The Bower Family Band petitions the Democratic National Committee to sing a Grover Cleveland rally song at the 1888 convention, but decide instead to move to the Dakota territory on the urging of a suitor to their eldest daughter. There, Grampa Bower causes trouble with his pro-Cleveland ideas, as Dakota residents are overwhelmingly Republican, and hope to get the territory admitted as two states (North and South Dakota) rather than one in order to send four Republican senators to Washington. Cleveland opposed this plan, refusing to refer to Congress the plan to organize the Dakotas this way. When Cleveland wins the popular vote, but Harrison the presidency due to the electoral college votes, the Dakotans (particularly the feuding young couple) resolve to live together in peace, and Cleveland grants statehood to the two Dakotas before he leaves office (along with two Democrat-voting states, evening the gains for both parties).

During the 1888 presidential campaigns of Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison, old Grandpa Bower organizes his son, daughter-in-law, and eight grandchildren into a family band that he hopes will be asked to perform his song, "Let's Put It Over With Grover," at the Democratic convention. Complications arise, however, when Alice, his eldest grandchild, falls in love with Joe Carder, a Republican newspaperman, who persuades Papa Bower to move the family to the newly-formed Dakota Territory. Though Grandpa grudgingly accepts his son's decision and accompanies the family to Rapid City, his strongly partisan political views soon create disharmony. On election night, all the townspeople gather at Frontier Hall for the returns. Just as it appears that Cleveland has been reelected by popular vote, the telegrapher announces that the Electoral College has elected Harrison to the White House. The outraged Democrats start a brawl that continues until Papa Bower restores peace by ordering the family band to play the national anthem. As the disgruntled Grandpa pays off an election bet by giving Joe a wheelbarrow ride down Main Street, word arrives that Cleveland will divide the Dakota Territory into two states, both Republican, before leaving office. Furthermore, Washington and Montana, both Democratic territories, will be admitted to the Union, thus restoring the political balance in Congress. Musical numbers: "Dakota," "'Bout Time" (Joe & Alice); "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band," "Let's Put It Over With Grover," "Ten Feet Off the Ground" (The Family Band); "Drummin', Drummin', Drummin'" (Grandpa & youngsters); "The Happiest Girl Alive" (Alice); "Oh, Benjamin Harrison" (Papa & men's chorus); "West of the Wide Missouri" (entire cast).