Changes

The Democrats gained ten seats in the Senate, just enough to form a majority, and 63 new House seats to solidify their control there. Progressive statewide candidates trailed about 20% behind Roosevelt's vote. Almost all of the Progressive candidates, including [[Albert Beveridge]] of [[Indiana]], went down to defeat; the only governor elected was Hiram Johnson, who ran on the regular Republican Party ticket. Only seventeen Bull Moosers were elected to Congress, and perhaps 250 to local office. Outside California, there was no real base to the party beyond the personality of Roosevelt himself.  

The Democrats gained ten seats in the Senate, just enough to form a majority, and 63 new House seats to solidify their control there. Progressive statewide candidates trailed about 20% behind Roosevelt's vote. Almost all of the Progressive candidates, including [[Albert Beveridge]] of [[Indiana]], went down to defeat; the only governor elected was Hiram Johnson, who ran on the regular Republican Party ticket. Only seventeen Bull Moosers were elected to Congress, and perhaps 250 to local office. Outside California, there was no real base to the party beyond the personality of Roosevelt himself.  

Roosevelt had scored a second-place finish, but he trailed so far behind Wilson that everyone realized his party would never win the White House. With the poor performance at state and local levels in 1912, the steady defection of top supporters, the failure to attract any new support, and a pathetic showing in 1914, the Bull Moose party disintegrated at the national level, although some state parties remained fairly strong. It did very well in Washington, winning a third of the seats in the state legislature, according to the State Legislature history page. Some leaders, such as [[Harold Ickes]] of Chicago, supported Wilson in 1916. Many followed Roosevelt back into the Republican Party, which in 1916 nominated [[Charles Evans Hughes]]. The ironies were many: Taft had been Roosevelt's hand-picked successor in 1908 and the split between the two men was ideological. No compromise was possible on issues like the independence of the judiciary. Roosevelt's schism allowed the conservatives to gain control of the Republican party and left Roosevelt and his followers drifting in the wilderness throughout the 1920's before most joined the [[New Deal]] Democratic Party coalition of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].

Roosevelt had scored a second-place finish, but he trailed so far behind Wilson that everyone realized his party would never win the White House. With the poor performance at state and local levels in 1912, the steady defection of top supporters, the failure to attract any new support, and a pathetic showing in 1914, the Bull Moose party disintegrated at the national level, although some state parties remained fairly strong. It did very well in Washington, winning a third of the seats in the state legislature, according to the State Legislature history page. Some leaders, such as [[Harold L. Ickes|Harold Ickes]] of Chicago, supported Wilson in 1916. Many followed Roosevelt back into the Republican Party, which in 1916 nominated [[Charles Evans Hughes]]. The ironies were many: Taft had been Roosevelt's hand-picked successor in 1908 and the split between the two men was ideological. No compromise was possible on issues like the independence of the judiciary. Roosevelt's schism allowed the conservatives to gain control of the Republican party and left Roosevelt and his followers drifting in the wilderness throughout the 1920's before most joined the [[New Deal]] Democratic Party coalition of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].

==LaFollete creates a third party in 1924==

==LaFollete creates a third party in 1924==

In Wisconsin the Republican Party was split into two factions after 1900, the conservatives and the "Progressives" led by [[Robert LaFollette]].  LaFollette broke bitterly with Roosevelt in 1912, but stayed in the Republican party. In 1924 LaFollette ran for President on his own ticket, also named the '''Progressive Party'''.  It carried only the state of Wisconsin, but was strong among labor union members, especially railroad workers. It did not run state or local candidates, and disappeared with LaFollette's death in 1925.   

In Wisconsin the Republican Party was split into two factions after 1900, the conservatives and the "Progressives" led by [[Robert LaFollette]].  LaFollette broke bitterly with Roosevelt in 1912, but stayed in the Republican party. In 1924 LaFollette ran for President on his own ticket, also named the '''Progressive Party'''.  It carried only the state of Wisconsin, but was strong among labor union members, especially railroad workers. It did not run state or local candidates, and disappeared with LaFollette's death in 1925.