Frank Elbridge Webb

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Frank Elbridge Webb
Washington D.C., U.S.
Political partyRepublican (until 1928)

Farmer–Labor Party (1928–1932)

Liberty Party (1932)
Other political
affiliations		Constitutional Party (c.1930's)
Spouse(s)
Ethel L. Webb
​
(div. 1927)​

Elsa Webb
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army

Colonel Frank Elbridge Webb (1869 – June 15, 1949) was an American industrial engineer who served as the Farmer–Labor Party's presidential candidate in 1928 and as the presidential candidate for a wing of the Liberty Party[a] in 1932.

Life and career

Webb was born in the California Mother Lode.[1][2] His father, a farmer, died when he was young.[2]

He was a recruiting sergeant during the Spanish-American War and served with the army quartermaster during World War I.[3]

Webb achieved some fame for his efforts to build bridges across San Francisco Bay.[4][5] He was an associate of John A. Bensel,[4] Leonard Wood,[6] as well as the Vanderbilts.[7][8]

Presidential election of 1928

Campaign history

In the 1928 presidential election, Webb bolted from the Republican Party and received the Farmer–Labor Party's nomination.[2] His selection came as a surprise to those familiar with him, as he had seldom involved himself in politics besides having a close friendship with many Republican leaders.[9] Just months prior to his nomination, Webb felt that bolting from the Republican Party would make him a laughingstock among his associates, but he sought and received the nomination nonetheless.[2]

Webb refused to run alongside Senator J. Thomas Heflin of Alabama, chiefly because he believed Heflin had attended cheap burlesque shows.[10] Senator James A. Reed of Missouri was nominated as the party's candidate for vice president, however he declined, remarking "Who the hell is Webb?" and making clear his support for Al Smith.[11][10] This remark was embraced by the party, with Webb and the Farmer–Labor Party including the remark in campaign literature, such as pamphlets and party bulletins.[1][12] Dr. Henry Quincy Alexander of North Carolina was then nominated as the party's candidate for vice president, however he later withdrew his name from the ticket and endorsed Al Smith.[12][13][14] Leroy R. Tillman of Georgia was then nominated as the party's candidate for vice president, with him being nominated because no more prominent individual could be found who was willing to serve.[12]

Platform

Webb campaigned on farm relief, public ownership of utilities, no changes in immigration law, a nonpartisan cabinet, and a national referendum on prohibition, among other positions.[2]

Results

Webb appeared on the ballot in Colorado, Iowa, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. He received 6,390 votes.[15][b]

Presidential election of 1932

Farmer–Labor Party

In April 1932, Webb was again nominated as the Farmer–Labor Party's nominee for president, with Jacob S. Coxey being nominated for vice president.[17] His nomination met significant opposition due to his wealth.[18] In June 1932, he was erased from the ticket after refusing to endorse the party platform in whole, and after it was charged that he lived in Washington, D.C., and not San Francisco, California.[18][c] The party reached the conclusion that he was "a spy for Hoover".[18]

Liberty Party

Campaign history

In July 1932,

Baptist minister and the national secretary of Bruner's Liberty Party, replaced Nordskog as the vice presidential nominee.[30][31] The Socialist and Farmer–Labor parties, and most other organizations claimed to fuse at the convention, disavowed any claims of fusion.[32][33][34] The old Liberty Party called the convention illegitimate and said that Bruner was falsely representing himself as the chairman of its executive committee.[35] In April 1932, the old Liberty Party had merged with the Jobless Party, planning to nominate a single candidate for president at an August convention of the "Jobless-Liberty" Party.[36] The merger collapsed shortly after the convention began, with the Liberty Party delegates present at the convention renominating Coin Harvey for president.[37][36][e] Bruner's Liberty Party demanded Harvey cease claiming to be the Liberty Party nominee, promising litigation if he refused.[38][39] The existence of two Liberty Party's severely impeded the campaign, with the party only fundraising $350.[31][40] In November 1932, prior to the election, Bruner's Liberty Party declared that it would not win, blaming the poor fundraising.[31] Spurgeon endorsed Hoover and Webb declared that it would be better for the country if Herbert Hoover was reelected rather than if Franklin D. Roosevelt won the presidency.[41]

Platform

  1. Retention and observance of the entire Constitution of the United States.[f]
  2. Government banks, operated for service only.
  3. Strict enforcement of the Sherman Anti-trust laws and restraint of trade acts.
  4. Cost of production plus a profit for the farmer.
  5. A 6-hour day and wages in keeping with industry.
  6. Expansion of currency dealing with unemployment and public improvements.
  7. Government supervision of public utilities.
  8. Protection of investments and capital only when invested in the United States.

