pay debts and help stabilize some areas of international trade.
The Summer of 1920 would see the start of the land auctions, where the government began to sell of the actual rail network itself. This process would last longer than planned, not ending until just before the next presidential election in 1924. Despite taking longer than the originally mandated schedule, Roosevelt and his supporters considered the entire undertaking a major success. The economy did stop bleeding jobs, though only a small number of new jobs were actually created by the privatization efforts.
In hindsight, most historians believe this was a shortsighted action that has now hurt the nation’s infrastructure. The privately owned railway networks became a patchwork of different levels of care and maintenance. The tragic St. Louis Bridge disaster of 1941 is often attributed to the privatization of the nation’s railway, with the Missouri Southern Railway Company having not maintained the bridge, first built in 1900, to standards that other companies used.
Barry, Dr. Warren, American Infrastructure, 1850-1950. Manhattan, Harper & Gail Press: 1966.
---- SECRETARY BARRONS ANNOUNCES DEVOLUTION OF ED DEPT.
FRANKLIN - Education Secretary Gertrude Barrons has announced a plan to greatly reduce the scope and authority of the Federal Department of Education. Secretary Barrons, in a statement to the press outside the Preston Building, said, “Here in this great country of ours, we have been experimenting with public education since the aftermath of the War Between the States. At a time when so many of our citizens were leaving the settled parts of our country for the frontier territories of the West, it was important for our national government to ensure that every child had access to free and public education, regardless of whether they lived in New York or Platte. But times have changed, and the micromanaging of education under the old Preston Pyramid System has become too burdensome, both on our states and on our Federal Government. The President and I are supporting legislation to put the real power of educational decisions back in the power of the individual states.”
Liberal members of Congress have already come out against these proposals, as have the Communalists. Similar to the recent USRC Act, it is likely to come down to the Federalists as to whether or not the proposals will actually pass Congress. Washington House has shown it’s approval, however, saying that “it is high time that the education of our youngsters be taken care of by the individual states, not mandated by politicians and theoreticians in Franklin.”
“Secretary Barrons Announces Devolution of Ed. Depts.,” Manhattan Gazette, May 1, 1919.
---- NATIONAL TEACHERS FEDERATION DECRIES DEVOLUTION PLAN
PHILADELPHIA - At the annual meeting of the National Teachers’ Federation, which represents more than half of the nation’s teachers, delegates voted nearly unanimously on a resolution against the newly proposed Educational Control Act which is currently being debated by Congress. Patricia Dench, the president of the federation, told the crowd assembled that “the Preston Pyramid Plan has served this nation responsibly for generations. And this system can only work with national coordination. President Roosevelt and Secretary Barrons’ plan to chop up the Department of Education from a unifying national program into fifty separate departments, each with their own agendas and plans, could destroy the unity that the president claims he wants to protect.” Her words were met with a standing ovation. Mrs. Dench told reporters later that she hopes the actions of the NTF will force enough of the Federalists in Congress to side with the Liberals and Communalists and defend the current system.
“National Teachers Federation Decries Devolution Plan,” Franklin Observer, June 10, 1919.
---- RIOTS BREAK OUT IN CUMBERLAND
CUMBERLAND, MD - Workers formerly employed at the Federal Rail Stock Depot, where the trains and rail cars of the USRC were repaired and maintanenced before it closed last month, planned a major march in opposition about the recent government action. Most of these men have been unable to find new employment, and a good portion of the community of Cumberland have relied on Federal employment with the FBI and the USRC. They had planned to march along the main thoroughfare through town before heading over to the Depot for a number of speeches. However, the police blocked the main road. When the marchers attempted to continue, the policemen attacked. Hundreds have been injured, several shops were destroyed along the main road. There have been other scuffled nationally as the USRC is dismantled, but this is by far the worst.
“Riots Break Out in Cumberland,” St. Louis Courier, October 11, 1919.
