TLTIMD: For Want Of A Hat
- Thread starter Gog (♀)
- Start date
nope its LONG
if you get my drift
console yourself with the fact that the Socialist Party will become far more prominent later on
nope its LONG
if you get my drift
console yourself with the fact that the Socialist Party will become far more prominent later on
May Huey Long come to regret his actions.
Huey Pierce Long's Cabinet
Vice President: Burton K. Wheeler (D-MT)
Secretary of State: William E. Borah (R-ID)
Secretary of the Treasury: James Couzens (R-MI)
Secretary of War: Smedley D. Butler[1](D-PA)
Secretary of the Navy: James Forrestal (D-NJ)
Secretary of the Interior: Lytle Brown (R-TN)
Secretary of Commerce: Henry A. Wallace (D-IA)
Attorney General: Frank Murphy (D-MI)
Secretary of Labor: Edward Heating (D-CO)
Secretary of Agriculture: Ernest Lundeen (FL-MN)
[1] Cancer butterfliedVice President: Burton K. Wheeler (D-MT)
Secretary of State: William E. Borah (R-ID)
Secretary of the Treasury: James Couzens (R-MI)
Secretary of War: Smedley D. Butler[1](D-PA)
Secretary of the Navy: James Forrestal (D-NJ)
Secretary of the Interior: Lytle Brown (R-TN)
Secretary of Commerce: Henry A. Wallace (D-IA)
Attorney General: Frank Murphy (D-MI)
Secretary of Labor: Edward Heating (D-CO)
Secretary of Agriculture: Ernest Lundeen (FL-MN)
I also changed FL color because its hard on the eyes
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JANUARY 21ST, 1941, WASHINGTON DC
The crowd, numbering the largest in the history of inaugurations watched now President Huey Long's inaugural address. It had taken so long to come to this day thought John Brooks, a steelworker from Detroit, who had made his way to the ceremony. The fiery Long had promised to sustain America, not remake it as the Communists and Fascists proclaimed and the remaining moderates (the few there were) sided reluctantly with him. Then Long finished his speech,
"I promise life to the guaranties of our immortal document, the Declaration of Independence, which has decreed that all shall be born equal, and by this I mean that children shall not come into this life burdened with debt, but on the contrary, shall inherit the right to life, liberty and such education and training as qualifies them and equips them to take their proper rank in the pursuance of the occupation and vocation wherein they are worth most to themselves and to this country. And now I must be about my work."
What ever commentators said next was drowned out by the crowd, having finally got a leader who would do something about the depression. He shook former President Frank Knox's hand and went off to the Oval Office, to start his work.
The crowd, numbering the largest in the history of inaugurations watched now President Huey Long's inaugural address. It had taken so long to come to this day thought John Brooks, a steelworker from Detroit, who had made his way to the ceremony. The fiery Long had promised to sustain America, not remake it as the Communists and Fascists proclaimed and the remaining moderates (the few there were) sided reluctantly with him. Then Long finished his speech,
"I promise life to the guaranties of our immortal document, the Declaration of Independence, which has decreed that all shall be born equal, and by this I mean that children shall not come into this life burdened with debt, but on the contrary, shall inherit the right to life, liberty and such education and training as qualifies them and equips them to take their proper rank in the pursuance of the occupation and vocation wherein they are worth most to themselves and to this country. And now I must be about my work."
What ever commentators said next was drowned out by the crowd, having finally got a leader who would do something about the depression. He shook former President Frank Knox's hand and went off to the Oval Office, to start his work.
Sharing Our Wealth
It was suspected what Long had in store for the SoW Program, but none had any idea how large and sweeping it was to be. He proposed large work programs, national reconstruction programs, inheritance estate and other taxes, the popular election of bank officials (The Rankin Bill), free higher education, pensions for the elderly and others, a healthcare system, and a plan to make a yearly stipend for all families– enough for a home, an automobile, a radio, and the ordinary conveniences. And there were far more other proposals that were brought to congress as the Share Our Wealth Program in full. An exert here on the redistribution of wealth part:
Redistribution of Wealth
"Congress provided that as a matter of national policy necessary for the preservation of the nation and its defense against foreign foes that the United States declare it against public policy for any family to have less than the comforts of home and of life, free of debt, and equal to at least the value of one-third the average American family wealth; that in order to guarantee such comforts and necessities of life to all the people, it was necessary that some reasonable limit be placed on the wealth which one person might own; and, accordingly, Congress declared that it was against the public policy of the United States for any one person to possess wealth in excess of one hundred times the average family fortune.
