1916 Republican Party presidential primaries

Selection of Republican US presidential candidate June 2025 April 2025 1916 Republican Party presidential primaries United States 1912 primary no 1912 Republican Party presidential primaries 1912 1920 Republican Party presidential primaries 1920 February 9 to June 6, 1916 987 delegates to the 1916 Republican National Convention 494 (majority) File:HUGHES, CHARLES E. HONORABLE LCCN2016857545 (restored) (3x4 crop).png 150x150px d77da7 Charles Evans Hughes New York 253.5As recorded on the opening ballot. 2 80,737 4.2% File:John Wingate Weeks, Bain bw photo portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg d45500 John W. Weeks Massachusetts 105As recorded on the opening ballot. – – – File:Elihu Root (1902) (cropped).jpg a02c2c Elihu Root New York 103As recorded on the opening ballot. – – – File:Albert B. Cummins standing, 1911 (3x4 cropped).jpg 5d73e5 Albert B. Cummins Iowa 85 5 191,950 10.0% File:Theodore E. Burton 1908.jpg 423121 Theodore E. Burton Ohio 77.5 2 122,165 6.4% File:Charles W Fairbanks by Harris & Ewing.jpg ffd42a Charles W. Fairbanks Indiana 74.5 1 176,078 9.2% File:Theodore Roosevelt in 1918 (grayscale) cropped 2.png a59400 Theodore Roosevelt New York 65 1 80,019 4.2% File:Robert M La Follette, Sr (3x4crop).jpg 567953 Robert M. La Follette Wisconsin 25 2 133,426 6.9% 350px First place by first-instance votepopvote California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York elected uncommitted slates of electors. Favorite sons won the popular vote in Michigan (Henry Ford), Illinois Lawrence Yates Sherman, and Pennsylvania (Martin Brumbaugh). 350px First place by convention roll callconv Favorite sons won the support of Michigan (Henry Ford), Illinois Lawrence Yates Sherman, and Pennsylvania (Martin Brumbaugh). Former President William Howard Taft carried the state of Texas. 1 #d77da7 Hughes #d45500 Weeks #a02c2c Root #5d73e5 Cummins #423121 Burton#ffd42a Fairbanks #a59400 Roosevelt #567953 La Follette #916f6f Variouspopvoteconv Republican nominee William Howard Taft Charles Evans Hughes From February 9 to June 6, through a series of primaries and caucuses, voters of the Republican Party elected delegates to the 1916 Republican National Convention, held June 7 to June 10, 1916, in Chicago, Illinois to choose the party's nominee for President of the United States. The delegate election process was inconclusive, with a large majority of delegates not pledged to any candidate and a small plurality supporting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Charles Evans Hughes. Hughes eventually secured the nomination at the convention on the third ballot.https://books.google.com/books?id=9CZECwAAQBAJ&pg=PA397 Guide to U.S. Elections - Google Books 2016-02-19 9781483380353 2016-02-19 Kalb Deborah CQ Press Several more conservative or progressive candidates received a large share of elected delegates. Conservatives split between Senator John W. Weeks, Senator Elihu Root, and former Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks. Progressives rallied behind Senator Albert Cummins, who dominated the primaries, Senator Robert M. La Follette, and former President Theodore Roosevelt, who returned to the party after fatally splitting it in the 1912 election. Neither faction consolidated behind any one candidate, and the moderate Hughes, acceptable to all parties, prevailed. Background 1912 presidential election 1912 Republican Party presidential primaries 1912 United States presidential election The 1912 presidential election was an epochal disaster for the Republican Party, which had won eleven of the previous thirteen elections, a period of dominance only interrupted by the two non-consecutive terms of Grover Cleveland and unequaled before or since in the history of the United States. Former President Theodore Roosevelt challenged William Howard Taft for the Republican nomination, dissatisfied with his