The 1928 Farmer–Labor National Convention was held July 10–11, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. It nominated George W. Norris for president and William J. Vereen for vice president. Both declined the party's nomination, and the party instead ultimately nominated Frank Elbridge Webb for president and LeRoy R. Tillman for vice president.
| 1928 presidential election | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | July 10–11, 1928 |
| City | Chicago, Illinois |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | George W. Norris (declined) of Nebraska |
| Vice-presidential nominee | William J. Vereen (declined) |
Logistics
editThe convention was the third presidential nominating convention in the history of the national Farmer-Labor Party, and met on July 10–11, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois.[1]
A merging of forces between the party and the Prohibition Party (which also convened its convention in Chicago on July 10)[2] was explored for some time, and a committee was even appointed which identified a potential fusion ticket ticket of Gifford Pinchot for president and former Governor William Ellery Sweet of Colorado for Vice President. However, neither possible nominee responded to inquiries whether they would accept the nomination, and both the Farmer-Labor and Prohibition Parties ultimately tabled motions calling for presidential electoral fusion between their parties.[1]
Nomination
editConvention result
editAt the convention, the party nominated Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska for president. Norris, however, stuck by an earlier declaration that he had made in which he stated he would not run as the party's nominee because he felt that the political machinery necessary to wage a successful campaign for the presidency was not possible for him to establish so late into the campaigning season.[3][4]
For vice president, the convention nominated William J. Vereen of Georgia, a cotton textile manufacturer. However, Vereen only found out he had been nominated after being contacted by news reporters, and refused to entertain accepting the nomination.[5]
Subsequent replacement nominees
editSome months after the convention, the party's presidential nomination was tendered to Colonel Frank Elbridge Webb of California, with the vice presidential nomination being offered to Senator James Reed of Missouri after Webb rejected the idea of potentially running with Senator James Thomas Heflin of Alabama; as with Vereen, Reed had no prior knowledge of his impending nomination and wholly rejected it, purportedly saying "Who in hell is Webb?".[5] A third man, Dr. Henry Quincy Alexander of North Carolina was then nominated in Reed's stead. However, on September 18, Alexander requested that his name be withdrawn from the ticket. Alexander later endorsed Democratic nominee Al Smith for the presidency.[6][7] At some point after this, LeRoy R. Tillman (a nephew of the late Senator Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina) was nominated in Alexander's stead.[8]
References
edit- 1 2 "Farm-Laborites Nominate Norris; Convention in Chicago Selects Nebraskan as Candidate for Presidency. Acceptance Is Unlikely; Group with Prohibitionists Had Asked Pinchot and Sweet to Lead Third Party. Farm-Laborites Nominate Norris; Table the Proposal for Fusion. Prohibition Platform Debated. Says Saloon is Now in Home; Norris's Course In Doubt. He Has Questioned the Desirability, of a Third Party Movement". The New York Times. July 12, 1928. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Prohibitionists To Meet.; Convention Will Be Held in Chicago July 10". The New York Times. July 1, 1928. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Prohibition Party Is In a Quandary; All Delegates in Chicago Convention Against Smith--Many Oppose Hoover. May Join Farm-Laborites; One Delegate Advocates Election of Heflin, 'Even if There Must Be Bloodshed.' Seek Farmer-Labor Policy. Opposes Governor Smith. Wouldn't Balk at Bloodshed. Norris Against a Third Party". The New York Times. July 11, 1928.
- ↑ "Norris Won't Head Third Party Ticket; Senator, in Refusing Farmer Labor Nomination, Calls Power Issue "Paramount." Denounces Major Parties; Nebraskan Declares Trust Forced Both to Silence on Monopoly That Robs People of Rights.; Calls Power Issue "Paramount."; Sees Democracy "Crippled."; Delay of Boulder Dam Charged.; Refuses to Run as Vice President". The New York Times. July 13, 1928.
- 1 2 "Reed Not To Be With Webb On New Ticket; Candidate Webb Sued Here For Bill For Meat". The Times. September 7, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Webb Is Given Running-Mate". Reno Gazette-Journal. 1928-09-11. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "Farmer-Laborite to Back Smith". The New York Times. September 26, 1928.
- ↑ "S.F. Man Named Standard-Bearer By Farmer-Labor". The Fresno Bee. 1928-09-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-03-18.