So here's the start of my timeline:
Part 1: The Early Years
February 1922- At the call of the 16 major rail unions in the United States, 124 delegates from a broad spectrum of labor, farmer, and political organizations, as well as a group of prominent progressive individuals join forces to form the Conference for Progressive Political Action (CPPA). The organization is endorsed by everyone from the Socialist Party, to the Progressives, and the Farmer-Labor parties. The purpose is to form a new umbrella organization of the American left.
November 1922- Acting as an endorsement body, the CPPA lobbies heavily during the 1922 election, spending nearly $20,000 and printing over 1,000,000 special editions of their paper Labor while also coordinating independent efforts by unions and progressive groups. The result: 21 "improved" senators elected and 93 house members replaced.
December 2, 1922- The Worker's Party of America, the legal front for the Communist Party sends 4 delegates to the 2nd convention of the CPPA with the intent of being seated. A prolonged debate follows which finally leads to the admitting of the 4 members. In response Sean McCormick, a wealthy progressive publisher and activist, announces his intent to withdraw from the organization, a move likely inspired by his run ins with the party in the past. After gallantly attempting to rally others to his side, only 8 other delegates join him in the walk out, having little impact on the organization as a whole. (POD)
December 5, 1922- Following two days of intense debate on a proposal brought forward by 5 members of the Farmer-Labor Party, the CPPA prepares to vote on a resolution on the formation of an independent political party. Inspired by both the success of their campaigning in 1922 and the successes of the Labour Party in Britain, Socialist, Farmer-Labor, Communist, and several union delegations have come to the conclusion that it is time for change. Earlier in the day all 111 official delegates in attendance agreed to "abide by the decision" made in the upcoming vote. Thus, if it passed all 111 and their respective organizations would continue their support. If not there would be no party. The resolution passes by a single vote, 56-55. The groups are to report back for a 3rd convention, scheduled for May 1, 1923 in St. Louis in order to found the party.
February 13, 1923- After careful consideration, prominent progressive Wisconsin senator Robert La Follette announces he will accept the offer to take part in the CPPA convention in St. Louis in May, declaring that "both political parties have betrayed the American people. Both have feigned at progress, at progressivism, but neither have held true. It is time for something new, a new movement for a new America."
May 1, 1923- A long day of debates completed, the delegates of the CPPA announce the dissolution of the just over a year old organization and in it's place the formation of the Progressive Farmer-Labor Party (PFLP) under a broad platform focusing specifically on reform and upon labor and workers rights. It is clear the organization still has some way to go to become a singular entity, but in a show of good will Eugene V. Debs, founder of the Socialist Party (SPA) and it's 5 time presidential candidate announces the dissolution of the SPA and the full transfer of all it's organizational capacities to the direct control of the new PFLP. Inspired by his example the Federated Farmer-Labor Party soon follows suit as do several other organizations including the Worker's Party, though the Communist Party still maintains itself in the background. La Follette leads the way among congressman, officially joining the party as it's sole senator along with 23 representatives, all freshmen with close ties to the former CPPA in their previous election campaign.
September 22, 1923- Prominent and elderly labor leader Mother Jones usurps convention by becoming the 3rd Chairperson of the Industrial Worker's of the World (IWW) and perhaps the most important female activist in the country. She pursues the leadership on a plan to officially affiliate with the new PFLP and to hold a great "labor conference," talking of the IWW joining a new federation in order to weaken and supplant the elusively craft-oriented American Federation of Labor. The conference is soon after scheduled for December as a union of the IWW and the pro-PFLP elements of the AFL.