---- TZS ANNOUNCES EASTERN FLIGHTS
BENTONVILLE, TXF - The head of the Zeppelin companies, Kurt Zeppelin, announced today that starting in the Spring of 1920, regular flights from Texas to the eastern seaboard of the United States will finally begin, having been postponed by the crash of the Eastern Dream in 1916 along with the Financial Crisis. The main route will fly from Bentonville to Franklin and then on to Brooklyn and Boston, with another two ships being dedicated just to US service. One of those vessels will fly from St. Louis to Franklin to Brooklyn and Boston, and the other will fly from Savannah, Georgia, to Richmond Virginia, Brooklyn, and then Boston. Plans are being discussed with the FBI and local investors about the possibility of building more permanent airship harbors in these cities as well, instead of just landing in open fields. One is already being planned in Franklin.
The company also expressed hope that the first ever Trans-Atlantic flight, a long time dream of many at Zeppelin, will happen no later than 1925.
“TZS Announces Eastern Flights,” Boston Eagle, November 9, 1919.
---- FORMER DIXIANA TERRITORY TO BE READMITTED
ROOSEVELT CITY - It has been announced that both Brandt and Adams Territories will gain readmittance as states on July 4th. It has been over a decade since troops, under command of then-General J.P. Roosevelt, defeated the Dixian rebels outside what was then called New Charleston. President Roosevelt has announced that he will travel to the capital of Brandt, a city which now bears his name, for it’s official statehood celebrations.
There are some Nationalists that think that statehood should be postponed, but the President told the press that, “This is the last great wound from not only the rebellion a decade ago, but also the War Between the States. It is time to bind these wounds and move forward, a united people.”
“Former Dixiana Territory to be Readmitted,” Brooklyn Standard, April 20, 1920.
---- FRENCH AVIATOR PELLETIER KILLED
PARIS - The European People’s Army has confirmed that famed French aviator Jean-Luc Pelletier, who made the first manned flight in a heavier-than-air craft in 1906, was killed while testing a new aeroplane off the coast of Nantes. The flight began in Munich, and was attempting to prove the long-range endurance of Pelletier’s latest model of aircraft. By all indications, the flight itself was a success, but Pelletier misjudged his distance and overshot Nantes while in heavy clouds, before running out of fuel and crashing into the Atlantic. The Union of European Republics has declares a month of mourning for the loss of the famous engineer and pilot. William and Katherine Gates, America’s first heavier-than-air fliers, are hoping to attend the funeral of Pelletier next week. William Gates told reporters in Boston that, “We were rivals with Pelletier, but it was a good rivalry. He improved on our designs and my wife and I improved on his. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children.”
“French Aviator Pelletier Killed,” Chicago Herald, July 9, 1920.
---- WASHINGTON HOTEL TO CLOSE, PRESIDENT’S FAMILY HAS FINANCIAL TROUBLES
GEORGETOWN, MD - As yet another sign of the times, the Financial Crisis has hit the president’s family. Patrick Roosevelt, the youngest brother of President J.P. Roosevelt, announced yesterday that the family businesses had been hit hard, and that they would be consolidating their assets, and that many properties would be sold off, including the famous Washington Hotel, located in Georgetown, Maryland, and built inside the shell of the original President’s House from old Washington City. The hotel will remain open until the end of the year, now set to close on January 1st, 1921. There has been no word yet on any possible buyers.
“Washington Hotel to Close, President’s Family Has Financial Troubles,” Manhattan Gazette, August 13, 1920.
---- WOC ANNOUNCES 1926, 1930 GAMES
AMSTERDAM - The World Olympics Committee announced today that the 1926 Olympic Games are now scheduled to be in Berlin, the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. In addition, it was announced that the 1930 games will be held in Victoria, capital of the Kingdom of Borealia. It had been a foregone conclusion that the Prussians would host the 1926 Games, after heavy lobbying on the part of King Karl Frederick, an avid fan of sport in general and the Olympics in particular. The 1930 Games, however, were anybody’s guess going into the WOC annual conference. Rumor has it that Paris, Brooklyn, and even Tokyo were considered. When asked, committee member Jonas Hoffmann told reporters that Victoria was selected due to “a desire to have the games alternate between Europe and North America, but wanting to not just go back to the United States every time.”
