I hope next updates we can see how Wilson and his surviving government is doing...
The Fire Never Dies: Labor's Star Ascendant
- Thread starter Meshakhad
- Start date
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- Tags
- iww socialist america
I am still impressed about how OTL's stroke has not been pushed ahead of schedule. He is in a somewhat more stressful situation.
Unless @Meshakhad will reveal in next updates that Wilson HAD his stroke earlier, and they are using his figure as a puppet to keep the White government together...
92. The Second Wave
…The second wave of the American Flu was by far the deadliest. It almost certainly originated on the Western Front. While the armistice was in effect, troops would not be returning home until the peace treaty was signed, as there was the possibility that the war might resume. Where possible, troops were moved out of their trenches and into barracks or even just tents, but conditions remained crowded, an ideal environment for new strains to spread. Some scientists have even hypothesized that the emergence of the second wave was the result of the virus infecting soldiers who had been mustard gas, which is known to cause genetic mutations[1]…
…The first outbreaks began in late July[2], spreading first among French troops, then infecting the British and Belgians. It quickly crossed no man’s land, spreading from there among the German troops. In early August, it reached Basel, quickly claiming its most famous victim in US Secretary of State Robert Lansing. The disease also crossed the Atlantic, first striking Canada, then war-torn America…
…The war had disrupted American efforts to find a cure. The GDC had established the Commissariat for Health specifically to combat the pandemic. One of Commissar Sanger’s first appointments was Dr. William Park[3], formerly of the New York City Board of Health, as Deputy Commissar for Pathology. His job would be to lead the effort to develop a vaccine or cure. Park was able to recruit from a large talent pool, the Reds having taken the universities of New England, but he had virtually no organization to start with. The Commissariat for Health was a picture of chaos, with Sanger in Chicago but most of their operations based out of New York. Their one advantage was in public health awareness. Sanger’s very first appointment had been the anarchist Emma Goldman[4], now Deputy Commissar for Public Health. Goldman had worked with Sanger in promoting birth control, and now used her talents to promote quarantines, social distancing, awareness of symptoms, and the wearing of masks…
…By contrast, the Whites had control of the existing US Public Health Service and National Institutes of Health. Unfortunately, the demands of the war had seen many of their doctors pressed into military service. Resources were hard to come by, with so much industry in Red hands. To make matters worse, while the GDC had seen influenza as an immediate threat, President Wilson had prioritized the war effort. General Pershing had implemented some safeguards in the Army, but was unwilling to take action that would impair military operations…
…Ironically, given their monstrous record, the Ku Klux Klan played a crucial role in fighting influenza in White territory. William J. Simmons, the head of the Klan, was the son of a doctor and had briefly studied medicine. Just as he had recruited thousands of white men to fight socialism, now he recruited women to be nurses. The Klan enforced quarantines and shut down public gatherings with the same determination that they had enforced white supremacy. Of course, they prioritized protecting white communities. Black communities were strictly quarantined, but often denied food or medical supplies. The homes of blacks who died of influenza were frequently burned down, the survivors left destitute – or, in a few cases, burned alive…
…Robert Lansing would not be the only prominent American to die from influenza. The second wave would also claim Governor Moyer of Colorado. Admiral Strauss barely survived, which likely contributed to his retirement only a few years later. Among the Whites, the disease would also strike General Pershing and President Wilson[5]. Pershing bounced back fairly quickly. But Wilson did not. On September 21, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a severe stroke, leaving him paralyzed on one side and barely able to speak…
- From The Great American Flu by Dr. Rand Paul
[1] All OTL.
[2] A month earlier than IOTL.
[3] Park was a key figure in the effort to find a cure IOTL.
[4] Goldman was one of the most prominent American anarchists.
[5] Both Wilson and Pershing were infected IOTL.