successor's policies and encouraged by a groundswell of popular support. Despite this support, Roosevelt was unable to crack Taft's hold over the convention and caucus systems by which most delegates were selected and, declaring the nomination illegitimate, broke off to form the Progressive Party. With the Republicans split between Roosevelt and Taft, Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson easily won a landslide election, albeit with a plurality of the vote. 1914 midterms 1914 United States elections The 1914 midterm elections were a disappointment for the Republicans; the Democratic Party retained control of both chambers for the first time since the American Civil War. Republicans were partly damaged by the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which required the direct popular election of United States Senators for the first time (despite opposition from many Republicans), and the continued presence of the Progressive Party. The Democratic majority in the Senate was expanded to 56 seats, in many cases by a plurality, mirroring President Wilson's. In California, Colorado, Indiana, and Oregon, the Progressive vote more than accounted for the margin of Democratic victory. The Progressive Party itself fared far worse. Only California, where Republican governor Hiram Johnson was re-elected on the Progressive ticket, presented any success whatsoever. The party's national vote was cut in half without Roosevelt to lead its ticket.Morris 2010 392 World War I American involvement in World War I United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution In July 1914, war broke out in Europe. At the start, Americans remained aloof from the conflict, even as naval warfare interrupted transatlantic shipping. News of German atrocities in Belgium did elicit support for the Allied side but did not alter the general national stance of neutrality. Within the Republican Party, views of the war were mixed: Anglophiles, especially Eastern elites like Roosevelt and Senator Elihu Root, vigorously backed the Preparedness Movement and called for unambiguous support for Britain.Ross A. Kennedy, The Will to Believe: Woodrow Wilson, World War I, and America's Strategy for Peace and Security (Kent State University Press, 2009) Isolationists, especially Midwesterners and Westerners like Senators Robert M. La Follette and Albert Cummins, saw the war as irrelevant or hazardous to American interests. Internationalists such as A. Lawrence Lowell and Taft joined President Wilson in favoring the establishment of American-led institutions for arbitration to end the war.Cuff Robert D. The Steel Industry and Price-Fixing during World War I The Business History Review Autumn 1970 44 3 291–306 10.2307/3112615 Melvin I. Urofsky 3 3112615 156027992 free After the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in May 1915, American public opinion turned decisively in favor of the Allied forces. Wilson's tepid response, which did not mention the Lusitania by name or threaten any retaliatory action, enraged Republican interventionists. Nevertheless, the mood of the country was "overwhelming antiwar," and Wilson won praise for his efforts to avoid war through strength.Morris 2010 421–423 Theodore Roosevelt privately believed that Wilson's re-election was guaranteed by his policy of "waging peace." Theodore Roosevelt and Progressive reconciliation thumb|Former President Theodore Roosevelt delivers a speech in 1916.Much of the pre-primary speculation centered on whether or not Roosevelt would rejoin his former party or keep it divided. Entering the 1916 election, Republicans were aware that the greatest threat to victory was the continued opposition of the Progressive Party, and in particular Theodore Roosevelt, who remained immensely popular. Although he still harbored antipathy for the Republican Party's political bosses, who he believed had stolen his rightful nomination in 1912, both