1908 Republican National Convention

American political convention February 2026 January 2017 1908 Republican RP1908.png 125 RV1908.png 125 Nominees Taft and Sherman June 16–19, 1908 Chicago Coliseum Chicago, Illinois Henry C. Lodge Julius C. Burrows William Howard Taft Ohio James S. Sherman New York 1 980 491 Taft (OH): 702 (71.63%)Knox (PA): 68 (6.94%)Hughes (NY): 67 (6.84%)Cannon (IL): 58 (5.92%)Fairbanks (IN): 40 (4.08%)La Follette (WI): 25 (2.55%)Foraker (OH): 16 (1.63%)Roosevelt (NY): 3 (0.31%)Abstaining: 1 (0.10%) 1904 1912 The 1908 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois on June 16 to June 19, 1908. It convened to nominate successors to President Theodore Roosevelt and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks. U.S. Secretary of War William Howard Taft of Ohio won Roosevelt's endorsement and received the presidential nomination. The convention nominated New York Representative James S. Sherman to be his vice presidential running mate. The Platform thumb|Entrance ticket, featuring an illustration of historic Republican president Abraham Lincoln (who had hailed from the host state of Illinois and been nominated at the 1860 convention held in Chicago) The Republican platform celebrated the Roosevelt administration's economic policies such as the keeping of the protective tariff, establishment of a permanent currency system (the Federal Reserve), additional government supervision and control over trusts. It championed enforcement of railroad rate laws, giving the Interstate Commerce Commission authority to investigate interstate railroads, and reduction of work hours for railroad workers, as well as general reduction in the work week. In foreign policy, it supported a buildup of the armed forces, protection of American citizens abroad, extension of foreign commerce, vigorous arbitration and the Hague treaties, a revival of the U.S. Merchant Marine, support of war veterans, self-government for Cuba and the Philippines with citizenship for residents of Puerto Rico. In other areas, it advocated court reform, creation of a federal Bureau of Mines and Mining, extension of rural mail delivery, environmental conservation, upholding of the rights of African-Americans and the civil service, and greater efficiency in national public health agencies. The platform lastly expressed pride in U.S. involvement in the building of the Panama Canal, the admission of the New Mexico and Arizona Territories; called for the celebration of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln; and generally deplored the Democratic Party while celebrating the policies of the Republicans. The platform explained the differences between democracy and republicanism in which the Republicans made clear that democracy was leaning towards socialism and republicanism towards individualism. Speakers thumb|right|320px|The 1908 Republican National Convention in session at Chicago Coliseum. The following individuals spoke at the 1908 Republican National Convention. Many spoke with the goal of nominating a specific nominee as this was before the age of the primary and the nominees were all decided at the convention. As temporary chairman of the convention, Senator Julius C. Burrows of Michigan delivered the convention's opening keynote address.Those troublesome Indiana "Beveridges" https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301748/ Theodore Roosevelt Center August 26, 2026 June 16 Prayer by Rt. Rev. P.J. Muldoon V.G. Julius C. Burrows, senator from Michigan June 17 Prayer by Rev. William Otis Waters Henry Cabot Lodge, senator from Massachusetts June 18 Prayer by Rev. Dr. John Wesley Hill George Henry Williams, former U.S. Attorney General Henry Sherman Boutell of Illinois, lawyer and diplomat Joseph W. Fordney, congressman from Michigan Frank Hanly, governor of Indiana Charles A. Bookwalter, mayor of Indianapolis Stewart L. Woodford, former Congressman and judge of New York Theodore E. Burton, congressman from Ohio George A. Knight, attorney and businessman C. B. M'Coy, Ohio factory owner W. O. Emory, young black delegate from Macon, Georgia Robert S. Murphy, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania James Scarlet, prominent attorney from Danville, Pennsylvania Henry F. Cochems, politician and former Wisconsin Badgers football star Charles A. A. McGee, author of "The Truth About Money" from Wisconsin June 19 Prayer by Rabbi Tobias Schanfarber Timothy L. Woodruff, businessman and former politician Joseph Gurney