…The first outbreaks began in late July[2], spreading first among French troops, then infecting the British and Belgians. It quickly crossed no man’s land, spreading from there among the German troops. In early August, it reached Basel, quickly claiming its most famous victim in US Secretary of State Robert Lansing. The disease also crossed the Atlantic, first striking Canada, then war-torn America…
…The war had disrupted American efforts to find a cure. The GDC had established the Commissariat for Health specifically to combat the pandemic. One of Commissar Sanger’s first appointments was Dr. William Park[3], formerly of the New York City Board of Health, as Deputy Commissar for Pathology. His job would be to lead the effort to develop a vaccine or cure. Park was able to recruit from a large talent pool, the Reds having taken the universities of New England, but he had virtually no organization to start with. The Commissariat for Health was a picture of chaos, with Sanger in Chicago but most of their operations based out of New York. Their one advantage was in public health awareness. Sanger’s very first appointment had been the anarchist Emma Goldman[4], now Deputy Commissar for Public Health. Goldman had worked with Sanger in promoting birth control, and now used her talents to promote quarantines, social distancing, awareness of symptoms, and the wearing of masks…
…By contrast, the Whites had control of the existing US Public Health Service and National Institutes of Health. Unfortunately, the demands of the war had seen many of their doctors pressed into military service. Resources were hard to come by, with so much industry in Red hands. To make matters worse, while the GDC had seen influenza as an immediate threat, President Wilson had prioritized the war effort. General Pershing had implemented some safeguards in the Army, but was unwilling to take action that would impair military operations…
…Ironically, given their monstrous record, the Ku Klux Klan played a crucial role in fighting influenza in White territory. William J. Simmons, the head of the Klan, was the son of a doctor and had briefly studied medicine. Just as he had recruited thousands of white men to fight socialism, now he recruited women to be nurses. The Klan enforced quarantines and shut down public gatherings with the same determination that they had enforced white supremacy. Of course, they prioritized protecting white communities. Black communities were strictly quarantined, but often denied food or medical supplies. The homes of blacks who died of influenza were frequently burned down, the survivors left destitute – or, in a few cases, burned alive…
…Robert Lansing would not be the only prominent American to die from influenza. The second wave would also claim Governor Moyer of Colorado. Admiral Strauss barely survived, which likely contributed to his retirement only a few years later. Among the Whites, the disease would also strike General Pershing and President Wilson[5]. Pershing bounced back fairly quickly. But Wilson did not. On September 21, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a severe stroke, leaving him paralyzed on one side and barely able to speak…
- From The Great American Flu by Dr. Rand Paul
[1] All OTL.
[2] A month earlier than IOTL.
[3] Park was a key figure in the effort to find a cure IOTL.
[4] Goldman was one of the most prominent American anarchists.
[5] Both Wilson and Pershing were infected IOTL.
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I was unaware Wilson could have lived for another 104 years in agony…
Fixed. My fault for deciding to save a few keystrokes by using today's date.
gassed.
I imagine that if central authorization of a Cease Fire remains off the table shifting resources to dealing with this Influenza would be highly difficult at best.
You know, a Way Past Centenarian Wilson hanging on in either prison or exile would be amusing....
In any case, I wonder if Edith is in a position to even try covering for him.
It's actually supposed to be "exposed to mustard gas".
Pershing was reasonable. Wilson was the idiot.
This is actually a Warhammer 40,000 prequel. Wilson is the Emperor.
Not without Pershing's support at minimum.
Now I imagine the KKK guys wearing Plague doctor's mask: bonus if some of them actually use the "WE ARE THE CURE" sentence.
Somewhat/Comparatively Reasonable. Wilson's "Resist To The End So The Reds Look Bad" order would make the Very Reasonable consider the "Coup then Sue For Peace" alternative
It’s worth pointing out here that the CDC was not actually founded until 1946, and even its predecessor organizations were not created until 1942. The relevant organization at this point would have been the Public Health Service, which likely would have been torn asunder by the war (many facilities were in GDC-controlled states, but others, such as the Hygienic Laboratory that would form the nucleus of the NIH, were in Washington or other Southern states)
Now that is heresy, Emperor is racist towards xenos. He care not gender, skin color, or any other difference between humans.
93. Wilson's Stroke
…Had Wilson’s stroke occurred even a few months earlier, it would have been a disaster for the Whites, but one they could have handled. As it was, Wilson was incapacitated at a point when many had lost hope that the war could be won. To make matters worse, Wilson was not dead. He was confined to his bed and in no position to execute his duties, but he was alive and likely to remain so. This created a dangerous power vacuum. As long as Wilson breathed, he was still the President[1]…
…Three schools of thought developed. The first was that Vice President Thomas Marshall should assume the position of acting president, carrying out Wilson’s duties until he was able to return to office. The second was that Congress should impeach Wilson and remove him from office. The third was that Wilson’s condition should be concealed, and the Cabinet run the government in his name[2]…
…Marshall chose the first option. Impeachment, he argued, was reserved for presidents who had committed crimes, which Wilson had not (although plenty would disagree). He also pointed out that legitimacy was a critical factor in preserving the White cause. If the deception was exposed, their support would evaporate. With the support of the Cabinet and the assent of Congress, Thomas Marshall formally assumed the duties of chief executive on September 29, 1918. Out of respect for President Wilson, he did not use the title of President, simply the Vice President. He also ensured that Wilson was kept up to date on current events so he could return to his office as soon as possible…
…However, Marshall’s next course of action undoubtably went against what Wilson would have wanted. On October 2, Marshall announced that he would seek terms from the General Defense Committee. Without any prospect of foreign intervention, the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt. Many in Congress were outraged, but most accepted this course of action, with many privately celebrating that Marshall had seen sense. On October 7, the GDC voted to open negotiations with Marshall, with a ceasefire set for October 10…
…But others disagreed. On October 8, General William J. Simmons, Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, launched a military coup. One of his followers, Captain Ira Thompson[3], assassinated General Pershing, with the official story that he had been murdered over his opposition to the proposed ceasefire. At the same time, Simmons stormed the White House with over 100 armed Klansmen. Vice President Marshall was arrested and charged with treason. Meanwhile, Simmons’ right hand man, Hiram Wesley Evans, secured the Capitol, arresting any members of Congress who had favored surrender. Outside the White House, Simmons declared himself acting chief executive (in Wilson’s name, of course) as well as commander of the Army of the Chesapeake. He vowed that he would fight to the end, confident that the white race would prevail against the mongrel hordes…
…Simmons’ coup destroyed any chance of a negotiated peace. But it also stripped the White government of its legitimacy. One by one, the remaining foreign delegations in Washington withdrew, hoping to get out of town before they were caught in the assault on the capital. The Reds, meanwhile, prepared their own response…
- From The Last President by Aviva Chomsky
[1] The 25th Amendment had not yet been passed.