The platform of the Liberty Party, with the exception of its first plank, was thought to be very similar to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s proposed New Deal.[42] The seventh plank originally called for government ownership of public utilities, however it was changed to its final form at the request of Webb, as he did not believe government should directly involve itself in business, except with regards to monetary policy.[43]

Results

Roosevelt defeated Hoover's bid for reelection and won the presidency with 42 states and 57.41% of the popular vote.[44] The Liberty Party appeared on just ten state ballots, and Harvey was present or reputed as the nominee in eight of those states, with Webb not appearing on any ballots. In California and New Mexico, where the name of presidential candidates did not appear on the ballot and state parties nominated a slate of electors, the state Liberty Parties professed support for neither Webb nor Harvey.[45][46][g] In California, the highest vote total for a Liberty Party elector was 9,827 votes,[47] and in New Mexico, the highest vote total for a Liberty Party elector was 389 votes.[48]

Later years

In February 1933, Webb wished the incoming Roosevelt administration the best of luck and said he would work for him if called upon.[49] In the years following the 1932 election, Webb organized and participated in various third party efforts, though they would not approach the scale or success of his previous efforts. For instance, he served as the chairman of the Constitutional Party, but it never appeared on any ballots and did not garner significant media attention.[50]

Death

Webb died suddenly on June 15, 1949, at his home in Washington, D.C. He was 79 years old.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ The party’s name was sometimes erroneously reported as the Liberal Party, and the wing that nominated Webb was sometimes reported to be known as the Liberty and Unity Party or just the Unity Party.
  2. ^ He received 1,092 votes in Colorado, 3,088 votes in Iowa, 1,283 votes in Oklahoma, and 927 votes in South Dakota.[16]
  3. ^ At the National Farmer–Labor Convention, had Webb not been allowed to cast California's votes for himself as its delegate, he would have lacked the necessary support to become the nominee. The convention had initially deadlocked because he was not allowed to cast California’s votes, but shortly before the convention was set to end he was allowed to vote for California, giving him enough support to become the party's nominee.
  4. ^ Bruner had been appointed to the executive committee at its August 1931 convention.[19] Soon after the convention, the executive committee became estranged from Coin Harvey, the party's nominee for president,[20] with him demanding, and receiving, the resignations of many committeemen, including Bruner, who had ascended to become the national chairman of the committee.[21] In the months following Bruner's resignation, Harvey and more members of the party became estranged, such as its vice presidential nominee, Andrae Nordskog, who Harvey demanded resign his place on the ticket.[20][22] By June 1932, Bruner was ignoring his previous resignation and presenting himself as the chairman of the executive committee.[23]
  5. ^ The Jobless Party delegates present at the convention nominated Cox, a few minutes before and a few miles away from the Liberty Party delegates.[36]
  6. 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution established prohibition. This plank declared the party to be supportive of retaining the amendment and strict enforcement of the Volstead Act
    .
  7. ^ In California, the state party had supported Harvey until they heard reports he dropped out of the race. In New Mexico, the state party did not name the candidate their electors intended to support, and did not seem to know when asked after the election who they supported.

