Zioneer
Banned
So you all know me; I'm the Mormon/Utah guy who isn't Augustus Montes (he doesn't show up much anymore anyway).
Recently, quite a few people have asked me about ideas for a Utah that has much more progressive (mainly the old Teddy Roosevelt style of progressive) politics. I've tried to help, but I fear I have disappointed, since I'm not able to adequately think up a Progressive Utah, even though I think it's a fun idea.
So I'd like to seriously discuss the possibilities of PoDs that could lead to a Progressive Utah. I have quite a few ideas, but I first have to point out some of the reasons why this didn't happen in OTL.
First, most of the places where Progressive ideals prospered were in spots of political corruption, unsafe/unsanitary conditions, and outright abuse of workers. Utah had only an infant political scene, didn't have enough population to have unsanitary conditions (and under the Progressive Republican Governor we did have, we fixed several of the problems that were emerging), and didn't have powerful enough Big Business to be busted. Even the millionaires weren't united.
Second, the LDS Church was trying to "normalize" Utah (and a few Mormons practices) around this time to make sure they could keep their statehood, and could be seen as loyal Americans. An example of this was the LDS Church's fear at being seen as a one-party Church (don't laugh), when the Mormons in Utah voted overwhelmingly for Charles Jenning Bryan in their first election in 1896, a year after they became a state. The church leaders were terrified at this, and only relaxed when our politics when back to normal, supporting McKinley for president in 1900.
Third, the Mormon/Anti-Mormon divide was still big in the early 1900s, when this change to Progressivism would likely happen if it happened at all. In fact, Thomas Kearns, a notable anti-Mormon and friend to the progressive Teddy Roosevelt, formed an anti-Mormon Party called the American Party of Utah. A few other progressives (but mostly non-Mormon conservatives) felt the same way. Any timeline including a progressive Utah has to address that.
In any case, those are the difficulties with a progressive Utah, but I do have a few PoDs that could work around those problems.
(1) The Smoot Hearings succeed at stopping Reed Smoot from becoming the Senator from Utah. The Smoot hearings were less a hearing on Smoot himself and more a judgement on the LDS Church, so if (likely mostly conservative elements) prevent Smoot from taking office, the LDS Church (and thus Utah) will likely flee politics-wises to the friendly arms of Teddy Rooseveult (who personally vouched for Smoot). An enthusiasm for Teddy's progressive policies could result from this.
(2) If the Progressive Party survives/wins. The very good timeline by Cathcon is actually one of the many things that inspired this post, seeing as how for over a decade, Utah is staunchly Progressive, like most of the Mountain West states. I agree with Cathcon in this instance; if the Progressive Party wins, and the Mountain West states go to Roosevelt, Utah will go Progressive as well, and it's politics will likely go that way as well.
(3) Simon Bamberger has a popular progressive successor. Simon Bamberger was a wildly popular Governor of Utah, and he was an ardent progressive. So ardent in fact, that Wikipedia claims he signed polices that were fifteen years ahead of their time. A possibility is George H Dern, a progressive Democrat. And after Dern, it would be the Great Depression, which would likely ensure the election of a progressive/New Dealer once again. I think that having a good series of progressive governors could ensure that Utah stays somewhat progressive.
So, I'd like to discuss with you all why Utah didn't go progressive, and how I could arrange a PoD for it to do so. Begin!
Recently, quite a few people have asked me about ideas for a Utah that has much more progressive (mainly the old Teddy Roosevelt style of progressive) politics. I've tried to help, but I fear I have disappointed, since I'm not able to adequately think up a Progressive Utah, even though I think it's a fun idea.
So I'd like to seriously discuss the possibilities of PoDs that could lead to a Progressive Utah. I have quite a few ideas, but I first have to point out some of the reasons why this didn't happen in OTL.
First, most of the places where Progressive ideals prospered were in spots of political corruption, unsafe/unsanitary conditions, and outright abuse of workers. Utah had only an infant political scene, didn't have enough population to have unsanitary conditions (and under the Progressive Republican Governor we did have, we fixed several of the problems that were emerging), and didn't have powerful enough Big Business to be busted. Even the millionaires weren't united.
Second, the LDS Church was trying to "normalize" Utah (and a few Mormons practices) around this time to make sure they could keep their statehood, and could be seen as loyal Americans. An example of this was the LDS Church's fear at being seen as a one-party Church (don't laugh), when the Mormons in Utah voted overwhelmingly for Charles Jenning Bryan in their first election in 1896, a year after they became a state. The church leaders were terrified at this, and only relaxed when our politics when back to normal, supporting McKinley for president in 1900.
Third, the Mormon/Anti-Mormon divide was still big in the early 1900s, when this change to Progressivism would likely happen if it happened at all. In fact, Thomas Kearns, a notable anti-Mormon and friend to the progressive Teddy Roosevelt, formed an anti-Mormon Party called the American Party of Utah. A few other progressives (but mostly non-Mormon conservatives) felt the same way. Any timeline including a progressive Utah has to address that.
In any case, those are the difficulties with a progressive Utah, but I do have a few PoDs that could work around those problems.
(1) The Smoot Hearings succeed at stopping Reed Smoot from becoming the Senator from Utah. The Smoot hearings were less a hearing on Smoot himself and more a judgement on the LDS Church, so if (likely mostly conservative elements) prevent Smoot from taking office, the LDS Church (and thus Utah) will likely flee politics-wises to the friendly arms of Teddy Rooseveult (who personally vouched for Smoot). An enthusiasm for Teddy's progressive policies could result from this.
(2) If the Progressive Party survives/wins. The very good timeline by Cathcon is actually one of the many things that inspired this post, seeing as how for over a decade, Utah is staunchly Progressive, like most of the Mountain West states. I agree with Cathcon in this instance; if the Progressive Party wins, and the Mountain West states go to Roosevelt, Utah will go Progressive as well, and it's politics will likely go that way as well.
(3) Simon Bamberger has a popular progressive successor. Simon Bamberger was a wildly popular Governor of Utah, and he was an ardent progressive. So ardent in fact, that Wikipedia claims he signed polices that were fifteen years ahead of their time. A possibility is George H Dern, a progressive Democrat. And after Dern, it would be the Great Depression, which would likely ensure the election of a progressive/New Dealer once again. I think that having a good series of progressive governors could ensure that Utah stays somewhat progressive.
So, I'd like to discuss with you all why Utah didn't go progressive, and how I could arrange a PoD for it to do so. Begin!