“WOC Announces 1926, 1930 Games,” Chicago Herald, September 17, 1920.
---- MEXICAN PRETENDER RAUL IV DIES, STATE OF WAR UNCERTAIN
MEXICO CITY - The Mexican Civil War, which has been going on since the death of Emperor Raul III in 1913, took an unexpected twist yesterday when the leader of the rebellion and pretender to the throne, the so-called Raul IV, died in his capital at Guadalajara. The son and original heir to Jorge II, Raul IV was removed as heir by his father in 1905 after the then-prince grew to radical in his conservatism. Concerned that this son would try to start a war with one or more of Mexico’s neighbors, Jorge II declared his daughter, Gabriella, as his heir, and she ascended the throne in 1913 when he died. Ever since then, Mexico has been locked in struggle between Loyalists and the so-called Raulists. The rebels have announced that Raul’s 24 year-old son, who they are now calling Raul V, will continue on the fight against the Loyalists, but officials in Mexico City aren’t so sure he will last. According to the Mexican ambassador Antonio Sancho, “The young new Pretender has lived more in the lap of luxury than on the battlefield. It is likely that one of his father’s generals will really control things, but who knows how long that will last before infighting takes over and we can sweep in and defeat the divided house.”
“Mexican Pretender Raul IV Dies, State of War Uncertain,” Franklin Observer, October 1, 1920.
FRANKLIN - In a frustrating upset for President Roosevelt and First Secretary Murphey, the Nationalists dropped 19 seats in the House, while both the Liberals and Federalists increased their numbers. The Liberals are now the largest single party at 161 seats, followed by the Nationalists at 142 and then the Federalists at 132, with the CPUS trailing at 69. There is talk of a “grand-coalition” between the Liberals, Communalists, and some renegade Federalists to oust Jacob Murphey from the First Secretaryship. The Liberals and CPUS combination would need at least 23 Federalist defectors to make such a plan actually happen, and there are some members of those parties that think it could happen.
“USRC Law, Education Proposals, Hurt Nationalists,” Boston Eagle, November 5, 1920.
---- MURPHEY RETAINS FIRST SECRETARYSHIP, DESPITE FEDERALIST CHALLENGER
FRANKLIN - Early infighting last November prevented the Liberals from deciding on a single candidate to try and oust First Secretary Murphey, and this led to the Federalist Representative Vincent Stevenson of Tennessee to attempt cobbling together his own coalition. In the end, however, Stevenson fell 6 votes shy of removing Murphey, who was reelected with 259 votes.
“Murphey Retains First Secretaryship, Despite Federalist Challenger,” Franklin Observer, January 15, 1921.
---- CENSUS RESULTS: 180 MILLION NOW CALL AMERICA HOME
FRANKLIN - America has grown by over 60 million people in the last ten years, according to the official numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau. New York remains the most populous state, with 11 million, but Ohio remains in close competition at the second most populous, with 8 million people. Our readers can expect to see some reapportionment among the seats of the House of Representatives, which will go into effect after the 1922 elections. The House will now return to it’s normal number of 500, which was interrupted with the readmission of Platte, Metropotamia, Brandt, and Adams as states.
Census Results: 180 Million Now Call America Home,” Brooklyn Standard, March 3, 1921.
---- ZEPPELIN TO TEST CROSS-CONTINENT FLIGHT FROM BOSTON TO ASTORIA
BENTONVILLE, TXF - The Zeppelin company announced today that their newest ship, North American Belle, will take off next week from Bentonville and fly to Boston, where it will then attempt the first ever cross-continent flight to Astoria, Oregon. This journey, of nearly 3,000 miles, has never been attempted before by air, and the company feels that it can complete the flight in less than 4 days if weather and mechanics cooperate. According to Kurt Zeppelin, the director of the company and son of the late Ferdinand Zeppelin, “this flight will serve as a test run before we cross the Atlantic next year. If all goes well, by 1930 long range air travel will become an everyday reality.”