Roosevelt's personal enmity and the Progressive Party organization had weakened by 1914.Morris 2010 361 Upon Roosevelt's May 1914 return from his lengthy South American expedition, he affirmatively declined to speculate as to politics.Morris 2010 355 He declined to run for Governor of New York that summer and instead endorsed moderate Harvey D. Hinman for the Republican nomination, in hopes that his Progressive Party would be able to cross-endorse the Republican nominee.Morris 2010 357Morris 2010 365 Hinman lost the primary to Charles S. Whitman, but Progressives still endorsed Whitman for Governor. After the Progressive defeats in 1914, Roosevelt became despondent and entered what he referred to as the "very nadir" of his life.Morris 2010 426 He focused his writing in magazines, journals, and a twelve-chapter book, America and the World War, on criticizing the Wilson administration for neutrality. Much of his time was devoted to defending a libel suit brought by William Barnes Jr.Morris 2010 394–401 In January 1916, Republicans and Progressives negotiated the possibility of fusion in the upcoming election. Roosevelt was floated as a Republican candidate in February, as he took more conservative stances on corporatism and wealth.Morris 2010 446 Procedure After 1912, several more states adopted direct primary systems, which were expected to favor progressives, or informal advisory primaries. Nearly all of the Northern United States permitted a public vote on the presidential nomination, with Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Montana, West Virginia adopting the practice between 1912 and 1916. Nevertheless, the entire South, most of the Rocky Mountain states, and Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Washington maintained the use of closed delegate conventions or caucuses, which tended to favor conservatives. Candidates Nominee CandidateMost recent positionHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests wonCharles Evans Hughes105x105pxAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States(1910–1916)94x94pxNew YorkNominated at convention:June 10, 1916—AL, AK, AR, CA, CT, ID, FL, KS, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NJ, NM, TN, UT, VT, VA, WYNovember 2022 Withdrew during convention CandidateMost recent positionHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests wonJohn W. Weeks105x105pxU.S. Senator from Massachusetts(1913–1919)94x94pxMassachusettsDefeated at convention:June 10, 1916—AK, AR, GA, HI, MA, NH, NM, OK, SCNovember 2022Elihu Root105x105pxU.S. Senatorfrom New York(1909–1915)94x94pxNew YorkDefeated at convention:June 10, 1916—AR, CT, NJ, NY, WANovember 2022Theodore Roosevelt105x105pxPresident of the United States(1901–1909)94x94pxNew York (Positions)Defeated at convention:June 10, 191680,019(4.2%)CO, ID, NJ*, NCNovember 2022Robert M. La Follette105x105pxU.S. Senator from Wisconsin(1906–1925) 84x84px|WisconsinWisconsinDefeated at convention:June 10, 1916133,426(6.9%)ND, WINovember 2022Albert B. Cummins105x105pxU.S. Senator from Iowa(1908–1926)84x84px|IowaIowaDefeated at convention:June 10, 1916191,950(10.0%)IA, MN, NM, ND, MT, SDNovember 2022Theodore Burton105x105pxU.S. Senator from Ohio(1909–1915)84x84px|OhioOhioDefeated at convention:June 10, 1916122,165(6.4%)HI, OH, WVNovember 2022Charles Fairbanks105x105pxVice President of the United States(1905–1909)84x84px|IndianaIndianaDefeated at convention:June 10, 1916(nominated for vice president)176,078(9.2%)IN, KYNovember 2022 Favorite sons The following candidates entered only their home state's delegate selection contest for the purpose of controlling those delegates at the national convention: Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh of Pennsylvania Senator Lawrence Y. Sherman from Illinois Industrialist and peace activist Henry Ford of Michigan Declined Senator William E. Borah of Idaho Governor Hiram Johnson of California (Progressive) Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts Former President William Howard Taft of Ohio Governor Charles S. Whitman of New York Schedule and results DateTotal pledgeddelegatesContestand total popular voteDelegates won and popular voteThese results are not complete and may not reflect accurate final totals. Only candidates whose names were entered in multiple state delegate elections are listed here. Write-in candidates are in italics. Unpledged Albert Cummins 1 Theodore Roosevelt 1 C. E. Hughes 1 Theodore Burton 1 Charles Fairbanks 1 Robert La Follette 1 Others 1 February 9 8 Florida Feb 10, 1916 REPUBLICANS OF FLORIDA GO UNINSTRUCTED https://www.newspapers.com/image/352467665 English The Pensacola Journal Pensacola, Florida September 11, 2023 convention8 March 1 21 North Carolina March 2, 1916 MARION BUTLER TAKES CHARGE https://www.newspapers.com/image/144092806 English The French Broad Hustler Hendersonville, North Carolina September 11, 2023 convention21 March 2 26 Kentucky March 2, 1916 FAIRBANKS GETS KENTUCKY DELEGATION TO CHICAGO https://www.newspapers.com/image/682729800 English The Lexington Leader Lexington, Kentucky September 11, 2023 convention 26 March 7 30 Indiana March 11, 1916 NEW'S PLURALITY CLIMBS TO 7,868 https://www.newspapers.com/image/119611969 English The Minneapolis Morning Tribune Indianapolis, Indiana September 6, 2023 primary176,224 30176,224 (100.0%) 11 South Carolina March 8, 1916 WILL NOT HAMPER THEIR DELEGATES https://www.newspapers.com/image/747360378 English The State Columbia, South Carolina September 11, 2023 convention11 March 14 24 Minnesota March 15, 1916 Cummins Wins Out in primary; Small Vote Is Cast https://www.newspapers.com/image/181990319/ English The Minneapolis Morning Tribune Minneapolis March 7, 2022 primary70,617 16,403 (23.2%)Includes 12,693 votes for Henry Estabrook and 3,710 votes for William Grant Webster.2454,214 (76.8%) 8 New Hampshire March 21, 1916 Total Vote of the Primaries https://www.newspapers.com/image/56546385/ English The Portsmouth Herald Portsmouth March 7, 2022 primary10,83887,850 (72.4%) 2,988 (27.6%) March 21 10 North Dakota March 22, 1916 La Follette Gets North Dakota in Presidency Race https://www.newspapers.com/image/397633527/ English The Wisconsin State Journal Madison March 7, 2022 primary33,2259,851 (29.7%)All votes attributed to Henry Estabrook. 1023,374 (70.3%) March 22 20 Kansas March 22, 1916 STANDPATTERS WIN THEIR FIGHT FOR DELEGATES https://www.newspapers.com/image/323833953 English The Topeka State Journal Topeka, Kansas September 11, 2023 convention20 March 23 12 Maine March 24, 1916 MAINE DELEAGTES GO UNINSTRUCTED BUT FAVOR HUGHES https://www.newspapers.com/image/662033447 English The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine September 9, 2023 convention12The Maine delegates were formally uninstructed but considered favorable to Hughes. 20 Oklahoma March 23, 1916 MCGRAW WINS A COMPLETE VICTORY AFTER HARD FIGHT https://www.newspapers.com/image/899345496 English The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma September 11, 2023 convention20 March 29 12 Louisiana March 29, 1916 LILY WHITES AND BLACKS HAVE RUN IN https://www.newspapers.com/image/208882236 English The Shreveport Times Shreveport, Louisiana September 11, 2023 convention12 March 30 15 Virginia March 30, 1916 ELECT DELEAGTES TO CONVENTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/347362014 English The Alexandria Gazette Alexandria, Virginia September 11, 2023 convention15 April 3 30 Michigan April 7, 1916 Ford Majority Exceeds Five Thousand Over Smith https://www.newspapers.com/image/363123945/ English St. Joseph Evening Herald St. Joseph March 7, 2022 primary176,671 1,074 (0.6%)303 (0.2%) 30All thirty delegates were pledged to support the winner of the popular primary, Henry Ford.175,384 (99.2%)Includes 83,057 votes for Henry Ford, 77,872 votes for William Alden Smith and 14,365 votes for William Simpson. April 4 87 New Yorkprimary87A single list of candidates was named by the New York Republican Party. The vote count has not been reported in detail. 