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The Second Reconstruction-A Post-Civil War Kaiserreich USA Quest

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[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[x] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]

[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] A coalition like this would undermine the very two party system we stand for! We can't trust Garner and the Democrats if this goes to the House! [There will be no coalition of any sort]

A proper 4 way civil war or nothing.
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] We don't need the Progressives, a loose agreement between Democrats and Republicans is enough. [Less dissent among party members but far from a sure bet in November]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]

[X] A coalition like this would undermine the very two party system we stand for! We can't trust Garner and the Democrats if this goes to the House! [There will be no coalition of any sort]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]

Based centrism is the only viable option
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] A coalition like this would undermine the very two party system we stand for! We can't trust Garner and the Democrats if this goes to the House! [There will be no coalition of any sort]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] A coalition like this would undermine the very two party system we stand for! We can't trust Garner and the Democrats if this goes to the House! [There will be no coalition of any sort]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] We don't need the Progressives, a loose agreement between Democrats and Republicans is enough. [Less dissent among party members but far from a sure bet in November]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] We don't need the Progressives, a loose agreement between Democrats and Republicans is enough. [Less dissent among party members but far from a sure bet in November]
 
[X] Pass the Bill by any means necessary. Threats, earmarks, literally twist arms, whatever, just get it on Hoover's desk. [The Bill will almost certainly pass but it won't be pretty, lessening its use for campaigning]
[X] Better Olson than Long or the Reds, grudgingly endorse the National Unity ticket. [It will be the strongest ticket but conservatives in both parties will not be happy]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] A coalition like this would undermine the very two party system we stand for! We can't trust Garner and the Democrats if this goes to the House! [There will be no coalition of any sort]
 
[X] Something this important can't be tarnished with accusations of corruption. [Passage of the Bill is uncertain, likely to be determined by other factors…]
[X] A coalition like this would undermine the very two party system we stand for! We can't trust Garner and the Democrats if this goes to the House! [There will be no coalition of any sort]
 
Vote closed but a result wasn't posted so here is a tally. Probably isn't much of a surprise. I should have the update up before work tomorrow, its a long one!
Adhoc vote count started by Jeeshadow on Dec 1, 2021 at 2:02 AM, finished with 35 posts and 33 votes.
Click to expand...
 
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The Final Vote on the Garner-Wagner Act
  • Threadmarks
    • 'But Above All, Try Something'



    The Man of the Hour​

    America in the Spring of 1936 was not in a good place. It was in its eleventh straight year of Depression with Black Monday only making things worse. Since the crash in '25 most States and the Federal Government had been pursuing the same free market economic principles but the economy refused to recover. The profits from the Legation Cities, minor relief acts by Hoover, and jobs programs by state governments, had proved woefully inadequate and this had only led to the rise of radicals on the left and the right. Socialists proclaimed it as the inevitable failures of capitalism, the far-right called it proof of moral degeneracy. Yet American liberalism had failed to adapt, putting it at risk of suffering the same fate that had befallen liberals in Britain, France, and Germany. Yet at this crucial juncture American liberals finally tried something rather new, and it all started with President Hoover agreeing to the La Follette proposal.
    While historians could come up with many potential reasons for why Hoover agreed to support the coalition plan, they ultimately boiled down to a simple fact: any President with any hope of tackling the enormous crisis facing the country would need the legitimacy that a clear win in the Electoral College would give him. A 4 way race would simply not lead to that. If Olson and other progressives adopt just enough of the radicals' policies in order to stop them without truly abandoning what Hoover saw as the American way, then that was a sacrifice he would have to pay. And so Hoover, with great reluctance, would throw his support behind the coalition talks and publicly would be one of its greatest champions. Between Hoover and Roosevelt, La Follette was reasonably certain the Republican Party would fall in line and support the coalition. Now all that was left was to convince Garner and the Democratic Party.
    The Democratic Party in the 1930s was a truly unholy alliance. Since the Civil War it had certainly rebuilt its national appeal, holding the White House from 1913-1929. The Wilson Administration had established it as having the reputation of the party that was willing to pursue greater economic intervention. Perhaps then that was a reason why McAdoo's complete inability to cope with the Great Depression was so devastating to the party. The progressive wing of the party, out of power since Wilson, had few qualms striking a deal with their ideological allies in the Progressive and Republican Parties. But even now, over half a century on from the first Civil War, the base of the Democratic Party remained in the South and the Conservatives that it sent to Washington still held much authority over that party and they were the ones that seemed to have the most to lose from this coalition.
    The de facto leader of Southern Democrats, and the party in general, was the Speaker of the House, John Nance Garner. With Garner widely expected to be the party's nominee for President that year, he was one of the few who most personally stood to lose from the coalition, but also someone La Follette absolutly needed onboard. Fortunately La Follette was far from alone in his quest to convince Garner and the Democrats, having the support of Senator Cordull Hull, another Southerner and a former Chair of the party. It would take weeks of negotiation but eventually Hull managed to convince Garner, who in turn would manage to achieve the acceptance, if not true support, of the Southern Democrats.