“Zeppelin to Test Cross-Continent Flight from Boston to Astoria,” St. Louis Courier, May 9, 1921.
---- EDU BILL FAILS TO PASS NEW CONGRESS
FRANKLIN - After over a year of heated debate, the embattled “Educational Control Act” proposed by President Roosevelt and supported by Education Secretary Gertrude Barrons has failed to pass the House of Representatives. This is a huge win for both the Liberals and the National Teachers Federation, both of which actively opposed the bill. The bill would have all but dissolved the Education Department, devolving the power of education back to the states.
“Edu Bill Fails to Pass New Congress,” Franklin Observer, June 1, 1921.
---- END OF WAR IN MEXICO - RAUL V DEAD
MEXICO CITY - Officials at the Court of Empress Gabriella I have announced that the leader of the Raulists, the rebel group that have been vying for control of the Mexican Empire since 1913, has been killed by Loyalist forces who finally took the main rebel complex near Guadalajara. The self-styled Raul V, son of the late rebel leader and brother of the Empress, was killed when soldiers stormed the palace, reportedly cowering in the corner of his bed-chambers, firing a pistol wildly. The Imperial Prime Minister, Ernesto Alvarado, stated that while he believes that it will take some time to get all of the Raulists to surrender, the rebellion itself is now dead, and his government can now start to focus on rebuilding a nation that has endured 8 years of civil war.
“End of War in Mexico - Raul V Dead,” New Orleans Star, September 9, 1921.
---- POPE CLEMENT XV DIES
ROME - Pope Clement XV, the first non-Italian Pope in countless generations, has passed away. His Holiness originally hailed from the now-defunct Kingdom of Baden (now part of the Union of European Republics), and has presided over the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church since 1901. The late Holy Father told reporters after the communalist revolutions overtook his hiomeland that, “my greatest desire is for peace. The people of Baden and Bayern and France, and other places as well, desire change in how they are treated. I believe the communalists are too radical, and I only pray that the people there do not later regret what they have now bargained for. But in the end, I think we should all seek peace with these revolutionaries, and not seek to isolate them.” Many credit this statement, which influenced policy in both Italy and Spain, as having a direct impact on the early survival of the UER.
Pope Clement XV was also famous for hosting the last Queen of Bavaria, who is now Queen Genevieve of France, after she fled Munich in 1901 during the early days of the Great European War.
“Pope Clement XV Dies,” Boston Eagle, January 3, 1922.
---- FIRST SPANISH POPE SINCE 1503 ELECTED
ROME - The College of Cardinals has elected Cardinal Joseph Castillo of Spain as the new Pontiff of the Catholic Church. The new Holy Father has taken the papal name of “James,” the first pope ever to do so. Pope James is the first Spanish pope since 1503, and quite a surprise for many who expected the Italians to once again retake the papal throne. Unconfirmed reports from inside the Vatican indicate that there may have been infighting among the Italian cardinals as to who to support, which ultimately paved the way for James’ election.
As Cardinal Joseph Castillo, the new head of the Roman Church was known for being in favor of reform for the church, and was also known as a man of the people, frequenting service projects and homes for orphans and widows.
“First Spanish Pope Since 1503 Elected,” Brooklyn Standard, February 9, 1922.
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After the success of the first transcontinental airship flight from May 14-18, 1921, the Zeppelin Company was itching to fly across the Atlantic. The ship that would ultimately have that honor was the Neu Frankfurt Rose, a larger version of the successful North American Belle that had flown from Boston to Astoria. The Rose would be piloted by Benjamin Zeppelin, the brother of company head Kurt Zeppelin. Taking off from Boston on April 11, 1922, the ship carried 20 reporters, officials from the military air services of both Texas and the United States, and a few other public officials, all eager to see how the ship performed. There was a lot riding on the success of this flight. Kurt Zeppelin hoped to have regular service between North America and Europe operating by 1930, possibly expanding to the Pacific soon after. He dreamed of world-wide Zeppelin airship service.
