Marie Caroline Brehm, June 30, 1859 (Sandusky, Ohio) – January 21, 1926 (Long Beach, Calif.)
VP candidate for Prohibition Party (1924)
Running mate with nominee: Herman P. Faris (1858–1936)
Popular vote: 55,951 (0.19%)
Electoral vote: 0/531
The campaign:
At the Prohibition Party's 1924 convention, Robert H. Patton suggested that since Prohibition is a legal fact, perhaps the Party should disband and join a law and order group or form a new party. His proposal was rejected, and Patton walked out of the convention taking several delegates with him.
Missouri banker Herman P. Faris was nominated for President and Seattle Methodist pastor Adolph P. Gouthey "the cyclone evangelist" who once prophesied the End of the World was imminent was tapped for VP. Gouthey declined the honor and the convention turned to longtime activist Marie C. Brehm. Brehm had almost become the running mate in 1916 and 1920, but now her time had arrived.
The Prohibition Party, from their very first national election in 1872, consistently stood for equal rights for women in recognition that women's suffrage would be a major factor in battling the social ills caused by alcohol abuse. It is fitting that in this political issue where the Party had been a pioneer, they nominated the first woman on a national ticket who could legally vote for herself after passage of the 19th amendment.
Brehm was presented with her nomination notification at a public event July 4, 1924 at Bixby Park in Long Beach, Calif. The presenter was none other than celebrity evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson.
Up to this point in history the Prohibition Party's non-alcohol issues were generally fairly progressive. In the 1924 platform we begin to see their drift to the Right. A couple examples:
The Bible in the Schools
The Bible is the Magna Charta of human liberty and national safety and is of highest educational value. Therefore it should have a large place in our public schools.
Americanization of Aliens
Recognizing the fact that there are large numbers of unassimilated aliens now in this country who, in their present condition and environment, are incapable of assimilation, and are therefore a menace to our institutions, we declare for an immediate, scientific investigation, looking forward to a constructive program for Americanizing these aliens.
The Faris/Brehm Election Day meager finish with 0.19% of the popular vote was the Party's worst showing since 1880. Their two strongest finishes were in Florida (5.04%) and California (1.43%)
Election history:
1902 - University of Illinois Trustee (Prohibition Party) - defeated
1904 - University of Illinois Trustee (Prohibition Party) - defeated
1908 - University of Illinois Trustee (Prohibition Party) - defeated
1920 - California State Senate (Democratic/Prohibition Party) - defeated
Other occupations: lecturer, bookkeeper, teacher, author, Presbyterian missionary, US representative at Worlds Congress on Alcoholism (1909, 1913), Long Beach (Calif.) Planning Commission early 1920s,
Buried: (cremated) Oakland Cemetery (Sandusky, Ohio)
Notes:
Presbyterian
Moved to Olney, Ill. 1883-1884.
Became active with the WCTU in 1891 and rose rapidly in the ranks.
"What we need in this country is a snow-storm of pure Christian prohibition ballots, which will make
lifeless and powerless the great, organized, legalized rum system, and the women are asking for the
ballot that we may help you men to bring about a snow-storm which shall accomplish this
purpose."--Marie C. Brehm 1890s.
"The time will come when you will have to face the tobacco issue just as the world has faced the
slavery question and the liquor problem"--Marie C. Brehm 1925.
Was Vice-Chair of the short-lived National Party 1917-1918.
Activist behind the William Jennings Bryan 1920 Prohibition Party presidential nomination, but
Bryan declined.
Known for lacking a sense of humor.
Never married.
Died along with 11 others as the result of a grandstand collapse at the Tournament of Roses in
Pasadena, Calif. New Years Day 1926. If elected and had she attended this event, she would have
died in office.
Her full legal name was allegedly Suffragette Marie Caroline Brehm.
Moved to Long Beach, Calif. 1917
"To women voters - Organize! If there are reforms that your inner being demands must be
accomplished, don't fancy you can bring them about by electing one lone woman on a ticket where
men hold all the other offices. Organize! Put a whole ticket of women in the field...and you will see
the muck heaps of the past cleared away, and flowers of a beautified civil life blooming in their
place."--Marie Caroline Brehm 1924.
Daughter of German immigrants.
By coincidence, this post was created on Brehm's 160th birthday.