References

  1. ^ a b TIME (1928-10-08). "MINOR PARTIES: Mr. Webb". TIME. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e "He Quit Ranks of G.O.P. to Lead Farm-Labor Party". Okmulgee Daily Times. September 13, 1928. p. 5. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Ex-Presidential Candidate Dies". The Oregon Daily Journal. June 16, 1949. p. 21. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Bridge Plan Told By Noted Engineer". The San Francisco Journal and Daily Journal of Commerce. October 8, 1922. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  5. ^ "Farmer-Labor Ticket Filled". The Grand Rapids Press. September 7, 1928. pp. 1–2. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  6. ^ "Farmer-Labor Party to Have Candidates". The Arroyo Grande Valley Herald Recorder. 1932-03-25. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  7. ^ "Richest Club Takes Vanderbilt's 'Idle Hour'". New York Herald. 1922-01-15. p. 73. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  8. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  9. ^ "Bay Bridge Promoter Is Nominated By Farmer-Labor Party". The Times. 1928-09-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  10. ^ a b "Fill Farmer-Labor Ticket". The Grand Rapids Press. 1928-09-07. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  11. ^ "Reed Not To Be With Webb On New Ticket; Candidate Webb Sued Here For Bill For Meat". The Times. 1928-09-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  12. ^ a b c "Farmer-Labor Party Bulletin". The Tuttle Times. 1928-10-05. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  13. ^ "Farmer-Labor Party Bulletin". The Tuttle Times. 1928-09-21. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  14. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  15. ^ "1928 Presidential General Election Results". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  16. ^ "Nominee By New Party". The Kansas City Times. 1932-07-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  17. ^ "Webb and Coxey Chosen Farmer-Labor Nominees". The Atlanta Journal. 1932-04-28. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  18. ^ a b c "Huey Long Urged -- Farmer-Labor Party Seeks Presidential Candidate". The Bellingham Herald. June 20, 1932. p. 10. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  19. ^ "80-Year-Old Vet Of Many Battles Is Finally Named By Liberty Party (pg. 2)". The Springfield News-Leader. 1931-08-27. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  20. ^ a b "80-Year-Old Vet Of Many Battles Is Finally Named By Liberty Party". The Springfield News-Leader. 1931-08-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  21. ^ "Harvey Names Chairman". Springfield Leader and Press. 1931-12-31. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  22. ^ "Liberty Party Not Entirely At Peace". Progress-Bulletin. 1932-03-18. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  23. ^ "A Third Party Parley Here". The Kansas City Times. 1932-06-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  24. ^ "Third Party To Have Ticket". The Peninsula Times Tribune. 1932-07-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  25. ^ "Webb and Nordskog On Ticket Named By New Liberty Party". Daily Sentinel. 1932-07-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  26. ^ "Liberty Party Selects Webb". The Sacramento Union. 1932-07-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  27. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  28. ^ "Two From California". The Sacramento Union. 1932-07-10. p. 16. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  29. ^ "Third Party Names Ticket, But It's Unconstitutional". Daily News. 1932-07-05. p. 348. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  30. ^ "Kansas City Cleric Gets Liberty Party Candidacy". The Sacramento Bee. 1932-09-23. p. 19. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  31. ^ a b c "Liberty Party Gives Up". The Kansas City Times. 1932-11-03. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  32. ^ "'Third Parties' Are Beckoning". The Missoulian. 1932-07-12. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  33. ^ "Socialists Deny Liberty Party Deal". Oakland Tribune. 1932-07-08. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  34. ^ "Parties For One Banner". The Kansas City Times. 1932-07-02. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  35. ^ "'Coin' Harvey In Statement". The Springfield Press. 1932-06-24. p. 12. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  36. ^ a b c "Rival Heads of 'Jobless' Party Split". The Californian. 1932-08-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  37. ^ "Jobless Liberty Party Chiefs in Convention Row". Modesto News-Herald. 1932-08-17. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  38. ^ "'Coin' Harvey Un-Nominated". Detroit Free Press. 1932-09-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  39. ^ "Liberty Party Head Facing Legal Fight". Evening star. 1932-09-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  40. ^ "A Block In Coin Harvey". The Kansas City Star. 1932-08-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  41. ^ "Liberty Nominee For Hoover". The Kansas City Times. 1932-11-05. p. 17. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  42. ^ "Frank Elbridge Webb of the District of Columbia - Unity Party". Mid-West Progressive. 1932-11-03. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  43. ^ "Nominee Disagrees". Evening star. 1932-07-05. p. 22. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  44. ^ "1932 Presidential General Election Results". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  45. ^ "Progressive League Now Backs Hoover". Oakland Tribune. 1932-11-02. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  46. ^ "Liberty Party Is Candidate Puzzle". Carlsbad Current-Argus. 1932-11-25. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  47. ^ "1932 Presidential General Election Results - California". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  48. ^ "1932 Presidential General Election Results - New Mexico". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  49. ^ "Work for Roosevelt? Frank Webb Is Willing". Omaha World-Herald. 1933-02-11. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  50. ^ "Political Slants". The Los Angeles Times. 1936-03-18. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
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