A Bad Time
In the early hours of January 3rd, 1905, after struggling with an intense fever for several weeks, Peter Robert James Wilson, Deputy-Head of the Communist Party, Economics Minister, AM for Brooklyn South, Comrade-Chairman of the Assembly and de facto Head of the American Socialist Republic died at the age of 61.
The death of the 'Father of Modern Socialism' sent shockwaves through the Party, the government and indeed, the world. Hated by thousands but loved by millions, all member states of the Internationale declared March 3rd to be forever a day of rememberance for the Chairman and all comrades who had died in the 'Great Struggle' for world socialism, while nations like Russia and the Czech Republic forbid such celebrations on penalty of death. Many well respected newspapers the world over aired their disgust for the 'Red Menace' while some actually complimented him, though these were few and far between with police threats of shutting the pressworks down often being implemented. One event that was considered over the line for even the most right-wing newspaper and politician was the infamous 'Funeral Ball', when Kaiser Wilhelm organised the biggest social gathering of royality, nobility and the rich in over a century, which just happened to be on the day of Wilson's funeral. Disgust was world-wide, and while all Axis member heads of state appeared several actually left as photographers began to appear, and King Edward and Roosevelt didn't respond to their invitations, with Teddy even asking to participate in the funeral, but Union Party heads held him back and with a political crisis going on, the ASR Intelligence Office told him they wouldn't be able to garentee his security and so the idea was dropped.
While the outside world showed their love, hatred and respect, the Manhatten government put on a face of calm while political in-fighting broke out, with Wilson's Assembly merely enlarging the problem. Some in the anarchic factions called for the Assembly to rule as a whole to finally gain (almost) leaderless government, others demanded the opposite and to return to the small council so order could be instated while the Free Communists, who made up the majority of the Assembly called for a fresh nation-wide election and an Assembly vote to pick key members for the interim-Cabinet. Most Cabinet member remained in their posts, with Leone as Head of Internal affairs and Counter-Intelligence being one of the more important, while ageing Frenchman, Devereux was replaced as Propaganda and Information Minister by the Free Communist, Tankian and, despite his earlier intention to retire Admiral Moultrie stood to become the new CinC of the Armed Forces but Hugo, whether honestly or not, won the vote by only 161 to 138.
With interim government set-up, the general election was underway. Assembly politics wasn't simple and the election wasn't actually for Chairman as such, but amongst the subtle sub-parties within the Communists, who each had a candidate they intended to vote into office with a parliamentary majority. The Free Communists ran the Trade Union leader, Pat Simmons, whoes working class appeal but obvious intelligence and political skill charmed many, who believed he might be even more 'nice' than Wilson, but others were turned off, seeing a man ill-equipped for the tense geo-political situation of the time. The more hardline 'Strong Communists' put Marshal Hugo up for office, while the anarchic factions refused to put up a candidate meaning the portion of votes was to fall dramatically.
Simmons famously played for his factory's soccer team*, helping his everyman image, here he is in 1897 (he is in the back row at the centre)
Hugo used Leone's position to gadge public opinion, inspite of Cabinet memeber 'neutrality'. What he saw displeased him, it seemed Simmons' fluffy and kind image would end up enlarging the Free Communist majority from 170 to over 200, which was also helped by anarchic voters turning to Simmons or refusing to vote at all. Hugo after seeing this in late Febuary managed to get Moultrie to leave his General Staff, Leone was able to get the Free Communist Economic Minister imprisoned after being found guilty of corruption, which helped Hugo's vote, and also began to bring in more Hugo-ite officers into important commands while more openly liberal and moderate ones were either removed or placed in the Mandate Territories.
Throughout March, the numbers of key Free Communists being convicted of corruption and other acts rose sharply but after a while people began to see what was going on, as the number reached ridiculous levels. The Republican reported some 200 priests being arrested for trivial matters days before the election. Finally on the day, with heavy monitoring to make sure of no foul play, the Free Communists won, gaining an extra 5 seats giving them 175, the Hugoites took 113, the Anarchics took 10 and the Independent Trade Union Labor faction gained 2 in their first election. Hugo was furious at the result but knew Simmons wasn't Chairman until the Assembly agreed on it, and with a knowledge of the institution's workings, he hoped to use this to his advantage.
The day to vote on a Chairman and Vice-Chairman was March 23rd, and went ahead smoothly with the Assembly Members voting in Simmons as their pick, however he had to have the approval of the Cabinet, and much to the shock of many members they voted 7 to 3 against him. Leone declared the Union leader to have connections with the American Federation of Patriots and criminal elements plus to be heavily corrupt. Many laughed at the idea, seeing just another desperate Hugoite ploy to halt Free Communist government, but that sooned stopped. The Assembly House became an ad-hoc Court as pages and pages of documents appeared to back Leone's claims, while a nervous Simmons defended himself. At the same time, Red Guard units began to take over government buildings, claiming insurgent and terrorists attacks were expected. As the debate raged long into the night, and seeing he wouldn't get the re-vote he wanted, Leone finally took on Plan B and more Red Guard appeared and took control of the Assembly building. Leone then declared that his documents also implemented the entire Free Communist faction and as such all should be postponed from government, a quick vote amongst the other factions, of whom 113 of 125 were Hugoites, quickly saw this happen. Finally at about one o'clock in the morning, the rump Assembly voted unanamously for Hugo to become Chairman.
On the same night, the free press was shut down, the worker's cooperatives declared 'illict capitalist cliches' and the Free Communists and all other factions apart from the Hugoites banned. A bad time had begun.
Chairman Hugo, Red Napoleon, Red Tyrant
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*
soccer took off as the ASR's favourite sport at the turn of the century, the team Simmons played for would one day become the world famous Hudson Red Stars