After nearly 4 days aloft, the ship crossed back over land, and by nightfall the passengers disembarked outside London. The Zeppelin Company celebrated the triumph, and the event made headlines across the globe. After a few days in London for publicity (including an iconic flight over central London with Crown Prince William Victor (the future King William V), Benjamin Zeppelin and his crew took the ship on a short tour of continental Europe, visiting both Berlin and Paris before setting their sights for North America on May 2. On May 7th, the ship arrived safely in Brooklyn, and the age of trans-Atlantic air travel had been born. By 1927, semi-regular flights between North America and Europe were offered by TZS, and to Japan and China by 1930. Heavier-than-air craft were still more than a decade away from their own successful trans-Atlantic journeys, giving the airship time to develop a reliable service.
Anderson, Dr. Jacob. The Zeppelin Story. Nacogdoches: TU Press, 1999.
---- ALEXANDER I OF BRAZIL DIES, DAUGHTER MARIA WILL TAKE THRONE
RIO de JANEIRO - Emperor Alexander I of Brazil has died at the age of 63, and has been on the throne in 1905. His 42-year-old daughter Maria will succeed him to the throne. The late emperor has had a very conservative bent, trying to support the Planter class that has controlled the country since independence and has sought to keep the former slave population from equal rights. There are rumors that his daughter may be a more moderate or even liberal compared to her father. She’s known to entertain members of the liberal opposition parliament. How much influence she will have over the Planters remains to be seen.
“Alexander I of Brazil Dies, Daughter Maria Will Take Throne,” Manhattan Gazette, June 11, 1922.
---- 4TH WORLD OLYMPICS OPEN IN ROME
ROME - The Italians have opened the city of Rome to the world, with the start of Fourth World Olympics. The Italians put together quite a plan to try and pull off what they call “the grandest spectacle of sport the world has ever seen.” At the centerpiece of this plan is a grand new “Olympic Coliseum” that can seat nearly 100,000 spectators, and is designed to look like the original ancient Coliseum in the center of the eternal city. The opening ceremony also took on a new and grander form, with pageantry designed to tie the modern games to antiquity. Following the standard parade of nations, Italian runner Adolpho Calamia entered the stadium carrying a torch. He ran to the opposite side of the stadium where he then lit a line that carried the flame up to the rim of the coliseum where a cauldron awaited. The Olympic flame burst overhead in the cauldron and the crowd went wild. Doves were released from the air as well.
The games are set to last 20 days, as the United Kingdoms of Italy host 32 nations and over 3,000 athletes. Both King Victor II and Pope James were in attendance at the opening of the games.
“4th World Olympics Open in Rome,” Franklin Observer, August 5, 1922.
---- LIB VICTORY IN ELECTION. MURPHEY LOSES SEAT
FRANKLIN - The Nationalists have been handed a major blow in this year’s midterms. Liberals and Federalists (and even a Communalist!) have picked up seats across the nation, all but guaranteeing that the Nationalists will not have a majority when Congress reconvenes in January of 1923. This is felt most acutely in MIssouri, where First Secretary Jacob Murphey has lost his reelection campaign. The question now on everyone’s mind is, will the next First Secretary be a Liberal or a Federalist, and will they insist on a cabinet shuffle akin to what forced President Hannah to resign the presidency back in 1917?
“Lib Victory in Election. Murphey loses Seat,” Boston Eagle, November , 1922.
---- PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WELCOMES NEW FIRST SECRETARY, CABINET
FRANKLIN - After winning 195 seats in the House, it is unsurprising to most that the Liberal Party has been able to place one of their own back in the First Secretary’s chair. Forming a coalition with the 67-seat Communalists, the new first secretary, Wallace Pratt of New Jersey, will have a comfortable majority control over most issues in the House. Pratt arrived at Washington House today and was greeted by President Roosevelt, who reportedly gave a warm reception to the newly sworn in leader of the House. Following the first meeting, the President and First Secretary made a join announcement that the cabinet will be reshuffled, replacing several positions including Interior and Education secretary with Liberal candidates.
