View source for 1908 Republican National Convention

{{Short description|American political convention}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox National Political Convention
| year          = 1908
|party          = Republican
| image         = RP1908.png
| image_size    = 125
| image2        = RV1908.png
| image_size2   = 125
| caption       = Nominees <br> Taft and Sherman
| date          = June 16–19, 1908
| venue         = [[Chicago Coliseum]]
| city          = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| chair         = [[Henry C. Lodge]]
| presidential_nominee            = [[William Howard Taft]]
| presidential_nominee_state      = [[Ohio]]
| vice_presidential_nominee       = [[James S. Sherman]]
| vice_presidential_nominee_state = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| ballots          = 1
| totaldelegates   = 980
| votesneeded      = 491
| presidenttotals  = [[William Howard Taft|Taft]] ([[Ohio|OH]]): 702 (71.63%)<br>[[Philander C. Knox|Knox]] ([[Pennsylvania|PA]]): 68 (6.94%)<br>[[Charles Evans Hughes|Hughes]] ([[New York (state)|NY]]): 67 (6.84%)<br>[[Joseph Gurney Cannon|Cannon]] ([[Illinois|IL]]): 58 (5.92%)<br>[[Charles Warren Fairbanks|Fairbanks]] ([[Indiana|IN]]): 40 (4.08%)<br>[[Robert Marion La Follette|La Follette]] ([[Wisconsin|WI]]): 25 (2.55%)<br>[[Joseph B. Foraker|Foraker]] ([[Ohio|OH]]): 16 (1.63%)<br>[[Theodore Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] ([[New York (state)|NY]]): 3 (0.31%)<br>Abstaining: 1 (0.10%)
| previous_year    = 1904
| next_year        = 1912
}}
The '''1908 Republican National Convention''' was held in [[Chicago Coliseum]], [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]] on June 16 to June 19, 1908. It convened to nominate successors to [[President of the United States|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 (state)|New York]] [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[James S. Sherman]] to be his vice presidential [[running mate]].

==The Platform==
[[File:1908 Republican National Convention Admission Ticket (4360115802).jpg|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 Republican National Convention|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 [[Trust (business)|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-American]]s 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 Territory|New Mexico]] and [[Arizona Territory|Arizona]] Territories; called for the celebration of the birthday of [[Abraham Lincoln]]; and generally deplored the [[United States Democratic Party|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==
[[File:Republican-National-Convention-1908.jpg|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.

===June 16===
* Prayer by [[Peter Muldoon|Rt. Rev. P.J. Muldoon V.G.]]
* [[Julius C. Burrows]], Michigan Senator

===June 17===
* Prayer by Rev. William Otis Waters
* [[Henry Cabot Lodge]], Massachusetts Senator

===June 18===
* Prayer by Rev. Dr. [[John Wesley Hill]]
* [[George Henry Williams]], Former Attorney General
* [[Henry Sherman Boutell]] of Illinois, Lawyer and diplomat
* [[Joseph W. Fordney]], Congressman of 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 of 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]], Wisconsin 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]] (again)
* [[Chase Osborn]] of Michigan
* [[James Brownlow Yellowley]], Mississippi State Legislator
* [[Thomas N. McCarter]], Former Attorney General of New Jersey and public servant
* [[William Warner (Missouri)|William Warner]], Senator from Missouri
* [[Julius C. Burrows]] of Michigan

==Presidential nomination==
===Presidential candidates===
<gallery perrow="4" style="text-align:center;">
File:William Howard Taft, Bain bw photo portrait, 1908.jpg|[[United States Secretary of War|War Secretary]]<br>'''[[William Howard Taft]]'''<br>of [[Ohio]]
File:Philander C Knox-H&E.jpg|[[United States Senate|Senator]]<br>'''[[Philander C. Knox]]'''<br>of [[Pennsylvania]]
File:Governor Charles Evans Hughes.jpg|{{center|[[Governor of New York|Governor]]<br>'''[[Charles Evans Hughes]]'''<br>of [[New York (state)|New York]]}}
File:JGCannon.jpg|[[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]]<br>'''[[Joseph Gurney Cannon|Joseph G. Cannon]]'''<br>of [[Illinois]]
File:Charles W Fairbanks by Harris & Ewing.jpg|[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]]<br>'''[[Charles W. Fairbanks]]'''<br>of [[Indiana]]
File:Robert M La Follette, Sr.jpg|{{center|[[United States Senate|Senator]]<br>'''[[Robert M. LaFollette, Sr.|Robert M. La Follette]]'''<br>of [[Wisconsin]]}}
File:Senator Joseph B. Foraker.jpg|[[United States Senate|Senator]]<br>'''[[Joseph B. Foraker]]'''<br>of [[Ohio]]
File:Leslie Shaw, Bain photo portrait.jpg|Former<br>[[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Treasury Secretary]]<br>'''[[L. M. Shaw]]'''<br>of [[Iowa]]<br><small>''(Not Nominated)''</small>
</gallery>