[2] This would be done IOTL when Wilson suffered his stroke in 1919.
[3] IOTL, Thompson served in the US Army in World War I and later became Exalted Cyclops of the Crenshaw County, Alabama branch of the KKK.
…Three schools of thought developed. The first was that Vice President Thomas Marshall should assume the position of acting president, carrying out Wilson’s duties until he was able to return to office. The second was that Congress should impeach Wilson and remove him from office. The third was that Wilson’s condition should be concealed, and the Cabinet run the government in his name[2]…
…Marshall chose the first option. Impeachment, he argued, was reserved for presidents who had committed crimes, which Wilson had not (although plenty would disagree). He also pointed out that legitimacy was a critical factor in preserving the White cause. If the deception was exposed, their support would evaporate. With the support of the Cabinet and the assent of Congress, Thomas Marshall formally assumed the duties of chief executive on September 29, 1918. Out of respect for President Wilson, he did not use the title of President, simply the Vice President. He also ensured that Wilson was kept up to date on current events so he could return to his office as soon as possible…
…However, Marshall’s next course of action undoubtably went against what Wilson would have wanted. On October 2, Marshall announced that he would seek terms from the General Defense Committee. Without any prospect of foreign intervention, the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt. Many in Congress were outraged, but most accepted this course of action, with many privately celebrating that Marshall had seen sense. On October 7, the GDC voted to open negotiations with Marshall, with a ceasefire set for October 10…
…But others disagreed. On October 8, General William J. Simmons, Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, launched a military coup. One of his followers, Captain Ira Thompson[3], assassinated General Pershing, with the official story that he had been murdered over his opposition to the proposed ceasefire. At the same time, Simmons stormed the White House with over 100 armed Klansmen. Vice President Marshall was arrested and charged with treason. Meanwhile, Simmons’ right hand man, Hiram Wesley Evans, secured the Capitol, arresting any members of Congress who had favored surrender. Outside the White House, Simmons declared himself acting chief executive (in Wilson’s name, of course) as well as commander of the Army of the Chesapeake. He vowed that he would fight to the end, confident that the white race would prevail against the mongrel hordes…
…Simmons’ coup destroyed any chance of a negotiated peace. But it also stripped the White government of its legitimacy. One by one, the remaining foreign delegations in Washington withdrew, hoping to get out of town before they were caught in the assault on the capital. The Reds, meanwhile, prepared their own response…
- From The Last President by Aviva Chomsky
[1] The 25th Amendment had not yet been passed.
[2] This would be done IOTL when Wilson suffered his stroke in 1919.
[3] IOTL, Thompson served in the US Army in World War I and later became Exalted Cyclops of the Crenshaw County, Alabama branch of the KKK.
Well, it's good that the legitimacy of the white government has been tarnished. Still, one has to wonder how the benefits of that weighs against the continued bloodshed instigated by the coup.
Clearly they are greatly outweighed by the latter. The White government had given up, it was going to surrender, the Reds would have been completely legitimated by the Whites formally turning over governance to them.
I suppose I did word that poorly. I do think that the continued loss of life from the lack of a negotiated surrender is the worse outcome. I was basically just fishing for arguments to the contrary, since I couldn't think of a good one myself and was hoping that someone could frame things in a way that made what happened not as much of a tragic and pointless loss of life.
I doubt everyone still in the White government is ok with the KKK; thus, once they are in charge, I believe some less-extremist sides will leave, thus depriving once again the Whites of people and manpower...
ALSO, I hope in next chapter we will see some POV from someone who fought under the Whites banner until now...but now that they saw Simmons and his mooks storming the White House, they "open their eyes" and try to either leave or atone for their actions...
ALSO, I hope in next chapter we will see some POV from someone who fought under the Whites banner until now...but now that they saw Simmons and his mooks storming the White House, they "open their eyes" and try to either leave or atone for their actions...