December 1923- Scheduled in the same venue days before the PFLP's 4th conference, the great labor convention begins. The turnout is much larger then expected, with dissatisfied elements of the AFL, especially those seeking political action as opposed to the AFL's exclusively business unionization, joining the already PFLP units. After several days of discussion the majority, including the IWW, endorse a complex new plan based around the National Congress of Workers (NCW) and the partnered National Federation of Workers (NFW). The idea was based widely off the bicameral system of US legislators with the NCW electing representatives from participating unions directly and as the chief body of the new union while the NFW serving as an upper house with a complex system of quasi-proportional representation as appointed by the unions. Furthermore the President of the Worker's Congress is created as the head of both organizations as elected indirectly by the National Congress of Workers. The central body is given extensive powers to call strikes and essentially rule directly over all the unions within it's body save for a few key areas. Elections are scheduled for every May 1st of an election year with recalls explicitly allowed. The largest attempt at "one big union" is underway with Mother Jones named the acting-president at age 86. In the PFLP conference the 1st PFLP nominating convention is scheduled for May and the party's platform expanded, notably including social democracy, the first reference to socialism by the young organization.
1924- As the first election campaign by the PFLP heats up the early stages of the "labor wars" between the NCW/NFW and AFL finds itself on the back-burner. At this point it is likely the established and better-funded AFL could have driven their young opposition out of existence. However Gompers refuses to be drug into "political games" and instead counters what he deems the short term flare up of the PFLP by allowing members of the AFL to simultaneously serve as "independent members" of the NCW, a loophole allowed in their constitution in order to attract individual members of more traditionally conservative unions. The result is a massive growth of dual members and a relatively quiet conflict here in the early years. However it would spell the beginnings of tensions between the NCW, which included the "independents" and the exclusively union NFW.
May 1, 1924- The first nominating convention of the the PFLP begins with the goal of running candidates in all 435 House districts and 34 open senate seats. While the goal seemed a long shot at first, with a limited number of traditional politicians willing to make the jump, the PFLP quickly reaches out to the NCW/NFW and runs a number of labor organizers, activists, and office holders, especially for house seats. On the presidential side Robert La Follette is given the nod with Eugene Debs as his VP, attempting to bond together the progressive, liberal, and radical aspects of the young party. On the same day hundreds of May Day rallies take place across the country, the largest celebration of the worker's holiday to date.
June-July 1924- The campaign is heavily influenced by a long and disastrous battle at the Democratic Convention. With momentum swinging his way the former Secretary of the Treasury and nephew of Woodrow Wilson, William Gibbs McAdoo takes advantage of the weakness of northern, urban, Democrats, many of whom had shown support for the PFLP and takes the nomination. The convention also specifically endorses the "legalization" of the KKK, a motion made in response to the attempt by northern delegates to condemn the organization. In response nomination runner up and popular catholic New York Governor Al Smith endorses La Follete's campaign refusing to support a party which openly advocates the "anti-Catholic KKK." The urban cities seem set for a PFLP breakthrough.
July-November 1924- As the Democrats and Republicans both nominate right-wing, conservative candidates, an extensive and equally intensive campaign is launched by La Follette and the PFLP to paint themselves as part of a two party system, progressives and democratic-republicans. Following Smith's endorsement many moderate liberals through their support behind the PFLP, joined by almost all ethnic minorities and, especially, Catholics. In the months following the convention, an angered and battered Al Smith disowns the Democratic Party altogether, instead declaring himself a political independent and urging fellow liberals to back the PFLP as a protest vote meant to, in the long term, gain control of the Democrats. Many on top still saw the PFLP as a short term phenomenon.
November 4, 1924- Election day proves a huge result for the young PFLP. With very low turnout among both Democrats, assuming the loss, and Republicans, assuming the win, the Progressive Farmer-Labor Party out performs all expectations. In particular they performed extremely well in the old farmer-labor states of the north and north-west while narrowly losing in several industrial states but taking New York on the back of Al Smith's support. At the same time, a large number of conversions by their 96 congressmen involved with the CPPA campaign in '22 and several further victories left them with 83 representatives and 5 senators.
Part 1: The Early Years
February 1922- At the call of the 16 major rail unions in the United States, 124 delegates from a broad spectrum of labor, farmer, and political organizations, as well as a group of prominent progressive individuals join forces to form the Conference for Progressive Political Action (CPPA). The organization is endorsed by everyone from the Socialist Party, to the Progressives, and the Farmer-Labor parties. The purpose is to form a new umbrella organization of the American left.