26 Wisconsin April 10, 1916 FINISHES COUNT OF primary ELECTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/402630761 English The Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin September 7, 2023 primaries111,399 11Emanuel Philipp led a slate of at-large delegates opposed to La Follette, but he was the only candidate from his slate elected at-large. La Follette candidates carried three at-large delegate spots and the majority of the district delegates. 15110,052 (98.8%) April 7 36 Missouri April 7, 1916 REPUBLICANS HOPE TO WIN STATE BY ATTACKING MAJOR https://www.newspapers.com/image/138317548 English The St. Louis Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri September 9, 2023 convention36 April 10 26 Iowa April 26, 1916 FINISHES COUNT OF primary ELECTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/129262499 English The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa September 7, 2023 primary44,288 2640,157 (90.7%) 2,348 (5.3%) 1,270 (2.87%) 513 (1.2%)Includes 512 write-in votes for Elihu Root and one write-in vote for Henry Ford.April 11 58 Illinois April 7, 1916 COMPLETE UNOFFICIAL STATE WIDE VOTE DELEGATES AT LARGE https://www.newspapers.com/image/355120451 English Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois September 7, 2023 primaries176,671Returns are incomplete; the official canvass published in May did not include Harlan's vote. 215,348 (8.9%) 1,078 (0.6%) 49 (0.0%)56156,478 (90.5%)Includes 155, votes cast for Lawrence Y. Sherman, 447 write-in votes cast for Elihu Root, 50 write-in votes for William Howard Taft, 20 write-in votes for John Maynard Harlan, and 16 write-in votes for James Mann. April 12 6 Delaware April 12, 1916 BREACH IN RANKS OF REPUBLICANS WIDER THAN EVER https://www.newspapers.com/image/160898346 English The News Journal Wilmington, Delaware September 11, 2023 convention 6All six Delaware delegates were pledged to support Pierre S. du Pont. 17 Georgia May 20, 1916 G.O.P. CONVENTION NAMES DELEGATES https://www.newspapers.com/image/825584639/ English The Macon Telegraph Macon, Georgia September 11, 2023 convention17 April 13 14 Connecticut April 13, 1916 REPUBLICANS PICK CHICAGO DELEGATES https://www.newspapers.com/image/662033447 English The Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut September 9, 2023 convention14 April 17 10 Rhode Island April 17, 1916 "SUPPORT OF UNITED REPUBLICAN TICKET" https://www.newspapers.com/image/431039375 English The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts September 9, 2023 convention10 April 18 16 Nebraska May 6, 1916 RESULT OF primary https://www.newspapers.com/image/314079091 English Nebraska State Journal Lincoln, Nebraska September 7, 2023 June 7, 1916 HUGHES IN LEAD WITH 224 VOTES https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/06/07/100209469.html?pageNumber=4 English The New York Times New York, New York September 7, 2023 primary88,607 13,770 (15.5%)Includes 8,132 votes for Henry Estabrook and 5,506 votes for Robert G. Ross.1429,850 (33.7%) 2,256 (2.5%) 15,837 (17.87%) 10 (0.0%) 226,884 (30.3%)All votes cast for Henry Ford. April 19 2 Alaska Territory April 20, 1916 ALASKAN DELEGATES TO CHICAGO UNINSTRUCTED https://www.newspapers.com/image/722526236 English The Idaho Statesman Boise, Idaho September 9, 2023 convention2 April 21 8 Idaho April 21, 1916 BORAH HEADS IDAHO DELEGATION TO REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AT CHICAGO https://www.newspapers.com/image/886889908 English The Evening Capital News Boise, Idaho September 9, 2023 convention8 8 Montanaprimary14,194 382 (2.7%)810,415 (73.4%)2,635 (18.6%) 564 (4.0%) 64 (0.4%) 134 (0.9%)Includes 134 write-in votes for Henry Ford. April 25 36 Massachusettsprimary108,9693662,763 (57.6%)All votes for an unpledged slate of delegates. 