American Party (1914)
Encyclopedia
The American Party was a short-lived minor political party during the early 20th century. It was "formed by a number of disgruntled Democrats and admirers of William Sulzer
." The party was incorporated on April 13, 1914 at Albany
.
in 1912. He was impeached when rebelling against the domination by Tammany
boss Charles Francis Murphy
, and was removed from office in October 1913. In November 1913, he was elected on the Progressive
ticket to a seat in the New York State Assembly
(6th District), but he thought it was necessary to have an own party to run at the next state election in 1914 with the aim to defeat Martin H. Glynn
, his Lieutenant Governor
who had succeeded to the governorship and whom Sulzer considered a back-stabber.
as symbol on the ballot. Since the party had not automatic ballot access
, they were required to gather signatures and file petitions for all candidates, which they did for Sulzer but did not bother about for their other candidates which the American Party Executive Committee endorsed. Nevertheless, these candidates could be voted for: the candidates of other parties which were endorsed by the "Americans" could be voted for at their name printed on the ballot, and any candidate's name could be written in
the "no-party" column and x-ed there. Sulzer received 70,655 votes for Governor on the American ticket which gave the party automatic ballot access for the next election.
On July 22, 1916, attending a meeting of the American Federation of Patriotic Societies at Minneapolis, Sulzer stated that he would accept the American Party's nomination for U.S. President at the national convention due to open on July 25. The Convention nominated Sulzer for President and I. G. Pollard, of Indiana
, for U.S. Vice President.
At the New York state election, 1916, the party ran a full ticket, but in the primary less than 80 votes were cast. The incumbent Republican Governor Charles S. Whitman
disputed the nomination with his Democratic challenger Samuel Seabury
. Whitman won by a single vote: 38 to 37. Robert Bacon
, who lost the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from New York, won the American nomination defeating the Democratic candidate William F. McCombs, also by a single vote: 23 to 22. Bacon tried to withdraw, but could not. According to the election law, any candidate who won nomination, had to go on the ballot. However he urged his friends to vote for Republican William M. Calder
. Also nominated were Democrats Thomas J. Kreuzer for Lieutenant Governor, and William W. Farley for Attorney General; and Eugene M. Lane for Treasurer and Ephraim H. Keyes for State Engineer. In the election, Whitman received only 2,265 votes on the American ticket, which made the party lose the automatic ballot access. After this fiasco, the party disbanded.
In 1917, Sulzer made campaign speeches for John Purroy Mitchel
and received $5,000 in cash as compensation. He also offered to add the American Party to Mitchel's Fusion, and campaign in the party's name which was however turned down by Mitchel's campaign manager Josiah T. Newcomb.
William Sulzer
William Sulzer was an American lawyer and politician, nicknamed Plain Bill Sulzer. He was the 39th Governor of New York and a long-serving congressman from the same state. He was the first and so far only New York Governor to be impeached...
." The party was incorporated on April 13, 1914 at Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
Background
Sulzer had been a long-time Democratic U.S. Representative, and was elected Governor of New YorkGovernor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
in 1912. He was impeached when rebelling against the domination by Tammany
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
boss Charles Francis Murphy
Charles Francis Murphy
Charles Francis "Silent Charlie" Murphy was a U.S. political figure, head of New York City's Tammany Hall.-Biography:...
, and was removed from office in October 1913. In November 1913, he was elected on the Progressive
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
ticket to a seat in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
(6th District), but he thought it was necessary to have an own party to run at the next state election in 1914 with the aim to defeat Martin H. Glynn
Martin H. Glynn
Martin Henry Glynn was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the US....
, his Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
who had succeeded to the governorship and whom Sulzer considered a back-stabber.
Electoral history
At the New York state election, 1914, the party ran only Sulzer as candidate for Governor, and adopted the Liberty BellLiberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
as symbol on the ballot. Since the party had not automatic ballot access
Ballot access
Ballot access rules, called nomination rules outside the United States, regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is either entitled to stand for election or to appear on voters' ballots...
, they were required to gather signatures and file petitions for all candidates, which they did for Sulzer but did not bother about for their other candidates which the American Party Executive Committee endorsed. Nevertheless, these candidates could be voted for: the candidates of other parties which were endorsed by the "Americans" could be voted for at their name printed on the ballot, and any candidate's name could be written in
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
the "no-party" column and x-ed there. Sulzer received 70,655 votes for Governor on the American ticket which gave the party automatic ballot access for the next election.
On July 22, 1916, attending a meeting of the American Federation of Patriotic Societies at Minneapolis, Sulzer stated that he would accept the American Party's nomination for U.S. President at the national convention due to open on July 25. The Convention nominated Sulzer for President and I. G. Pollard, of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, for U.S. Vice President.
At the New York state election, 1916, the party ran a full ticket, but in the primary less than 80 votes were cast. The incumbent Republican Governor Charles S. Whitman
Charles S. Whitman
Charles Seymour Whitman served as the 41st Governor of New York from January 1915 to December 1918. He was also a delegate to Republican National Convention from New York in 1916.-Biography:...
disputed the nomination with his Democratic challenger Samuel Seabury
Samuel Seabury (judge)
Samuel Seabury was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of William Jones Seabury, professor of canon law and descendant of Bishop Samuel Seabury, and Alice Van Wyck Beare. He graduated from New York Law School in 1893, and was admitted to the bar in 1894...
. Whitman won by a single vote: 38 to 37. Robert Bacon
Robert Bacon
Robert Bacon was an American statesman and diplomat. He served as United States Secretary of State from January to March 1909.-Biography:...
, who lost the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from New York, won the American nomination defeating the Democratic candidate William F. McCombs, also by a single vote: 23 to 22. Bacon tried to withdraw, but could not. According to the election law, any candidate who won nomination, had to go on the ballot. However he urged his friends to vote for Republican William M. Calder
William M. Calder
William Musgrave Calder I was an American politician from New York.-Biography:He was born in Brooklyn on March 3, 1869 to Alexander G. Calder. He trained as a carpenter, attended night classes at Cooper Union....
. Also nominated were Democrats Thomas J. Kreuzer for Lieutenant Governor, and William W. Farley for Attorney General; and Eugene M. Lane for Treasurer and Ephraim H. Keyes for State Engineer. In the election, Whitman received only 2,265 votes on the American ticket, which made the party lose the automatic ballot access. After this fiasco, the party disbanded.
In 1917, Sulzer made campaign speeches for John Purroy Mitchel
John Purroy Mitchel
John Purroy Mitchel was the mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917. At age 34 he was the second-youngest ever; he is sometimes referred to as "The Boy Mayor of New York." Mayor Mitchel is remembered for his short career as leader of Reform politics in New York, as well as for his early death as an...
and received $5,000 in cash as compensation. He also offered to add the American Party to Mitchel's Fusion, and campaign in the party's name which was however turned down by Mitchel's campaign manager Josiah T. Newcomb.