To bring about the redistribution of wealth, not only to give the comforts of home to the people, but to provide some of the revenue needed for expansion and improvement in
the United States, Congress imposed a capital levy tax to be levied every year on every fortune in the nation as follows:
(a) On all wealth owned by a person from 1 up to One Million Dollars, no capital tax levy, it being the policy of the law that for one to own up to a million dollars does no injury to the balance of the people having comforts of life.
(b) On all wealth which one owns above One Million Dollars and up to Two Million Dollars, a capital levy tax of 1% on the second million only.
(c) On all wealth which one owns above Two Million Dollars and up to Three Million Dollars, a capital levy tax of 2% on the third million.
(d) On all wealth which one owns above Three Million Dollars and up to Four Million Dollars, a tax of 4% on the fourth million.
(e) On all wealth which one owns above Four Million Dollars and up to Five Million Dollars, a tax of 8% on the fifth million.
(f) On all wealth which one owns above Five Million Dollars and up to Six Million Dollars, a tax of 16% on the sixth million.
(g) On all wealth which one owns above Six Million Dollars and up to Seven Million Dollars, a tax of 32% on the Seventh Million.(h) On all wealth which one owns above Seven Million Dollars and up to Eight Million Dollars, a tax of 64% on the eighth million.
(i) On all wealth which one owns above Eight Million Dollars, a tax of 99%.
Calculated by simple arithmetic the foregoing table meant that all fortunes would generally fall to a maximum limit of around Five Million Dollars to the person the first or second year, but gradually thereafter, the capital tax, being levied year after year, would reduce the largest fortune to from one to two millions of dollars.
Inasmuch as large quantities of properties could not be converted into cash to make an immediate payment, the person taxed was permitted to turn over property or cash in payment of the tax and was also allowed to pay the tax in installments.
The money and wealth thus raised for the government, under the surveys and plans arranged, was used first to supply the comforts of home and life to the masses up to a value equal to one-third of the average family wealth. The Congress provided that, in order to make such distribution of the properties turned into the United States in payment of the capital levy tax, that the Government should have the right to sell property, to transfer and exchange it for other property, to issue currency to be retired from sale and disposition of the government's properties, along the lines as followed in the Federal Land Bank financing.
It being determined that each family should have a home and comforts for life, the acts of Congress provided that such a home should not be sold by the owners unless the State should consent to such sale, and that the proceeds from such sale should be impounded, only to he used for the purchase of another homestead. The rules set up to protect the ownership of homes and comforts for life in several States were largely followed in preparing this legislation."
-------------------------------------------------
This would have been a monumental task as even some of the Democrats balked. If it weren't for the support of the Socialists and the other parties, it never would have passed. But, it did over the furious objection of the conservatives, who were now out numbered. Now it passed to the Supreme Court, the one body that was populated by Conservatives. The President himself visited each member personally, and after they voted 5-4 to allow the bill. (There is reason to believe that Long blackmailed them into accepting, but any actual evidence is not found.) The programs started up, and the economic downturn started to drastically slow. And the slogan: "Every Man A King, But None With A Crown." was cheered by many. The horrified conservatives, could but mutter "Every Man A King, But One With A Crown."