    With the final major hurdle out of the way, Governor Floyd Olson headed to Washington for the official announcement of the National Unity coalition. As Governor, Olson had seen the passage of many strong progressive laws, despite the legislature being controlled by Republicans. His handling of a truckers union strike, calling in the National Guard to force both parties to the table until an agreement was reached, had shown to establishment politicians he was not a closet socialist but had not alienated the moderate labor unions that had not backed the IWW. His charisma and strong record of success made him clearly the most prominent and popular Progressive in the country and thus the logical choice to head up a compromise ticket. Thus on a sunny spring morning, on the steps of the Capitol Building, Olson would announce the coalition. His speech would be followed by speeches by Garner, Roosevelt and Curtis. Hoover would speak positively of Olson and the coalition in an interview just days later.
    The fact that coalition talks were ongoing was far from a secret in Washington but that such an unprecedented coalition had actually come together was. While there was a lot to the coalition deal, especially when it came to deciding who would run where, the core of the deal revolved around the cabinet of a potential Olson Administration. The Vice President would be a Republican but to account for that, the coalition would put forward Democrats for the Speakership and Senate Majority Leader. The cabinet would also be equally divided between the two parties as well, with the exception that the Progressive Party would get two junior cabinet spots. To assuage Southern Democrats, Garner also stated that Olson had promised to invite him to all "vital" cabinet meetings. Olson also pledged his theoretical Administration would be a cabinet government, with him putting all major decisions to a vote by his cabinet. The coalition announcement brought a feeling of hope back to Washington, one that had arguably not been felt since the start of the Depression. Yet the Coalition would soon face its first major test. The Garner-Wagner Act was coming up on a final vote.



    The House in Session​

    It had taken months of wrangling but finally the Congressional leadership was feeling that they had a chance to pass Garner-Wagner. Despite losing ground in the midterms, the combined membership of both parties still dominated Congress, especially in the Senate. Yet both parties were diverse coalitions and Garner-Wagner was a rather unprecedented piece of legislation but with leadership of both parties putting on the pressure, it seemed that passage would eventually come. The bill was moving through the final committee stages when the Olson coalition was announced and things began to fall apart.
    The coalition on top of a strong Garner-Wagner was simply too much for conservatives and die hard defenders of the free market, despite the dire economic and political conditions. These members resolved that Congress caving to 'the mob' couldn't be allowed. Adding to the anger were many members of Congress that expected they would soon be lame ducks, especially among junior members who didn't have the influence with their state party to ensure they were run by the coalition. This alliance of conservatives and malcontents, with the SPA and AFP added in, was potentially enough to sink the bill, certainly enough to support a series of filibusters in the Senate. It seemed as though that once again the Garner-Wagner Act would die at the finishing line.
    Yet the passage of the bill was the number one priority of the congressional leadership and men like Garner, McNary, and Robinson were far from inexperienced and they were more than willing to pull out every trick in the book to get the bill on the Resolute Desk. The whips began to meet individually with the wavering Congressmen and it became a clear message to members of the House that if you wanted the coalition to run you then you better vote for the bill. If you didn't, well there were two other parties who would love another seat in Congress. It would be enough to drive almost a dozen southern members into the arms of America First, who offered them a guaranteed run and support yet even with the defections, by the time the vote came, Garner-Wagner would pass the House with a comfortable, if not large, majority. The Senate would be another matter.



    Official Portrait of the Democratic Senate Majority Leader Robinson​

    Senators were much more insulated from the threats whips in the House had used. They were far more public figures and not quite as reliant on state parties. A full 2/3rds weren't even up for election that year, making the coalition pulling support a moot threat for most in the first place. Instead leadership turned to a common tactic, favors and earmarks. The bill soon became a vehicle for Senators to get their pet projects authorized, a bridge here, a new post office here, and a grant for a Senator's family's business venture. More and more of the spending for the bill began to be taken up by these measures but eventually the 2/3rds majority needed to invoke cloture took shape. A big part of that was a deal cut with Southern Democrats who would back cloture but in return Hull and Garner had to promise that Olson would appoint as many southerners as he did his own Progressives.
    Opponents of the bill wouldn't give up without a fight. Most notable was Senator Huey Long. On the day of the vote he took to the floor to launch yet another of his filibusters. Exhausted from days of debate already, few in the Senate were in the mood for another fifteen hour filibuster but Long wouldn't be deterred. Several hours in he began to call out the various earmarks in the bill and began to attack leading Senators by name. Long called them corrupt, puppets of anarchists, and traitors to America. That would be enough for Senator Robinson, the Majority Leader. Robinson was hot headed and his propensity for almost causing fights that had earned him the nickname 'scrappy Joe' and he had almost fought Long multiple times in the past. Today would be no different, as he launched himself across the Senate for Long. Fortunately he would be held back from actually hitting Long but it was enough to cause a major scene as Long's allies rose from their seats. The chaos was enough for Vice President Curtis to declare that Long had conceded the floor and he quickly moved to open the vote. This of course caused further chaos protests from opposition Senators but by the early hours of the morning, after much shouting and points of order, the bill finally passed the Senate.



    President Hoover signing the Garner-Wagner Act into law​

    Hoover's signing of this historic Act was far from the end of its story or the end of Congress' response to the Great Depression. The most pressing issue was how to pay for it. Several options were considered, from Tariffs to an income tax hike, but in the end it would be the bold plan of the Democratic Senator Thomas Hawking that would win out. The Hawking Plan would see the passage of a hike to the corporate tax rate, although the bill did promise aid later down the line to the affected corporations. While certainly controversial the passage of Garner-Wagner had broken the proverbial dam and the tax bill would pass with greater ease.
    There would be two more major pieces of relief legislation that Congress would pass in the following months, the New Industrial Act and Shipyard Relief Act. The NIA would relieve some of the pain on American industry and the Shipyard Relief Act would see funds coming into America's ports to help overhaul them and expand their capacity. Ultimately though, the bulk of funds from these various acts were left to the Hoover Administration to distribute.

    Choose two regions to focus relief in:

    [ ] Northeast

    [ ] Midwest

    [ ] Border States (ie: Virginia, Kentucky, etc)

    [ ] Deep South

    [ ] The West
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Northeast
    [X] The West

    Why invest in places that will just rebel?
     
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