Internal View of the Republican National Convention, June 21st, 1904 - Source: Wiki Commons
On the sunny morning of Tuesday, June 21st, one of the tensest conventions in Republican Party history was brought to order. The ongoing, uneasy power struggle between conservative and reformist sects cast a discernible shadow over the festivities, metamorphosing a standard, regularly lighthearted nominating ceremony into an event with far-reaching implications. It appeared as though the divisiveness of the 1900 convention merely set the stage for this, the true opening night. Within the Chicago Coliseum, an enormous crowd, split about evenly betwixt the factions, filled the vast arena.
Alongside confidants Foraker and Fairbanks, McKinley and the RNC had engineered a dramatic alteration in the conservatives' plot to retain power in the party. Starting with the state government of Ohio, these figures forced the implementation of smoke-and-mirrors Draft Depew movement. Ohio delegates, largely pressured by Foraker and the national organization, passed a resolution endorsing President Depew for re-election regardless of the incumbent's aforementioned disinterest. Foraker then released an impromptu statement recognizing Depew's supposed rise and committing to the president's effort to achieve a second term. When time came for the Indiana GOP to endorse their preferred candidate, Fairbanks ensured Depew won out. Likewise, in states all across the Northeast and Midwest, the RNC semi-stealthily strong-armed state parties.
Now, a heated Theodore Roosevelt, in lock-step with his contingent of delegates, prepared for the worst after the convention's opening prayer and moment of remembrance for the late President Beveridge, in addition to Senators Hanna and Quay. The New York insurgent was undoubtedly informed of the RNC operation to curtail his presidential bid, yet, despite his enormous disadvantage, pressed on in a gentlemanly fashion. Passage of the pro-Depew resolutions by various state governments, after all, went against the wishes of the Republicans' increasingly pro-Roosevelt electorate. These supporters of the Rough Rider anxiously awaited the results of the Republican National Convention, praying that the majority of delegates come to their senses and break from the corrupt national committee.
Chairman McKinley presided over the convention at its start, then passed the gavel to the designated temporary chairman, Secretary William B. Allison. The latter delivered a short address to the convention summarizing the successes of the prior four years and the promising economic conditions for American commerce. He inferred that the legislative efforts of President Depew allowed for expansive entrepreneurial profitability, leading into to the introduction of the avidly pro-business national party platform. Roosevelt delegates, in eight separate instances, were overruled by the traditional majority when they pursued challenges to planks concerning, "the integral role of consolidation to which there should be no persecution," and "morally and legally justified [...] defensive maneuvers to protect private property from destructive radicals."
The 1904 Republican platform proved to be exceptionally conservative and reinforced by the anti-union Depew doctrine. Even relatively moderate stipulations related to limiting child labor, securing fair wages, and denouncing monopolies - milquetoast motions unanimously approved in previous platform debates - were wiped out. No longer would the GOP present the facade of even-mindedness and adherence to the Sherman Antitrust Act. Anything and everything that offended the American corporate interests disappeared. Still, the Roosevelt sect believed it possible to, at the very least, convince the opposing side to settle on a middle ground candidate.
This day's processions in the Republican National Convention demonstrated the reality of an unambiguous rift. Managers for President Depew are assured in their chances at renomination while the Roosevelt shouters stand equally convinced. President Depew must have 498 votes to obtain the nomination. Upon an analysis of the votes cast in shaping the platform, we cannot yet predict an outcome. We are told there are talks of a compromise candidate. [...] The Colonel [Roosevelt] called his delegates and urged them to keep their fire lit. The Colonel was fighting mad after today's defeats and that looked to add to his sharpness and determination. His speech, which awarded thunderous applause, failed to indicate any fondness toward the committee.
Edward K. Morris, "Depew Wins Initial Spar," The New York Times, June 22nd, 1904
By the moment Depew's nominating speech, a rather simplistic address presented by Senator James Sherman of New York, ended in a deafening rapture of cheers, the Roosevelt forces universally understood defeat was on the horizon. This convention, as became apparent on its third and final day, was frankly uninterested in mediating (eerily reflective of the response to the Anthracite Strike). Left with few options aside from a complete surrender, the Roosevelt faction enacted a last-ditch strategy.
Just prior to the state-by-state roll call, Governor Robert M. La Follette (R-WI) threw a bombastic Hail Mary pass in his formal nomination of Roosevelt.
Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen of the Convention. Four years ago, we Republicans convened in Philadelphia and, in this assemblage, selected for president the embodiment of Republican ideals. Mr. Albert Beveridge recognized that the pure and righteous spirit of the nation had the potential to provide enlightenment to the world - over the waves of the Pacific and beyond. The United States of America, in the vision of Mr. Beveridge, was standing at the precipice of a glorious golden age. We merely needed to reach out and grasp it. Preferring peace but not afraid to war, a leader in civil life and yet so quick to comprehend the arts of war, Mr. Beveridge met the moment and rose to accept his place in history. The time is now for us to do the same. [...] And so it is with these events which have led you to a single name which I am chosen only to pronounce: Gentlemen, I nominate for President of the United States the prodigy and chosen strategist of Mr. Beveridge, the vigor and promise of a great country and a great age, Theodore Roosevelt of New York.
Robert M. La Follette, Roosevelt Nomination Speech, June 23rd, 1904
La Follette's speech was reprinted in dozens of prominent newspapers and listed often as the legendary address which, as Morgan wrote, "flung the unknown Wisconsinite into national stardom," but upon its end at the Republican convention, its reception was not kind. Conservatives hissed at the governor for insinuating that Roosevelt, not Depew, was the rightful successor to Beveridge. La Follette's claims of Roosevelt as a biblical "prodigal son" of the late president ruffled the feathers of the easily incensed conservative majority. His mission to sway moderate delegates to the insurgent candidate without bringing up the blatant corruption of the national committee ultimately failed.
As the roll call neared its end, however, and it became clear that Depew would be the final victor, scores of Roosevelt delegates rose to their feet and began exiting the arena. This act of intra-party warfare stunned the committee and flabbergasted Allison. Hoarsely, the temporary chairman worked to call the convention to order and halt the roll call, but he was drowned out by a loud mix of chanting and jeers emanating from the attendees. "Bastards!" one delegate was heard screaming. "Anarchists! We'll see to your expulsion!" About four hundred delegates stormed out of the Chicago Auditorium, literally shaking the entire convention hall. Unwilling to allow for the party to operate as a vehicle of the trusts and forever distrustful of the national committee, the reformists pledged to see Roosevelt nominated on a separate ticket. Undeterred, the RNC selected Depew and Fairbanks as their nominees.