Long in his study, having finished drafting the SoW Program
It was suspected what Long had in store for the SoW Program, but none had any idea how large and sweeping it was to be. He proposed large work programs, national reconstruction programs, inheritance estate and other taxes, the popular election of bank officials (The Rankin Bill), free higher education, pensions for the elderly and others, a healthcare system, and a plan to make a yearly stipend for all families– enough for a home, an automobile, a radio, and the ordinary conveniences. And there were far more other proposals that were brought to congress as the Share Our Wealth Program in full. An exert here on the redistribution of wealth part:
Redistribution of Wealth
"Congress provided that as a matter of national policy necessary for the preservation of the nation and its defense against foreign foes that the United States declare it against public policy for any family to have less than the comforts of home and of life, free of debt, and equal to at least the value of one-third the average American family wealth; that in order to guarantee such comforts and necessities of life to all the people, it was necessary that some reasonable limit be placed on the wealth which one person might own; and, accordingly, Congress declared that it was against the public policy of the United States for any one person to possess wealth in excess of one hundred times the average family fortune.
To bring about the redistribution of wealth, not only to give the comforts of home to the people, but to provide some of the revenue needed for expansion and improvement in
the United States, Congress imposed a capital levy tax to be levied every year on every fortune in the nation as follows:
(a) On all wealth owned by a person from 1 up to One Million Dollars, no capital tax levy, it being the policy of the law that for one to own up to a million dollars does no injury to the balance of the people having comforts of life.
(b) On all wealth which one owns above One Million Dollars and up to Two Million Dollars, a capital levy tax of 1% on the second million only.
(c) On all wealth which one owns above Two Million Dollars and up to Three Million Dollars, a capital levy tax of 2% on the third million.
(d) On all wealth which one owns above Three Million Dollars and up to Four Million Dollars, a tax of 4% on the fourth million.
(e) On all wealth which one owns above Four Million Dollars and up to Five Million Dollars, a tax of 8% on the fifth million.
(f) On all wealth which one owns above Five Million Dollars and up to Six Million Dollars, a tax of 16% on the sixth million.
(g) On all wealth which one owns above Six Million Dollars and up to Seven Million Dollars, a tax of 32% on the Seventh Million.(h) On all wealth which one owns above Seven Million Dollars and up to Eight Million Dollars, a tax of 64% on the eighth million.
(i) On all wealth which one owns above Eight Million Dollars, a tax of 99%.
Calculated by simple arithmetic the foregoing table meant that all fortunes would generally fall to a maximum limit of around Five Million Dollars to the person the first or second year, but gradually thereafter, the capital tax, being levied year after year, would reduce the largest fortune to from one to two millions of dollars.
Inasmuch as large quantities of properties could not be converted into cash to make an immediate payment, the person taxed was permitted to turn over property or cash in payment of the tax and was also allowed to pay the tax in installments.
The money and wealth thus raised for the government, under the surveys and plans arranged, was used first to supply the comforts of home and life to the masses up to a value equal to one-third of the average family wealth. The Congress provided that, in order to make such distribution of the properties turned into the United States in payment of the capital levy tax, that the Government should have the right to sell property, to transfer and exchange it for other property, to issue currency to be retired from sale and disposition of the government's properties, along the lines as followed in the Federal Land Bank financing.
It being determined that each family should have a home and comforts for life, the acts of Congress provided that such a home should not be sold by the owners unless the State should consent to such sale, and that the proceeds from such sale should be impounded, only to he used for the purchase of another homestead. The rules set up to protect the ownership of homes and comforts for life in several States were largely followed in preparing this legislation."
-------------------------------------------------
This would have been a monumental task as even some of the Democrats balked. If it weren't for the support of the Socialists and the other parties, it never would have passed. But, it did over the furious objection of the conservatives, who were now out numbered. Now it passed to the Supreme Court, the one body that was populated by Conservatives. The President himself visited each member personally, and after they voted 5-4 to allow the bill. (There is reason to believe that Long blackmailed them into accepting, but any actual evidence is not found.) The programs started up, and the economic downturn started to drastically slow. And the slogan: "Every Man A King, But None With A Crown." was cheered by many. The horrified conservatives, could but mutter "Every Man A King, But One With A Crown."
Long in his study, having finished drafting the SoW Program
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Yeah, I think it all seems pretty believable so far although I'm rather suspicious of party collapses but that's fine. Keep going. Always love the Kingfish!
