WI: Czolgosz's gun jams

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
August 31st, 1901. In the Temple of music at Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, President William McKinley, six months into his second term, is shaking hands with visitors. His Secret Service bodyguards are anxiously watching as people meet and shake their President's hand. Their focus is on James Parker, an African-American stood behind the young Michigander Leon Czolgosz. No one cares that Czolosz's hand is wrapped up, which is hiding a pistol he bought only a few day before. As McKinley goes to shake his hand, Czolgosz slaps it aside pulls the trigger.

The gun jams.

Panicking, Czolgosz pulls the trigger again, attracting attention. Parker, seeing this, tackles Czolgosz, dragging him to the ground. McKinley's guards jump in, thinking Parker's trying to get to McKinley, however it quickly becomes obvious what's happening and they subdue Czolgosz, rushing McKinley away. Czolgosz, beaten half to death, is dragged away by police and arrested.

What happens next? What effect would McKinley's second term have? Where will we be today?
 
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Kevin Phillips' biography of McKinley depicts him as a surprisingly progressive president who was likely to propose important new initiatives with respect to the tariff and trusts. McKinley's last speech to the Pan-American Exposition in September 1901 heralded a campaign for tariff reciprocity. Actions against trusts would likely follow in 1902 when the United States Industrial Commission appointed by McKinley in 1898 reported back. This report, as Phillips notes "wound up laying out much of what would be the Progressive corporate and antitrust agenda through 1914." Phillips, *William McKinley*, p. 136. https://books.google.com/books?id=tqX0tZurehgC&pg=PA136

Also, at least according to Mark Hanna, McKinley himself might have undertaken a prosecution against Northern Securities as TR famously did in OTL: "I warned Hill that McKinley might have to act against his damn company last year. Mr. Roosevelt's done it. I'm sorry for Hill, but just what do you gentlemen think I can do?" https://books.google.com/books?id=B0Jr8Ypal1UC&pg=PA392

Furthermore, Phillips notes McKinley's pro-labor record, which included naming Terence V. Powderly, onetime leader of the Knights of Labor, as commissioner general of immigration, and of Samuel Gompers of the AFL to the Industrial Commission. McKinley frequently consulted with Gompers.

Indeed, the second McKinley term might differ from TR's first OTL term more in style than substance, so far as domestic policy is concerned--Phillips even argues that McKinley might have accomplished more than TR did from 1901 to 1904 in OTL, and that TR would then be elected in 1904 and 1908 and complete McKinley's job. (I am less certain that the GOP would select TR in 1904. McKinley's own preference for his successor was supposed to have been Charles Fairbanks.) On foreign policy, McKinley might have been more patient with Colombia than TR was, and while this might have meant a slight delay in building the canal, it would also mean less anti-US sentiment in Latin America.
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
I must admit, the actions of Parker would be one heck of a cause celebre for civil rights activists.

He did tackle Czolgosz IOTL after he shot McKinley- I imagine that if McKinley lived there would be some kind of Civil Rights progression in the aftermath.
 
I wonder what the 1904 convention would look like here. If Roosevelt isn't in a position to win the nomination in 1904 what happens to him after the end of the McKinley administration? David T touched upon the potential labor and trust policy continuities between a surviving McKinley administration and Roosevelts 1901-1905 term, but what about conservation policy?
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
I wonder what the 1904 convention would look like here. If Roosevelt isn't in a position to win the nomination in 1904 what happens to him after the end of the McKinley administration? David T touched upon the potential labor and trust policy continuities between a surviving McKinley administration and Roosevelts 1901-1905 term, but what about conservation policy?

The 1904 convention would be something of a quagmire, however I imagine that Fairbanks would win nomination, being a non-offensive middle of Progressive and Conservative Republicans. That said, I don't see Roosevelt going down without a fight, so Fairbanks' nomination could come out of an attempt to hold the party together. After this though, there might be a split between progressive and conservative, Rooservelt and Robert Hitt running a separate campaign. On Conservation policy, I picture that it might go the same under McKinley's second term and Fairbanks presidency, albeit not as extensive as under Rooservelt.

Question though, does anyone have any information on James Parker? I'm curious about what becomes of him and what kind of person he was.
 
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shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
I felt like writing a short piece of McKinley and Roosevelt meeting in the aftermath of the shooting. By no means I plan on continuing this, but I thought I might as well do something.

******​
Sat by the Gaslight, William McKinley ran his nails over the arm of his chair. The soft of velvet passed beneath, coarse and warm as it reached the end of it's trail. Blinking, he bought his hand to his face and pressed the bridge of his nose. It had been a tiring day- it was not everyday one could claim to be the survivor of a shooting. He had seen what that did to a man. The war showed him that.

But he was alive, at least. He could think, he could feel, he could breathe. He was alive as far as he was concerned.

It was at that point Roosevelt came in.

Through the darkness that tapered the room, the figure of the Vice President emerged.
"William." The man mumbled, his face.
"Sit down Theodore. Please." McKinley gestured to a small chair nearby, Roosevelt complying with a nod. "We have to talk."
"Of course."
"I've been thinking. About a lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Work. My work, what I will leave upon this nation."
"I see." The Vice President smiled, standing to his feet. Shifting towards a small table nearby, he picked up a small glass and a bottle of Scotch.
"The man who... they say saved my life."
"The Negro?" Roosevelt said, bearing teeth. Nodding to himself, McKinley looked up.
"Yes, the, erm, the Negro. I would very much like to talk to him."
"Go ahead." Roosevelt shrugged, talking a sip of the scotch. "I won't complain."
"And the young man who tried to shoot me."
Roosevelt paused, and set the glass down. "Why?"
"I'd like to know why he would want to shoot me."
"Then wait for the trial."
"I'd like to know now. I want to know why."
"Why? You're the President. Most powerful man on this continent. That's why."
"Maybe. I think I'll retire Theodore. I'll, err, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay." Roosevelt nodded, finishing his drink. Shifting to the door, he turned back to the President and mumbled "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."

Tomorrow would be a new day. Tomorrow would be a new chance. Tomorrow would be progress.
******​
 
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I can see TR running in 1904. Martin Van Buren in 1836 was the last Vice President to win the Presidency. John Breckinridge in 1860 was the last Vice President to win the nomination. So he starts with a handicap. He is a war hero that will help.
 

CalBear

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I felt like writing a short piece of McKinley and Roosevelt meeting in the aftermath of the shooting. By no means I plan on continuing this, but I thought I might as well do something.

...
******​

I think you might have TR confused with his successor in Office. You know, the one whose life wasn't saved by the 10th Cav in Cuba.
 
Also the timing may be off on that conversation. Roosevelt was off mountain climbing near his NY country home and might not have been able to make it to the Presidents location so quickly.
 
Jam...

In 1901, the gun was most likely a revolver--so if it didn't go off, usually simply puling the trigger again gets a good BANG! There's a reason revolvers stayed in use for so long with the cops--they are so very reliable. That said, it can jam up so it won't shoot--but that is rare...
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
I admit the question should have been 'What if McKinley lived?', the Revolver failing to fire was just the PoD. Now, regardless of the mechanics of how the guns would Jam, what would the result of McKinley's survival be, based on what's already been discussed?
 
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