1912+Presidential+Elections+(2-1)

1912 Presidential Election: During the 1912 presidential election there were three candidates: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Wiliam Howard Taft. Wilson was the democrats represenative. Roosevelt and Taft were competing for the repulican vote and when Taft was decided to be the Repuplican represenative, Roosevelt formed his own party called. Roosevelt argued for the elimination of special interests from politics, direct primaries, and graduated income and inheritance taxes. Roosevelt's platform also advocated a downward revision of the tariff schedule, open publicity about corporate business practices and decisions, and laws prohibiting the use of corporate funds in politics. Also he supported the initiative process, as well as the conservation and use of national resources to benefit all the people. Tafteventually beat out roosevelt for the repulican nomination. However he did finish third and was the only president to finish third when trying for re-election. Roosevelts attacks finally reached a sore spot when Taft responded in a speech on April 25, 1912, declaring that a Roosevelt victory would institute a reign of terror similar to that following the French Revolution. After that, the fight became a free-for-all, with Taft hitting back at Roosevelt constantly. The resulting campaign to win the Republican nomination was the first time when a president trying for re-election had to campaign in primaries. Woodrow wilson the Demcrats represenative who eventually won the election. Wilson was the second of only two Democrats to be elected President campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights. In the three-way election he received only 42 percent of the popular vote but almost all of the electoral vote.

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