1900 Republican National Convention

The 1900 Republican National Convention was held June 19 to June 21 in the Exposition Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Exposition Auditorium was located south of the University of Pennsylvania, and the later Convention Hall was constructed along the building's east wall. It was demolished in 2006.

1900 Republican National Convention

1900 presidential election
Nominees McKinley and Roosevelt
Convention
Date(s)	June 19–21, 1900
City	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue	Convention Hall
Chair	Henry Cabot Lodge
Candidates
Presidential nominee	William McKinley of Ohio
Vice-presidential nominee	Theodore Roosevelt of New York
Voting
Total delegates	926
Votes needed for nomination	464
Results (president)	McKinley (OH): 926 (100%)
Results (vice president)	Roosevelt (NY): 925 (99.9%) Abstaining: 1 (0.1%)
Ballots	1
‹ 1896 · 1904 ›

Photograph of the convention

Admission ticket featuring an illustration of Philadelphia City Hall

Admission ticket featuring illustrations of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell (both being Philadelphia landmarks)

Each state was allotted two delegates per electoral vote, and territories were granted from two to six delegates. Altogether, there were 926 delegates and an equal number of alternates.

Mark Hanna opened the convention, and proposed that Senator Edward O. Wolcott of Colorado serve as temporary chairman: this was to show that the party had overcome its division in 1896, when the Colorado delegation walked out of the Republican Convention after a dispute over federal subsidies for the silver industry. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts served as the convention's permanent chairman.

President William McKinley was unanimously nominated for reelection after no candidate ran against him, although Admiral George Dewey considered a run.

Governor Theodore Roosevelt of New York, who was himself a delegate, was nominated for vice president by a vote of 925 to zero, his vote alone abstaining.

State delegates

Layout of convention hall during convention

The 1900 Republican National Convention included a historic first for the Republican Party: Frances Warren of Wyoming served as the party's first-ever female convention delegate.^[1] Additionally Jennie L. McCargar Jones, of Utah, and Susan Henderson West of Idaho served as alternate delegates.^[2][3][4]

Speakers

Illustration depicting the exterior of the venue during the convention

Photograph of an entrance to the venue during the convention

Photograph of the convention floor

The 1900 convention had fewer speakers than a modern convention typically has due to lack of TV and even radio at this time. There were however the following speakers:

June 19

• Prayer by Rev. James Gray Bolton D.D.
• Senator Mark Hanna (Ohio)
• Senator Edward O. Wolcott (Colorado)

June 20

• Prayer by Rev. Charles M. Boswell D.D.
• Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (Massachusetts)

June 21

• Prayer by Most Rev. P. J. Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia
• Senator Joseph B. Foraker (Ohio), McKinley nominating speech
• Theodore Roosevelt, Governor of New York, McKinley seconding speech

Balloting: President McKinley was nominated unanimously. This was the first unanimous nomination since President Grant in 1872.

• John W. Yerkes, IRS Commissioner from Kentucky
• George A. Knight, attorney and businessman from California
• James A. Mount, Governor of Indiana

Boss Platt of New York wanted to be rid of reformist governor Roosevelt. He persuaded Roosevelt to accept nomination for the vacant office of Vice President.

• Lafayette Young, newspaper reporter from Iowa, Roosevelt nominating speech
• M. J. Murray, local politician from Massachusetts, Roosevelt seconding speech
• General James M. Ashton, lawyer and soldier from Washington, Roosevelt seconding speech

Balloting: Roosevelt was nominated for vice president, though he abstained from voting on his own nomination.

• Senator Chauncey Depew (New York)

Vice-presidential nomination

Vice-presidential candidates

• 
  Governor
  Theodore Roosevelt
  of New York
• 
  Representative Jonathan P. Dolliver
  of Iowa
  (withdrawn)
• 
  Navy Secretary
  John D. Long
  of Massachusetts
  (withdrawn)

Candidates considered

• 
  Senator
  William B. Allison
  of Iowa
• 
  Former Interior Secretary
  Cornelius Bliss
  of New York
• 
  Senator
  Charles W. Fairbanks
  of Indiana
• 
  Secretary of War
  Elihu Root
  of New York
• 
  Senator
  John C. Spooner
  of Wisconsin
• 
  Lieutenant Governor
  Timothy L. Woodruff
  of New York

Vice President Garret Hobart had announced in September 1899 that he would not seek re-election due to declining health. In the event, he died in office on November 21, 1899, leaving the party the task of choosing a running mate for McKinley.

Entering the convention, many had expected that the ticket would consist of President McKinley and New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt.^[5] However, Ohio Senator Mark Hanna maneuvered to keep Roosevelt off the ballot, instead proposing Navy Secretary John D. Long of Massachusetts or Iowa Representative Jonathan P. Dolliver.^[5] Without the support of McKinley, Hanna's efforts fell short.^[6] Roosevelt himself did not particularly want to abandon his position of governor, but he desired to run for president in 1904 and when the party nominated him, he accepted the position.^[6] Roosevelt's nomination was spearheaded by bosses Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania and Thomas C. Platt of New York, the latter of whom wished to find a different job for the reformist Roosevelt.^[6]

Vice Presidential Balloting
Candidate	1st
Roosevelt	925
Not Voting	1

Vice-presidential balloting / 3rd day of convention (June 21, 1900)

• 
  1st
  Vice-presidential ballot

Platform

The Republican party supported the current administration's actions in the Philippines, while the Democratic party promoted "anti-imperialism".

See also

• History of the United States Republican Party
• List of Republican National Conventions
• United States presidential nominating convention
• 1900 United States presidential election
• 1900 Democratic National Convention