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.{{sfn|Mowry|1960|p=29}}<ref name=senate /> 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.<ref name=senatef>{{cite web|title=Charles Warren Fairbanks, 26th Vice President (1905–1909)|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Charles_Fairbanks.htm|website=US Senate|access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref> U.S. Senator [[Joseph B. Foraker]] sought the nomination and was financed by [[Winthrop M. Crane]] and [[Henry Cabot Lodge]].{{sfn|Mowry|1960|p=30}}

Roosevelt supported Secretary of War [[William Howard Taft]].<ref name=senate /> Entering the convention, Taft, buoyed by the support of the popular Roosevelt, was virtually assured of the nomination.<ref name=nyt1>{{cite news|title=Convention on, Taft Controls|url=https://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/080617convention-gop-ra.html|access-date=8 October 2015|newspaper=New York Times|date=17 June 1908}}</ref> U.S. Senator [[Jacob H. Gallinger]] was among the supporters of a movement to stop Taft's nomination.{{sfn|Mowry|1960|p=30}} Taft won the presidential nomination on the first ballot, overcoming Fairbanks and the other favorite son candidates.<ref name=nyt2>{{cite news|title=Taft Named; First Ballot|url=https://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/080619convention-gop-ra.html|access-date=8 October 2015|newspaper=New York Times|date=19 June 1908}}</ref>

===Withdrew Before Convention===
<gallery perrow="1" style="text-align:center;">
File:Cortelyou-george-bruce.jpg|[[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Treasury Secretary]]<br>'''[[George B. Cortelyou]]'''<br>of [[New York (state)|New York]]
</gallery>

===Declined to Seek Nomination===
<gallery perrow="2" style="text-align:center;">
File:Elihu Root, bw photo portrait, 1902.jpg|[[United States Secretary of State|State Secretary]]<br>'''[[Elihu Root]]'''<br>of [[New York (state)|New York]]
File:President Theodore Roosevelt, 1904.jpg|[[President of the United States|President]]<br>'''[[Theodore Roosevelt]]'''<br>of [[New York (state)|New York]]
</gallery>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | '''Presidential Balloting'''
|-
! Candidate !!1st!! Unanimous
|-
![[William Howard Taft|Taft]]
|style="background:#fbb;"|702
|style="background:#fbb;"|980
|-
![[Philander C. Knox|Knox]]
|style="background:#fdd;"|68
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Charles Evans Hughes|Hughes]]
|style="background:#fee;"|67
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Joseph Gurney Cannon|Cannon]]
|58
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Charles W. Fairbanks|Fairbanks]]
|40
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Robert M. La Follette|La Follette]]
|25
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Joseph B. Foraker|Foraker]]
|16
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Theodore Roosevelt|Roosevelt]]
|3
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
!Not Voting
|1
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|}

<br>
'''Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 18, 1908)'''
<gallery perrow="1" style="text-align:center;">
File:1908RepublicanPresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|'''1st Presidential Ballot'''
</gallery>

==Vice Presidential nomination==
===Vice Presidential candidates===
<gallery perrow="4" style="text-align:center;">
File:James S. Sherman 1909.jpg|[[New York's 27th congressional district|Representative]]<br>'''[[James S. Sherman]]'''<br>of [[New York (state)|New York]]
File:Franklin Murphy (NJ).jpg|Former [[Governor of New Jersey|Governor]] '''[[Franklin Murphy (governor)|Franklin Murphy]]'''<br>of [[New Jersey]]
File:A record of the dedication of the statue of Major General William Francis Bartlett (1905) (14794194863).jpg|[[Governor of Massachusetts|Governor]]<br>'''[[Curtis Guild, Jr.]]'''<br>of [[Massachusetts]]
File:SHELDON, G.L. GOVERNOR LCCN2016857010.jpg|[[Governor of Nebraska|Governor]]<br>'''[[George L. Sheldon]]'''<br>of [[Nebraska]]<br><small>''(Not Nominated)''</small>
</gallery>