No party will collapse but the Republicans have been locked out for a generation for the presidency, and it's likely that the Conservative Democrats might jump ship later. And the Kingfish shall make every man a king, just you see
Hi there! This is a pretty interesting TL, btw.....especially because the Kingfish is a little underappreciated, IMHO.
Mostly, yeah, except that you should *really* rename the Coughlin Bill if you don't want significant plausibility issues: IOTL, as it was, the guy had very little of his former popularity remaining by the end of the 1930s, something that isn't liable to change much, even with the absence of FDR(also, Coughlin was not in government, something that's also rather unlikely to change).
Why not try somebody like Jeannette Rankin, instead? Although a woman, she was still fairly respected amongst Montanans, and it shouldn't be too difficult to get her back in office a little earlier. But, if you feel that's a little too risky, William E. Borah would also work out pretty good as well, as he was a progressive as well(and his being Secretary of State shouldn't be much of a problem.).
Mostly, yeah, except that you should *really* rename the Coughlin Bill if you don't want significant plausibility issues: IOTL, as it was, the guy had very little of his former popularity remaining by the end of the 1930s, something that isn't liable to change much, even with the absence of FDR(also, Coughlin was not in government, something that's also rather unlikely to change).
Why not try somebody like Jeannette Rankin, instead? Although a woman, she was still fairly respected amongst Montanans, and it shouldn't be too difficult to get her back in office a little earlier. But, if you feel that's a little too risky, William E. Borah would also work out pretty good as well, as he was a progressive as well(and his being Secretary of State shouldn't be much of a problem.).
Flight Of The Democratic Conservatives
When President Long passed SoW, the sparse Conservative Democrats were appalled at this. They had voted against the President's bill and yet it still passed. Some petitioned the President to reconsider but he refused. Seeing no place for them in the party as it was now controlled by Long and Progressives, some suggested leaving for the Republicans. However they decided against it (except for a sole representative from Maine.) and decided to form their own party. They left and created the Conservative Party, and in doing so broke Democratic control of the Senate and put control of the House in jeopardy. There was suspicion that Long's other programs would not get passed, but the Socialists and Farmer-Labor Parties supported his economic policies and thus were able to ensure their passing. The composition of congress now stood as here.
February 23rd 1941
House of Representatives
Democrats: 221 [-24]
Republicans: 98[+1]
Socialists: 59[0]
Farmer Labor: 29[0]
Conservatives: 23 [+23]
Communists: 3[0]
Union: 2[0]
Senate
Democrats: 46[-6]
Republicans: 19[0]
Socialists: 18[0]
Farmer Labor: 8[0]
Conservatives: 6[+6]
Union: 2[0]
Communists: 1[0]
When President Long passed SoW, the sparse Conservative Democrats were appalled at this. They had voted against the President's bill and yet it still passed. Some petitioned the President to reconsider but he refused. Seeing no place for them in the party as it was now controlled by Long and Progressives, some suggested leaving for the Republicans. However they decided against it (except for a sole representative from Maine.) and decided to form their own party. They left and created the Conservative Party, and in doing so broke Democratic control of the Senate and put control of the House in jeopardy. There was suspicion that Long's other programs would not get passed, but the Socialists and Farmer-Labor Parties supported his economic policies and thus were able to ensure their passing. The composition of congress now stood as here.
February 23rd 1941
House of Representatives
Democrats: 221 [-24]
Republicans: 98[+1]
Socialists: 59[0]
Farmer Labor: 29[0]
Conservatives: 23 [+23]
Communists: 3[0]
Union: 2[0]
Senate
Democrats: 46[-6]
Republicans: 19[0]
Socialists: 18[0]
Farmer Labor: 8[0]
Conservatives: 6[+6]
Union: 2[0]
Communists: 1[0]
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On The Edge
As the Long administration's focus was primarily on domestic affairs, not much was carried out in foreign affairs until the dire situation of Britain in WWII forced President Long to propose the Lend Lease bill, which would aid the Allies in WWII. This would have never passed if it weren't for the lengthy speech of Representative Emil Seidel (S-NY) that galvanized the Socialists in supporting Long's initiative. The long filibuster of Senator William Lemke (U-ND) who attempted to block the bill for as long as possible (22 hours in fact, a very long filibuster) in favor of isolation. In the end the Democrat-Socialist coalition managed to get the bill passed by 2 votes. The Japanese, having long prepared for another war in China, were sidetracked severely. On Febuary 26th 1936 the less imperialistic officers who were worried of the growing power of the militarists, and on orders from Emparor Hirohito, purged the millitarastic officers. Hirohito, now having established far more control over Japan, decided to consolidate Japan's empire now then overextend. Germany had conquered most of Western Europe by now and Hitler had decided that the invasion of the USSR would have to wait for some time. So he decided to prepare for war against America and set out secret orders to sink merchant marine. Many Americans still supported neutrality like Vice President Wheeler. The United States and its people would soon not have a choice in joining the war. For on July 17th, 1941, two American ships escorting a Lend Lease vessel were sunk by German U boats in the North Sea. In a nearly unanimous vote, 432-3 and 97-2, America had entered the Second World War.