46,206 (42.4%) 28 New Jersey May 15, 1916 OFFICIAL FIGURES OF PRIMARIES https://www.newspapers.com/image/917267051 English Atlantic City Daily Press Atlantic City, New Jersey September 7, 2023 April 29, 1916 ROOSEVELT MEN FOR CONVENTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/917262526 English Atlantic City Daily Press Atlantic City, New Jersey September 7, 2023 primaries1,76426 21,084 (61.5%) 393 (22.3%) 196 (11.1%)Includes 47 write-in votes for Elihu Root, 47 write-in votes for Woodrow Wilson, 31 write-in votes for William Howard Taft and 10 write-in votes for William Hughes.}} 48 Ohioprimary140,682 1,932 (1.4%) 469 (0.3%)48122,165 (86.8%) 14,433 (11.5%)Includes 14,217 votes for William Grant Webster, 1,683 write-in votes for Henry Ford and 211 write-in votes for Warren G. Harding. April 27 15 Arkansas April 27, 1916 "LILIES" CONTROL G.O.P. CONVENTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/143509032 English The Arkansas Gazette Little Rock, Arkansas September 11, 2023 convention15 6 New Mexico April 26, 1916 G.O.P. GIVES LOUD CHEERS FOR T.R. AT CONVENTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/583661178/ English The Santa Fe New Mexican Santa Fe, New Mexico September 11, 2023 convention6 May 1 12 Mississippi March 2, 1916 REPUBLICANS WILL GO TO CONVENTION UNINSTRUCTED https://www.newspapers.com/image/652792089 English The Hattiesburg News Hattiesburg, Mississippi September 11, 2023 convention12 May 2 26 California May 26, 1916 OFFICIAL COUNT OF THE primary https://www.newspapers.com/image/380529055 English Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California September 7, 2023 primary229,34926229,349 (100.0%)Two uncommitted slates ran in the California primary: "Regulars" opposed any alliance with the Progressive Party and "United-Republicans" supporting such an alliance and actively supported by Hiram Johnson. The Regulars won 132,836 votes and the United-Republican slate won 96,513 votes. 8 Utah May 2, 1916 DEMOCRATS ARE DENOUNCED AT BIG GATHERING https://www.newspapers.com/image/289607293 English The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City, Utah September 11, 2023 convention8 May 3 12 Colorado May 4, 1916 REPUBLICAN convention https://www.newspapers.com/image/885584358 English The Gilpin Observer Central City, Colorado September 11, 2023 convention12 May 4 21 Tennessee May 4, 1916 HARMONY PREVAILS IN REPUBLICAN CONVENTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/118933159 English The Nashville Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee September 11, 2023 convention21 May 5 16 West Virginia May 5, 1916 WEST VA'S BIG FOUR TO CHICAGO NATIONAL CONVENTION SELECTED AT ENTHUSIASTIC convention YESTERDAY https://www.newspapers.com/image/662033447 English The Wheeling Intelligencer Wheeling, Virginia September 11, 2023 convention16 May 6 6 Arizona May 7, 1916 REGULAR, OLD LINERS CHOSEN FOR DELEGATES https://www.newspapers.com/image/119001428 English The Arizona Republican Phoenix, Arizona September 11, 2023 convention6 14 Washington May 7, 1916 STATE G.O.P. DELEGATION GOES TO CHICAGO UNPLEDGED https://www.newspapers.com/image/566555967 English The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington September 9, 2023 convention14 May 8 6 Wyoming May 11, 1916 STATE G.O.P. DELEGATION GOES TO CHICAGO UNPLEDGED https://www.newspapers.com/image/348621995 English The Natrona County Tribune Casper, Wyoming September 11, 2023 convention6 May 9 16 Maryland May 10, 1916 JACKSON-STONE MEN RUN G.O.P. CONVENTION https://www.newspapers.com/image/373448811 English The Sun Baltimore, Maryland September 11, 2023 convention16 May 16 72 Pennsylvania May 23, 1916 COMPARATIVE STANDING OF REPUBLICAN DELEGATES https://www.newspapers.com/image/88950664/ English The Harrisburg Daily Independent Harrisburg, Pennsylvania September 8, 2023 primaries270,19555 12,359 (4.6%) 1,804 (0.67%) 17Under Pennsylvania law, seventeen of