November 1922- Acting as an endorsement body, the CPPA lobbies heavily during the 1922 election, spending nearly $20,000 and printing over 1,000,000 special editions of their paper Labor while also coordinating independent efforts by unions and progressive groups. The result: 21 "improved" senators elected and 93 house members replaced.
December 2, 1922- The Worker's Party of America, the legal front for the Communist Party sends 4 delegates to the 2nd convention of the CPPA with the intent of being seated. A prolonged debate follows which finally leads to the admitting of the 4 members. In response Sean McCormick, a wealthy progressive publisher and activist, announces his intent to withdraw from the organization, a move likely inspired by his run ins with the party in the past. After gallantly attempting to rally others to his side, only 8 other delegates join him in the walk out, having little impact on the organization as a whole. (POD)
December 5, 1922- Following two days of intense debate on a proposal brought forward by 5 members of the Farmer-Labor Party, the CPPA prepares to vote on a resolution on the formation of an independent political party. Inspired by both the success of their campaigning in 1922 and the successes of the Labour Party in Britain, Socialist, Farmer-Labor, Communist, and several union delegations have come to the conclusion that it is time for change. Earlier in the day all 111 official delegates in attendance agreed to "abide by the decision" made in the upcoming vote. Thus, if it passed all 111 and their respective organizations would continue their support. If not there would be no party. The resolution passes by a single vote, 56-55. The groups are to report back for a 3rd convention, scheduled for May 1, 1923 in St. Louis in order to found the party.
February 13, 1923- After careful consideration, prominent progressive Wisconsin senator Robert La Follette announces he will accept the offer to take part in the CPPA convention in St. Louis in May, declaring that "both political parties have betrayed the American people. Both have feigned at progress, at progressivism, but neither have held true. It is time for something new, a new movement for a new America."
May 1, 1923- A long day of debates completed, the delegates of the CPPA announce the dissolution of the just over a year old organization and in it's place the formation of the Progressive Farmer-Labor Party (PFLP) under a broad platform focusing specifically on reform and upon labor and workers rights. It is clear the organization still has some way to go to become a singular entity, but in a show of good will Eugene V. Debs, founder of the Socialist Party (SPA) and it's 5 time presidential candidate announces the dissolution of the SPA and the full transfer of all it's organizational capacities to the direct control of the new PFLP. Inspired by his example the Federated Farmer-Labor Party soon follows suit as do several other organizations including the Worker's Party, though the Communist Party still maintains itself in the background. La Follette leads the way among congressman, officially joining the party as it's sole senator along with 23 representatives, all freshmen with close ties to the former CPPA in their previous election campaign.
September 22, 1923- Prominent and elderly labor leader Mother Jones usurps convention by becoming the 3rd Chairperson of the Industrial Worker's of the World (IWW) and perhaps the most important female activist in the country. She pursues the leadership on a plan to officially affiliate with the new PFLP and to hold a great "labor conference," talking of the IWW joining a new federation in order to weaken and supplant the elusively craft-oriented American Federation of Labor. The conference is soon after scheduled for December as a union of the IWW and the pro-PFLP elements of the AFL.
December 1923- Scheduled in the same venue days before the PFLP's 4th conference, the great labor convention begins. The turnout is much larger then expected, with dissatisfied elements of the AFL, especially those seeking political action as opposed to the AFL's exclusively business unionization, joining the already PFLP units. After several days of discussion the majority, including the IWW, endorse a complex new plan based around the National Congress of Workers (NCW) and the partnered National Federation of Workers (NFW). The idea was based widely off the bicameral system of US legislators with the NCW electing representatives from participating unions directly and as the chief body of the new union while the NFW serving as an upper house with a complex system of quasi-proportional representation as appointed by the unions. Furthermore the President of the Worker's Congress is created as the head of both organizations as elected indirectly by the National Congress of Workers. The central body is given extensive powers to call strikes and essentially rule directly over all the unions within it's body save for a few key areas. Elections are scheduled for every May 1st of an election year with recalls explicitly allowed. The largest attempt at "one big union" is underway with Mother Jones named the acting-president at age 86. In the PFLP conference the 1st PFLP nominating convention is scheduled for May and the party's platform expanded, notably including social democracy, the first reference to socialism by the young organization.
