The Continental Party is one of the least studied of all third parties which contested a presidential election. Little is known of its platform or candidates.

The party was founded on 7/23/1904 when three men obtained a charter in Illinois for the "Continental party of the United States of America." The three founders were James P. Lynch, a physician; Clark Ervin, publisher of a periodical; and Robert C. Coy, a dentist; all of Chicago. They stated "The avowed object of the new party is to unite the disaffected of all faiths. It will offer a new haven for disgruntled democrats, the populists of the forlorn hope, the socialists who are not 'radicals,' republicans dissatisfied with the 'stand pat' policy, and any others seeking reform and freedom from the bondage of the political system." They promised a moderate, "sane," platform and a periodical that would announce its goals to its nationwide audience (Chicago Tribune, 7/24/1904). When Lynch sent out an announcement of the upcoming national convention, many newspapers described the party as an anti-Parker movement.

The Continental Party held its only national convention in Uhlich's Hall (27 North Clark Street), Chicago IL, on 8/31/1904, with 34 delegates from 27 states (although one newspaper reported that delegates were present from only IL, WI, and WV [Rock Island Argus, 9/1/1904]). Lynch, the party chairman, took the podium at 9:00 a.m. to gavel the convention to order. Letters of support were read to t

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The Continental Party is one of the least studied of all third parties which contested a presidential election. Little is known of its platform or candidates.

The party was founded on 7/23/1904 when three men obtained a charter in Illinois for the "Continental party of the United States of America." The three founders were James P. Lynch, a physician; Clark Ervin, publisher of a periodical; and Robert C. Coy, a dentist; all of Chicago. They stated "The avowed object of the new party is to unite the disaffected of all faiths. It will offer a new haven for disgruntled democrats, the populists of the forlorn hope, the socialists who are not 'radicals,' republicans dissatisfied with the 'stand pat' policy, and any others seeking reform and freedom from the bondage of the political system." They promised a moderate, "sane," platform and a periodical that would announce its goals to its nationwide audience (Chicago Tribune, 7/24/1904). When Lynch sent out an announcement of the upcoming national convention, many newspapers described the party as an anti-Parker movement.

The Continental Party held its only national convention in Uhlich's Hall (27 North Clark Street), Chicago IL, on 8/31/1904, with 34 delegates from 27 states (although one newspaper reported that delegates were present from only IL, WI, and WV [Rock Island Argus, 9/1/1904]). Lynch, the party chairman, took the podium at 9:00 a.m. to gavel the convention to order. Letters of support were read to the delegates, including one from A.A. King of Missouri, who stated that his father attended the meeting where the Republican Party was founded in 1854. The party approved a pre-drafted platform that recommended reciprosity with Canada, the construction of additional transcontinental railroads, a national income tax, taxes on unoccupied lands, direct election of U.S. Senators, and government reform. A delegate offered a plank on the issue of compulsory arbitration, which was voted down. The convention then nominated a national ticket comprised of two former Bryan Democrats who did not support Alton Parker. Charles H. Howard, a Chicago publisher and brother of Union Gen. O.O. Howard, was nominated for president. George H. Shibley of Washington D.C. was nominated for vice president; he had been active in the Populist Party in New York (Chicago Tribune, 9/1/1904).

The two candidates declined to run. Howard was attending the St. Louis Exposition at the time of the convention. When notified of his nomination, he immediately declined to run and announced that he supported the re-election of TR (Pittsburgh Press, 9/2/1904). Then Shibley sent a letter to the Continental Party notification committee that he declined to run [NYT 9/8/1904].

The Continental Party held a state convention in Chicago on 9/14 and nominated a state ticket (Rock Island Argus, 9/14/1904).

On 9/22/1904, the national executive committee met to consider a way forward. It nominated a new national ticket, with Austin Holcomb for President and A.A. King for VP (Buffalo Evening News, 9/22/1904. King was described as "a well known and respected man living near Purdy" in the Purdy newspaper (quoted in the Cassville Republican, 10/27/1904). This bit of information contradicts a recent claim that A.A. King was female. His name appeared in the U.S. Census of 1900 as Asabel A. King, a farmer who was born in 12/1849 in Michigan (U.S. Census 1900, Barry County MO).

The Illinois party had trouble collecting its documents for getting on the ballot and managed to file for office on 10/8, the final day for filing (Mount Carmel Daily Republican-Register, 10/10/1904).

In the general election, the Continental Party fielded a slate of presidential electors only in Illinois. One newspaper reported that Holcomb sought to withdraw from the race (Washington Post, 10/15/1904). On election day, the party received 830 votes, although Holcomb's total was only 826.

After its paltry support in the election, the party's executive committee met in Chicago on 11/17. The committee agreed to continue as a party and to open branches in other nations. One of those gathered was Asahel A. King (1849-1924), the VP nominee (Chicago Inter Ocean, 11/18/1904). Holcomb was not among those gathered. Local affiliates of the party met in 1905, including the Chicago chapter which met on 2/20/1905 and voted not to nominate a ticket in the upcoming local elections (Chicago Tribune, 2/21/1905).

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