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1912 Socialist National Convention

1912 presidential election
Nominees Debs and Seidel
Convention
Date(s)	May 12–18, 1912
City	Indianapolis, Indiana
Venue	Tomlinson Hall
Candidates
Presidential nominee	Eugene Debs ofIndianapolis
Vice-presidential nominee	Emil Seidel ofWisconsin
‹ 1908 · 1916 ›

The1912 Convention of theSocialist Party of America was held inTomlinson Hall inIndianapolis from May 12 to May 18, 1912.

The convention was held at theTomlinson Hall inIndianapolis from May 12 to May 18, 1912.

The convention was called to order by party national secretaryJohn M. Work and roll was called by delegateGustave Strebel.^[1] Party co-founderMorris Hillquit ofNew York served as chairman.

The Party leadership constructed an agenda to address pressing issues relevant to the Party's political orientation such as nominating presidential candidates to run. The leadership also sought input on topics of using direct action instead of only participating in electoral politics. The topic of direct action surfaced as theIndustrial Workers of the World (IWW) led a recent strike known as the Lawrence Strike.^[2]

• 
  1904, 1908presidential nomineeEugene Debs ofIndiana
• 
  FormerMayor of MilwaukeeEmil Seidel ofWisconsin
• 
  JournalistCharles Edward Russell ofNew York

Balloting for the party's nominee for the presidential ticket took place on May 17, 1912. The widely understood candidate was the party's previous nominee of 2 times, Eugene Debs. Debs was not present at the time of ballot casting as was tradition at the time. In his absence, questions emerged regarding his physical wellness and whether or not he would even accept the nomination. Delegates were assured that Debs was in fine health and that he would accept the nomination.

The other candidates for the nomination, Seidel and Slayton, each received around one sixth of total ballots cast. As Debs assumed a majority of ballots cast, both men released their delegates to make the nomination unanimous. Following his nomination, a dispatch was sent to notify Debs of his nomination. Debs sent a telegram the next day notifying the convention of his acceptance.

• 
  FormerMayor of MilwaukeeEmil Seidel ofWisconsin
• 
  1910 nominee forgovernor of ArkansasDan Hogan ofArkansas
• 
  1910 nominee forgovernor of PennsylvaniaJohn W. Slayton ofPennsylvania

• 
  JournalistCharles Edward Russell ofNew York

Russell was nominated, though withdrew his name from consideration due to reasons that he preferred not to state. Both Hogan and Slayton had not planned on campaigning for the nomination thus released their delegates to make Seidel's nomination unanimous. At this point, Seidel and Debs had yet to meet. Debs and Seidel would go on to achieve the most successful performance of a socialist ticket on the national stage in United States history.

• Socialist Party of America
• 1912 Democratic National Convention
• 1912 Republican National Convention
• 1912 Progressive National Convention
• 1912 United States presidential election

• Socialist Party Platform of 1912 atSage American History

• Socialist Party of America events
• 1912 in Indiana
• 20th century in Indianapolis
• Organized events in Indianapolis
• United States presidential nominating conventions
• May 1912 in the United States
• Socialism in Indiana

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