the elected delegates were pledged to support the primary winner.254,506 (95.4%)Includes 233,095 votes for Martin Brumbaugh, 20,255 write-in votes for Henry Ford, 774 write-in votes for Joseph R. Grundy and 382 write-in votes for Philander Knox. 0 (of 8) Vermont May 23, 1916 HUGHES 5,480, WEEKS 28 https://www.newspapers.com/image/197327334 English The Burlington Free Press Burlington, Vermont September 9, 2023 primary7,834 1,931 (24.6%)5,480 (70.0%) 423 (5.4%)Includes 181 write-in votes for Samuel W. McCall, 180 write-in votes for Elihu Root, 34 write-in votes for Henry Ford and 28 write-in votes for John W. Weeks. May 19 10 Oregon1916 Primary https://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/8410982 2025-11-21 records.sos.state.or.usprimary94,915 27,558 (29.0%) 1056,764 (59.8%)10,593 (11.2%) May 20 16 Alabama May 20, 1916 NO NEGROES IN G.O.P. ALABAMA DELEGATION https://www.newspapers.com/image/237550974 English The Decatur Daily New Decatur, Alabama September 11, 2023 convention16 May 23 10 South Dakota May 26, 1916 CUMMINS FIRST CHOICE https://www.newspapers.com/image/881619928 English The Madison Daily Leader Madison, South Dakota September 9, 2023 primary29,656 1029,656 (100.0%) May 24 26 Texas March 24, 1916 TEXAS REPUBLICANS CHEER ROOSEVELT https://www.newspapers.com/image/80110722 English The El Paso Herald El Paso, Texas September 9, 2023 convention26 May 26 8 Vermont May 23, 1916 ENTHUSIATIC VERMONT REPUBLICANS PROCLAIM IN RINGING RESOLUTIONS UNANSWERING LOYLATY TO HUGHES https://www.newspapers.com/image/197327334 English The Burlington Free Press Burlington, Vermont September 9, 2023 convention 8 June 6 0 (of 16) West Virginia June 9, 1916 SUTHERLAND LEADS IN SENATORIAL RACE https://www.newspapers.com/image/667465491 English The Hinton Daily News Hinton, West Virginia September 10, 2023 primary18,685Partial Returns from 1,081 out of 1,730 precincts. 2,862 (15.3%)All votes for William Grant Webster. 15,823 (84.7%) June 7Pledged Delegates629 82 4 18 48 56 25 126Delegate EstimatesLine up The New York Times June 7, 1916144 89 60 224 70 65 36 239Includes 82 delegates supporting Elihu Root, 56 delegates supporting Lawrence Y. Sherman, 54 delegates supporting John W. Weeks, 40 delegates supporting Philander S. Knox, 38 delegates supporting Henry Ford, 19 delegates supporting Martin Brumbaugh, and 6 delegates supporting Pierre S. du Pont. Campaign Delegate selections began as early as March. Early in the campaign, Theodore Roosevelt attempted to dampen widespread hopes that he would accept a joint Republican and Progressive nomination. On March 9, he issued a statement to the press insisting that his name "not be brought into the Massachusetts primaries" and "emphatically" declining to be a candidate. However, he declined to issue a Shermanesque statement and declared that his nomination would be a mistake "unless the country had in its mood something of the heroic."Morris 2010 449–51 The New York Times reported the statement under the headline "ROOSEVELT'S HAT AGAIN IN THE RING."Morris 2010 449–51 While Roosevelt's support came largely from outside the Republican Party establishment, party loyalists attempted to recruit a candidate who would be acceptable to Progressives, or at least pacify Roosevelt. Their first choice was Charles Evans Hughes. Hughes, as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, had the virtue of making few statements on political issues; even as an active politician, he had a character for reticence. He also had a reputation for progressivism as Governor of New York.Morris 2010 449–51 When Roosevelt returned from the Caribbean in late March, he found two presidential booms underway: one for himself and one for Hughes. Roosevelt privately feared Hughes would merely be "Wilson with whiskers."Morris 2010 449–51 However, Hughes was adamant that he was not a candidate; he had refused consideration in 1912 and had even stopped voting since