Cannon, speaker of the House Augustus E. Willson, governor of Kentucky Henry Cabot Lodge –Cabot's second time speaking during the convention Chase Osborn of Michigan James Brownlow Yellowley, Mississippi state legislator Thomas N. McCarter, former attorney general of New Jersey William Warner, senator from Missouri Julius C. Burrows senator from Michigan Presidential nomination Presidential candidates The Republicans faced difficulties selecting a successor to Roosevelt. Elihu Root was favored by Roosevelt, but his age and alignment with corporations made him unpalatable.Mowry 1960 29 Prior to the convention, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes both seemed like plausible nominees, but Roosevelt was determined to pick his own successor.Charles Warren Fairbanks, 26th Vice President (1905–1909) https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Charles_Fairbanks.htm US Senate 9 October 2015 U.S. Senator Joseph B. Foraker sought the nomination and was financed by Winthrop M. Crane and Henry Cabot Lodge.Mowry 1960 30 Roosevelt supported Secretary of War William Howard Taft. Entering the convention, Taft, buoyed by the support of the popular Roosevelt, was virtually assured of the nomination.Convention on, Taft Controls https://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/080617convention-gop-ra.html 8 October 2015 New York Times 17 June 1908 U.S. Senator Jacob H. Gallinger was among the supporters of a movement to stop Taft's nomination.Mowry 1960 30 Taft won the presidential nomination on the first ballot, overcoming Fairbanks and the other favorite son candidates.Taft Named; First Ballot https://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/080619convention-gop-ra.html 8 October 2015 New York Times 19 June 1908 Withdrew Before Convention Declined to Seek Nomination Presidential Balloting Candidate 1st UnanimousTaft702980Knox68Hughes67Cannon58Fairbanks40La Follette25Foraker16Roosevelt3Not Voting1 Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 18, 1908) Vice Presidential nomination Vice Presidential candidates Taft preferred a progressive running mate such as Indiana Senator Albert Beveridge or Iowa Senator Jonathan Dolliver, but Representative James S. Sherman of New York had the support of Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon and the New York delegation, as well as western support from Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas.Curtis Charles In His Own Words Kansas State Historical Archives Sherman was a fairly conservative Republican who was nonetheless acceptable to the more progressive wing of the party.James S. Sherman, 27th Vice President (1909–1912) https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_James_Sherman.htm US Senate 8 October 2015 Sherman won the vice presidential nomination on the first ballot, taking 816 of the 979 votes cast.Tweedy John A History of the Republican National Conventions from 1856 to 1908 1910 Republican National Convention 389–390 https://books.google.com/books?id=VKcJAAAAIAAJ&q=1908+republican+national+convention+vice+presidential+ballot 8 October 2015 Former New Jersey Governor Franklin Murphy received 77 votes while Massachusetts Governor Curtis Guild, Jr. received 75 votes, with the remaining votes going to Governor George L. Sheldon of Nebraska and Vice President Charles Fairbanks. Declined to Seek Nomination Vice Presidential Balloting Candidate 1st UnanimousSherman816980Murphy77Guild75Sheldon10Fairbanks1Not Voting1 Vice Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 19, 1908) See also History of the United States Republican Party List of Republican National Conventions United States presidential nominating convention 1908 United States presidential election 1908 Democratic National Convention References 30em Works cited Mowry George George E. Mowry Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement University of Wisconsin Press 1960 https://archive.org/details/theodoreroosevel00mowr External links Republican Party platform of 1908 at The American Presidency Project Taft acceptance speech at The American Presidency Project 1904Chicago, Illinois Republican National Conventions 1912Chicago, Illinois Rep Category:United States presidential nominating conventions in Chicago Category:Republican National Conventions Republican National Convention Republican National Convention Category:1900s in Chicago Category:Events at Chicago Coliseum Category:William Howard Taft Category:James S. Sherman Category:Charles W. Fairbanks