“President Roosevelt Welcomes New First Secretary, Cabinet,” Manhattan Gazette, January 20, 1923.
---- INDIANA VOTES TO HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana, the home of American Communalism, has voted in a statewide referendum to hold a constitutional convention later this year. Chairman of the Indiana Chapter of the CPUS stated that, “today is a victory for Revolution by Ballot. The Workers of Indiana have spoken, and they are ready to bring about real change in our state, change that we hope to then export to our neighbors.” The CPUS has repeatedly called for the establishment of “Constitutional, Democratic Communalism,” putting them in direct opposition to European Communalists under the leadership of UER Chairman Mathias Holtz and his “RadKom” philosophy. The Indiana Communalists hope to rewrite the Indiana state constitution along Communalists lines, though exactly what that will be remains to be fully seen. The local CPUS politicians have regularly assured voters and the press that there will be no forced seizure of property.
“Indiana Votes to Have Constitutional Convention,” Franklin Observer, February 6, 1923.
---- PROTEST AT USRC CLOSURE CEREMONY
PHILADELPHIA - Major protests broke out across Philadelphia as the government officially closed the offices of the United States Railway Company, which has been in operation since it’s charter was approved by Congress in 1837. Vice President Alden Gunther was present for the closing ceremony. The stately USRC Headquarters Building, built in 1878, has already been emptied and sold to a group of private investors who have not yet announced formal plans for the building. Crowds gathered in front of the ceremony to protest the closure, and a larger rally was held at Independence Hall, where locals called for the impeachment of President Roosevelt for his implementation of what they call “the most disastrous plan ever conceived by an administration.”
The Philadelphia Police reported that there were only a few arrests, and that by-and-large the protests remained peaceful.
“Protest At USRC Closure Ceremony,” Chicago Herald, April 3, 1923.
---- ROOSEVELT COLLAPSES DURING SPEECH
FRANKLIN - During the annual commencement speech at the University of the United States, President Roosevelt collapsed midway through his remarks. He was rushed off-stage by members of the Presidential Guard and taken to St. Basil Hospital in central Franklin. Unnamed sources at the hospital stated that the President arrived unconscious, and that it looks like he may have suffered a heart attack. Vice President Gunther is currently at home in Florida visiting family, but is said to be departing for Franklin on the next available train.
“Roosevelt Collapses During Speech,” Brooklyn Standard, May 18, 1923.
---- PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DEAD - HEART FAILURE
FRANKLIN - President James P. Roosevelt, Jr has passed away. He suffered a massive heart attack two days ago while addressing the 1923 graduating class of the University of the United States in Franklin at their commencement ceremony. Students reported that he collapsed right after saying, “You are among our brightest stars. The future is yours, and all you must do is reach out and grasp it. So grasp on with both hands and never let an opportunity pass you by.” The president lingered for nearly two days, in and out of consciousness, surrounded by his wife Patricia, their four adult children, and several grandchildren. Vice President Alden Gunther, still enroute to Franklin from his home state of Florida, was travelling with a federal judge from Florida, who administered the oath of office in the train’s dining car while the train steamed on towards the capital.
“President Roosevelt Dead - Heart Failure,” Franklin Observer, May 20, 1923.
---- PRESIDENT GUNTHER WILL NOT RUN FOR REELECTION
FRANKLIN - President Alden Gunther has announced today at a special press conference at Washington House that he will not seek his party’s nomination for the presidency. He said he plans to retire to Florida with his ailing wife once he finishes out President Roosevelt’s term in January of 1925. This of course leaves the playing field wide open for a slew of potential Nationalist candidates to try and run in 1924, though many feel that either a Liberal or a Federalist will take Washington House in the upcoming presidential election. Many feel that Roosevelt’s handling of the continuing financial crisis was mediocre at best, and there is still simmering anger over the closure of the USRC and the attempted dismantling of the Department of Education.
“President Gunther Will Not Run For Reelection,” Boston Eagle, October 9, 1923.