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,<ref name=senate /> as well as western support from Senator [[Charles Curtis]] of Kansas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Curtis |first=Charles |title=In His Own Words |location=Kansas State Historical Archives}}</ref> Sherman was a fairly conservative Republican who was nonetheless acceptable to the more progressive wing of the party.<ref name=senate>{{cite web|title=James S. Sherman, 27th Vice President (1909–1912)|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_James_Sherman.htm|website=US Senate|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> Sherman won the vice presidential nomination on the first ballot, taking 816 of the 979 votes cast.<ref name=tweedy>{{cite book|last1=Tweedy|first1=John|title=A History of the Republican National Conventions from 1856 to 1908|date=1910|publisher=Republican National Convention|pages=389–390|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VKcJAAAAIAAJ&q=1908+republican+national+convention+vice+presidential+ballot|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> Former New Jersey Governor [[Franklin Murphy (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 W. Fairbanks|Charles Fairbanks]].<ref name=tweedy />

===Declined to Seek Nomination===
<gallery perrow="5" style="text-align:center;">
File:Beveridge-Albert-1920.jpg|[[United States Senate|Senator]] <br> '''[[Albert J. Beveridge]]'''<br>of [[Indiana]]
File:Albert B Cummins.jpg|[[Governor of Iowa|Governor]] <br> '''[[Albert B. Cummins]]'''<br>of [[Iowa]]
File:Jonathan P. Dolliver - History of Iowa.jpg|[[United States Senate|Senator]] <br> '''[[Jonathan P. Dolliver]]'''<br>of [[Iowa]]
File:Herbert S Hadley.jpg|[[Attorney General of Missouri|Attorney General]] <br> '''[[Herbert S. Hadley]]'''<br>of [[Missouri]]
File:Governor Charles Evans Hughes.jpg|[[Governor of New York|Governor]] <br> '''[[Charles Evans Hughes|Charles E. Hughes]]'''<br>of [[New York (state)|New York]]
</gallery>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | '''Vice Presidential Balloting'''
|-
! Candidate !!1st!! Unanimous
|-
![[James S. Sherman|Sherman]]
|style="background:#fbb;"|816
|style="background:#fbb;"|980
|-
![[Franklin Murphy (governor)|Murphy]]
|style="background:#fdd;"|77
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Curtis Guild Jr.|Guild]]
|style="background:#fee;"|75
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[George L. Sheldon|Sheldon]]
|10
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
![[Charles W. Fairbanks|Fairbanks]]
|1
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|-
!Not Voting
|1
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|}

<br>
'''Vice Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 19, 1908)'''
<gallery perrow="1" style="text-align:center;">
File:1908RepublicanVicePresidentialNomination1stBallot.png|'''1st<br>Vice Presidential Ballot'''
</gallery>

==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==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Works cited==
* {{cite book|last=Mowry |first=George |author-link=George E. Mowry |title=Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |date=1960 |url=https://archive.org/details/theodoreroosevel00mowr}}

==External links==
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29632 Republican Party platform of 1908] at ''The American Presidency Project''
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=76222 Taft acceptance speech] at ''The American Presidency Project''

{{Sequence|
 prev=[[1904 Republican National Convention|1904]]<br>[[Chicago, Illinois]]|
 list=[[Republican National Convention]]s|
 next=[[1912 Republican National Convention|1912]]<br>[[Chicago, Illinois]]
}}

{{United States presidential election, 1908}}
{{Republican National Convention}}
{{William Howard Taft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1908 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Political conventions in Chicago]]
[[Category:Republican National Conventions]]
[[Category:1908 in Illinois]]
[[Category:1908 conferences]]
[[Category:June 1908 in the United States]]
[[Category:1900s political conferences]]
[[Category:1900s in Chicago]]
[[Category:Events at Chicago Coliseum]]
[[Category:William Howard Taft]]
[[Category:James S. Sherman]]
[[Category:Charles W. Fairbanks]]