Democrats nominate Alton B. Parker to challenge U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in general election 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 9 1904)

1900s


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1904'

(Saturday, July 9, 1904, 5:45 a.m. local time) — Chief Judge of New York Court of Appeals Alton B. Parker of New York was nominated for president of the United States today by delegates at the 1904 Democratic National Convention meeting at the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall.

Parker finished ahead of Rep. William Randolph Hearst of New York on the first ballot by a 658-200, only nine votes shy of winning the nomination. The vote then shifted to 679-181 Parker before the vote was declared unanimous.

The convention also unanimously nominated former Sen. Henry G. Davis of West Virginia for vice president after he defeated Rep. James R. Williams of Illinois 644-165 on the first ballot (Davis was nominated Sunday, July 10 shortly after 1 a.m. local time).

The Parker-Davis ticket would oppose the Republican ticket of President Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Fairbanks (nominated in June 1904) in the 1904 general election.