1924- As the first election campaign by the PFLP heats up the early stages of the "labor wars" between the NCW/NFW and AFL finds itself on the back-burner. At this point it is likely the established and better-funded AFL could have driven their young opposition out of existence. However Gompers refuses to be drug into "political games" and instead counters what he deems the short term flare up of the PFLP by allowing members of the AFL to simultaneously serve as "independent members" of the NCW, a loophole allowed in their constitution in order to attract individual members of more traditionally conservative unions. The result is a massive growth of dual members and a relatively quiet conflict here in the early years. However it would spell the beginnings of tensions between the NCW, which included the "independents" and the exclusively union NFW.
May 1, 1924- The first nominating convention of the the PFLP begins with the goal of running candidates in all 435 House districts and 34 open senate seats. While the goal seemed a long shot at first, with a limited number of traditional politicians willing to make the jump, the PFLP quickly reaches out to the NCW/NFW and runs a number of labor organizers, activists, and office holders, especially for house seats. On the presidential side Robert La Follette is given the nod with Eugene Debs as his VP, attempting to bond together the progressive, liberal, and radical aspects of the young party. On the same day hundreds of May Day rallies take place across the country, the largest celebration of the worker's holiday to date.
June-July 1924- The campaign is heavily influenced by a long and disastrous battle at the Democratic Convention. With momentum swinging his way the former Secretary of the Treasury and nephew of Woodrow Wilson, William Gibbs McAdoo takes advantage of the weakness of northern, urban, Democrats, many of whom had shown support for the PFLP and takes the nomination. The convention also specifically endorses the "legalization" of the KKK, a motion made in response to the attempt by northern delegates to condemn the organization. In response nomination runner up and popular catholic New York Governor Al Smith endorses La Follete's campaign refusing to support a party which openly advocates the "anti-Catholic KKK." The urban cities seem set for a PFLP breakthrough.
July-November 1924- As the Democrats and Republicans both nominate right-wing, conservative candidates, an extensive and equally intensive campaign is launched by La Follette and the PFLP to paint themselves as part of a two party system, progressives and democratic-republicans. Following Smith's endorsement many moderate liberals through their support behind the PFLP, joined by almost all ethnic minorities and, especially, Catholics. In the months following the convention, an angered and battered Al Smith disowns the Democratic Party altogether, instead declaring himself a political independent and urging fellow liberals to back the PFLP as a protest vote meant to, in the long term, gain control of the Democrats. Many on top still saw the PFLP as a short term phenomenon.
November 4, 1924- Election day proves a huge result for the young PFLP. With very low turnout among both Democrats, assuming the loss, and Republicans, assuming the win, the Progressive Farmer-Labor Party out performs all expectations. In particular they performed extremely well in the old farmer-labor states of the north and north-west while narrowly losing in several industrial states but taking New York on the back of Al Smith's support. At the same time, a large number of conversions by their 96 congressmen involved with the CPPA campaign in '22 and several further victories left them with 83 representatives and 5 senators.
President*
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Coolidge 51%/307EV: Oklahoma
La Follette 30%/98EV: Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Oregon
McAdoo 19%/126EV
*Only states listed are those with different then RL results (excluding Wisconsin).
House of Representatives
Republicans-199 (-26)
Democrats- 119 (-64)
Progressive Farmer-Labor Party- 93 (+90)
Senate
Pre-Election: 49 Republicans, 45 Democrats, 2 PFLP
Safe Seats: 32 Republicans, 30 Democrats, 1 PFLP
Seat Swings:
Colorado (Republican Gain from Democrats)
Kentucky (Republican Gain from Democrats)
Oklahoma (Republican Gain from Democrats)
Massachusetts (Re-elected, Switch to PFLP from Democrats)
Montana (Re-elected, Switch to PFLP from Democrats)
Oregon (Re-elected, Switch to PFLP from Republicans)
Final Results: 51 Republicans (+2), 40 Democrats (-5), 5 PFLP (+3)