Election of 1912
The Republican Party
The Republican Party was divided between progressives who sought change and
conservatives who did not.
Candidate: William Taft
Republican Party Platform
High tariffs on imported good. (Protect American manufacturers)
Did not support direction election of US Senators (17th Amendment)
Put limitations on female and child labor
Conservations of some natural resources and using others for private industry.
Taft favored a non-interventionist approach to the problems that plagued American
society in 1912.
The Bull Moose/Progressive Party
Candidate: Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt proposed “New Nationalism” under which the federal government would
exert its power for the welfare of the people.
Progressive Party Platform
Direct Election of US Senators
Lower tariffs on imported goods (increase trade and make products cheaper)
Government action to supervise big business
Opposed trusts that hurt business interest
Adoption in all states of initiative, referendum & recall
An eight-hour workday
Advocated for women’s suffrage
A federal law against child labor
Roosevelt was the most openly pro labor of the three major candidates. He believed
in extending the power of the federal government to protect workers from
exploitation by big business owners.
Democratic Party
Slogan: New freedom
Candidate: Woodrow Wilson
Stronger anti-trust legislation All monopolies are bad
Reduce tariffs
Banking reform
Stronger government role in economic affairs
Supported small business and free market competition
Did not support Women’s Suffrage
Wilson argued against a minimum wage for women workers and called for the end
of business monopolies.
Socialist Party
Candidate: Eugene Debs
“The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for
humanity.”
Platform
Called for an end to capitalism
Government ownership of railroads and utilities
Guaranteed income tax
No tariffs on imports
8 hour work day
Better housing
Government inspection of factories
Women’s suffrage