joining the Court. "It seems to me very clear that, as a member of the Supreme Court, I have no right to be a candidate, either actively or passively," he wrote to New Jersey governor Edward C. Stokes.Simon 2012 95–98 "I am torn between two profound desires: one to keep the judicial ermine unsullied and the other not to fail in meeting what might be a duty to the country."Simon 2012 95–98 Charles Evans Hughes 250px On March 31, Roosevelt made his first overt move toward a return to the Republican Party by lunching with Elihu Root, who as president of the 1912 Republican National Convention had been the focus of Roosevelt's tirades for four years.Morris 2010 452–53 With Wilson apparently vulnerable once more following Pancho Villa's attack on United States soil, Roosevelt appeared to be holding himself out for the nomination. However, Root himself had presidential ambitions as well.Morris 2010 452–53 Despite his denials, supporters entered Hughes's name in the April Nebraska primary. Hughes responded by threatening legal action to keep his name off the state ballot; nevertheless, the media and party supporters continued to trumpet Hughes as a candidate.Simon 2012 95–98 He was finally persuaded by a letter from former President Taft, who argued that Hughes was the only man who could united the Progressives and Republicans and defeat Wilson. Taft wrote, "Your opportunity as President to guide the country through the trial bound to come after the war will be as great as Washington's or Lincoln's. You are equal to it. Strong men will respond to your call because you are yourself so satisfying in strength and in your political courage and patriotism."Simon 2012 95–98 Sufficiently flattered, Hughes consulted with his colleagues Willis Van Devanter and Edward Douglass White; both urged him to accept if nominated.Simon 2012 95–98 Meanwhile, Roosevelt campaign committees and headquarters were soon established across the country. Roosevelt himself confided to Hiram Johnson that his true ambition was to "get the Republicans and Progressive together for someone whom we can elect and whom it will be worth electing." Privately, he believed that was Hughes, but held on to the ambition that he would be drafted by the delegates.Morris 2010 452–53 Roosevelt's support faded after President Wilson took a stronger rhetorical stance against Germany.Morris 2010 456 May: Hughes in front As the convention approached, Hughes began to receive intimations from Chief Justice White and Interior Secretary Franklin Lane that Wilson planned to appoint him as Chief Justice on White's retirement. Hughes responded that he would not allow the offer to affect his decision; he may have resolved to accept the nomination rather than be implicated in an apparent quid pro quo with Wilson.Simon 2012 95–98 As the campaign came to a close, Hughes polled as the first choice of many Republican voters. He won the May primaries in Vermont (over Roosevelt) and Oregon (over Cummins) by wide margins.Simon 2012 95–98 Frank Harris Hitchcock and Eugene Meyer, who managed the Hughes boom, found little trouble winning commitments from independent delegates to vote for Hughes.Simon 2012 95–98 Pre-convention maneuvering On June 8, as the Republican and Progressive parties each convened in Chicago, leaders of the two met privately to discuss a compromise candidate. The Progressives made clear that the only acceptable name was Roosevelt; Republicans balked and resolved to risk a split by nominating Hughes or a more conservative man. See also 1916 Democratic Party presidential primaries Notes notes References Bibliography Colonel Roosevelt Morris Edmund Edmund Morris (writer) 2010 https://archive.org/details/colonelroosevelt0000morr/ Random House New York FDR and Chief Justice Hughes: the President, the Supreme Court, and the Epic Battle Over the New Deal Simon James F. https://archive.org/details/unset0000unse_p5s0/ 2012 Simon & Schuster New York