As the Long administration's focus was primarily on domestic affairs, not much was carried out in foreign affairs until the dire situation of Britain in WWII forced President Long to propose the Lend Lease bill, which would aid the Allies in WWII. This would have never passed if it weren't for the lengthy speech of Representative Emil Seidel (S-NY) that galvanized the Socialists in supporting Long's initiative. The long filibuster of Senator William Lemke (U-ND) who attempted to block the bill for as long as possible (22 hours in fact, a very long filibuster) in favor of isolation. In the end the Democrat-Socialist coalition managed to get the bill passed by 2 votes. The Japanese, having long prepared for another war in China, were sidetracked severely. On Febuary 26th 1936 the less imperialistic officers who were worried of the growing power of the militarists, and on orders from Emparor Hirohito, purged the millitarastic officers. Hirohito, now having established far more control over Japan, decided to consolidate Japan's empire now then overextend. Germany had conquered most of Western Europe by now and Hitler had decided that the invasion of the USSR would have to wait for some time. So he decided to prepare for war against America and set out secret orders to sink merchant marine. Many Americans still supported neutrality like Vice President Wheeler. The United States and its people would soon not have a choice in joining the war. For on July 17th, 1941, two American ships escorting a Lend Lease vessel were sunk by German U boats in the North Sea. In a nearly unanimous vote, 432-3 and 97-2, America had entered the Second World War.
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Gearing For War
When war was declared against Germany, President Long knew that a massive force would be required to beat Germany in Europe. So he enacted the Draft and cards were issued. However, due to the devastation of the Great Depression, 56% of draftees were ineligible due to malnutrition. So President Long decided to create a leaner heavily trained force, and American draftees were to be trained for 1 year, making deployment slow. He also proposed the National War Effort Act, where factories would have to produce war materials and aids of those as a far higher priority over luxury goods. The Internment Act allowed for the detention of suspicious German, and Italian Americans in camps. The last large legislation was the Enemies Of America act, which effectively outlawed aiding and being a fascist. This effected the Union Party, which was cut down from 560,000 members and high elected officials to 13,562 members and no elected officials. Said officials (including congressmen, senators and governors.) were arrested and special elections held in place. Some decried this, but were in the far far minority. America was now in Total War, and it was ready for it.
Huey Long giving his war address
When war was declared against Germany, President Long knew that a massive force would be required to beat Germany in Europe. So he enacted the Draft and cards were issued. However, due to the devastation of the Great Depression, 56% of draftees were ineligible due to malnutrition. So President Long decided to create a leaner heavily trained force, and American draftees were to be trained for 1 year, making deployment slow. He also proposed the National War Effort Act, where factories would have to produce war materials and aids of those as a far higher priority over luxury goods. The Internment Act allowed for the detention of suspicious German, and Italian Americans in camps. The last large legislation was the Enemies Of America act, which effectively outlawed aiding and being a fascist. This effected the Union Party, which was cut down from 560,000 members and high elected officials to 13,562 members and no elected officials. Said officials (including congressmen, senators and governors.) were arrested and special elections held in place. Some decried this, but were in the far far minority. America was now in Total War, and it was ready for it.
Huey Long giving his war address
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