---- INDIANA ADOPTS COMMUNALIST CONSTITUTION
INDIANAPOLIS - In a second referendum, the voters of Indiana have adopted the nation’s first communalist constitution after it was approved in mid-September by the Indiana state constitutional convention. The new governing document of “The Indiana Worker’s State,” calls for a unicameral legislature that will then elect the governor for a single six-year term. Legislative elections will also be held every six years. The new constitution guarantees every Hoosier the right to work in “safe, clean, and well-regulated” working environments. In addition, the document sets the goal of having major industry and agriculture collectivized by 1950, though it states that land cannot be forcibly taken from private owners. Private, non-religious schools are to be banned. A slew of regulatory boards are to be created to manage commerce and agriculture across the state.
There is some talk about a possible challenge to the constitution in Federal court, but there has been no signal from Washington House about a possible challenge from the Justice Department itself (though there is speculation that had President Roosevelt not died this past May, that he might have directed Attorney General Caleb Palmer to do just that).
Elections for the new “Chamber of People’s Deputies” is set to occur on the first Tuesday in December of this year. Until then, the existing state government will continue on as a caretaker government, charged with overseeing the handover to the new government.
“Indiana Adopts Communalist Constitution,” Chicago Herald, October 20, 1923.
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There was a lot of fear on the part of Nationalists and Federalists when the Worker’s State of Indiana was born in October of 1923. Boogeyman stories circulated that the Communalists would seize all private property once they took power, and that this was just the beginning of a UER-style revolutionary movement that might topple the Federal Government. None of this had any basis in reality. For one thing, the Communalists were already in power in Indiana prior to the new constitution, and had been promoting communalist ideology from within the existing structure since the turn of the 20th Century. In addition, the CPUS did not (and never has) advocate for the rewriting of the Federal Constitution.
In the 50 years since the adoption of America’s first Communalist governing document, two other states, Illinois and the District of Manhattan, have adopted similar documents. And in that time no attempt has been made to spread Communalism by radical means. The “Red Menace” never materialized, even after the election of Communalist and proud Hoosier Georgina Lincoln as President of the United States in 1960.
The initial transition to the new constitution happened seamlessly after the elections of December 1923. The first Chamber of People’s Deputies met in the old state capitol building in Indianapolis (today the People’s History Museum) on December 14, 1923, and elected Leonard Lincoln (uncle of the future President), as the first Governor under the new constitution.
Dillard, Dr. Glen. The People’s State: Indiana and the Worker’s Constitution of 1923. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1973.
---- WIDE FIELD IN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES FOR ALL BUT CPUS
MANHATTAN - In what is being hailed as the widest field of presidential hopefuls in living memory, every party but the Communalists have at least three candidates veying for their party’s nomination for the presidency. For the Nationalists, Senator Frederick Stark of South Carolina, Governor Roger Conrad of Kentucky, and Senator Morris Ballard of Missouri are all competing for the top spot. The Liberals have Representative Damian Wilkerson of Ohio, Mayor Stephen Sexton of Boston, Governor Adam McLean of Louisiana, and Senator Lynne Powell of Delaware competing for the nomination. The Federalists have Senator Virgil Bass of Maryland, Senator Joseph Potter of Ohio, and current Secretary of State Lance Hawkins of Iowa seeking party members’ support. The CPUS voted last month at their annual party congress for party Chairman Neil Brooks of Illinois to be their presidential candidate.
“Wide Field in Presidential Primaries For All But CPUS,” Brooklyn Standard, February 3, 1924.
---- WESTWARD HO! - FIRST SOUND MOVIE - SMASH HIT
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - Premiering at the Jubilee Theater in St. Augustine, the first motion picture using the recorded sound of actor’s voices, along with a recorded musical score, Westward Ho! tells the story of a young pioneer and his new bride as they trek west to Oregon Country in the 1850s. The story itself has received rave reviews from film critics, and audiences have reportedly been awe struck at being able to hear the sounds of the actors as they move on screen. New World Pictures, which produced the film, stated that their “New World Sound System” is relatively inexpensive to install, and that they plan to make all their movies from this point on with sound, and are encouraging theaters to install their system, which they are also licensing to sell to other studios. The twilight of the silent motion picture is now upon us, and before us dawns a brave “New World” of sound.
“Westward Ho! - First Sound Movie - Smash Hit,” Manhattan Gazette, April 3, 1924.
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NWP’s Westward Ho! (1924), and US Studios Camelot (1925) revolutionized the film industry. Almost overnight, actors had to actually memorize real dialogue and be more than just human props that moved around a set to tell a story. By 1930, every picture produced in St. Augustine was a “talkie” film, and by 1935, most major studios in Europe had made the same conversion. New World Pictures became a household name across the United States as they bought out smaller competitors who couldn’t afford to make the conversion to sound recording. The release of movies with sound would be the biggest change to cinema world-wide until the 1942 wide release of the epic film Moses in color by NPW.
Marshal, Dr. Sophia. On American Cinema. St. Augustine, ACC Press: 2000.
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After the tumultuous presidency of J.P Roosevelt Jr., Americans were ready for a real change to take place at Washington House when they headed to the polls in November of 1924. The wide field of potential candidates had narrowed throughout the Spring and Summer of that year, and by the fall, there were four candidates: Nationalist Senator Frederick Stark and his running mate Gene Dempsey, representative from Ohio; Liberal Stephen Sexton, the Mayor of Boston, and his running mate Harold Bride of Oregon; Federalist Lance Hawkins, who had served as Secretary of State under President Hannah, and his upset of a running mate, Liberal Senator Lynne Powell of Delaware; and finally CPUS Chairman Neil Brooks and his running mate, Governor Leonard Lincoln of Indiana.
Potter, Dr. Joel. History of Choice: American Elections in the 20th Century. Boston, Colonial Press: 2015.
---- PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE LIVE ON RADIO
CHICAGO - For the first time in our nation’s history, all of the major party candidates for the presidency met last night for a debate at Hillard Theater in Chicago that was broadcast live via radio and heard throughout most of the country. The jury is still out on just who actually won the debate, but most feel that Senator Stark of South Carolina and Secretary of State Hawkins of Iowa both gave commanding performances, whereas Mayor Sexton of Boston and CPUS Chairman Brooks came across as awkward and uncomfortable on radio. It is estimated that nearly 50 million people listened to the broadcast, over a quarter of the entire population.
“Presidential Debate Live on Radio,” Franklin Observer, September 3, 1924.
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The first live broadcast of a presidential debate, the 1924 Chicago Debate definitely had an impact on the 1924 election. Prior to the event, Liberal candidate Stephen Sexton had been polling ahead of both the Nationalist and Federalist ticket, despite Secretary Hawkins and Senator Powell’s “unity message.” However most historians believe that Hawkins won the debate, and this definitely impacted the final vote. After the votes were cast on Tuesday, November 4th, 1924, this became painfully clear for Mayor Sexton and the other candidates that lost. Secretary Hawkins received a landslide 266 out of 580 electoral votes, only 25 votes shy of an outright victory. The message of unity, along with Hawkins’ performance on the radio, had one over the nation. So too had the prospect of a multi-party ticket, with Liberal Lynne Powell becoming the first female Vice President of the United States. Many Liberals had been split on the nomination of Sexton to begin with (the race in the primaries had come down to Sexton and Powell early on), and many thought she had been robbed the nomination by the cowardness of some party leaders who didn’t think a woman could win.
At first, it wasn’t clear which of the other candidates would give their votes to Hawkins to make his victory official. Sexton was unwilling to speak with the Hawkins campaign after the election, his pride too hurt by what he termed Powell’s “treason” to consider formally supporting their win. In the end, Chairman Neil Brooks of the CPUS gave his 65 electoral votes to Hawkins, securing the presidency for the Federalists for the first time since Alexander Fleak’s win in 1900.
Potter, Dr. Joel. History of Choice: American Elections in the 20th Century. Boston, Colonial Press: 2015.