1900 Toronto municipal election

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Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 1, 1900. Incumbent Mayor of Toronto John Shaw chose not to stand for a third term. Former Alderman Ernest A. Macdonald was elected mayor after having been unsuccessful on three previous attempts. He defeated Member of Parliament Edward Frederick Clarke, who was also a former mayor, and Second Ward Alderman John Hallam.^[1]^[2]

Toronto mayor

Results: Ernest A. Macdonald - 11,912; Edward Frederick Clarke, M.P. - 9,229; Alderman John Hallam - 5,181

Source:^[3]

Board of Control

The Toronto Board of Control was elected by Toronto City Council from among its members. Aldermen Sheppard, Frame and Spence were chosen to sit on the board, which was chaired by the mayor.^[4] On April 30th the province passed legislation that, effective immediately, added a fourth Alderman to the Board and removed the mayor's casting vote.^[5] On May 8th Alderman James M. Bowman was appointed the new controller. ^[6]

Plebiscites

Two plebiscites were held, one on the amalgamation of the school boards for elementary schools and high schools and a second authorizing the payment of salaries to the Mayor, Controllers, and Alderman, positions which had been unpaid.^[2]^[7]

Amalgamation of school boards: For - 11,288; Against - 5,650

Salaries for the Mayor, Controllers, and Aldermen: For - 7,584; Against - 11,220

Source:^[2]

Aldermen elected to City Council

Map of Toronto's six wards (1892-1909), published in *The Globe*, 1 January 1892.

Four alderman were elected to sit on Toronto City Council in each of six wards. Former Alderman John Leslie filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Alderman Frankland in the First Ward. Aldermen Davies, Score, Hanlan, Graham, and Lynd were all defeated.

First Ward: James Frame (incumbent) - 1,911; Wm. T. Stewart (incumbent) - 1,394; John Knox Leslie - 1,263; John Russell (incumbent)- 1,125; F.A. Richardson - 1,022; Lewis Brown - 782; George Chesman - 232; Charles C. Woodley - 194; E. Rice - 113

Second Ward: Francis Stephen Spence (incumbent) - 2,150; Daniel Lamb (incumbent) - 2,051; Edward Strachan Cox - 1,684; Thomas Foster - 1,581 (after recount); George Anderson - 1,576 (after recount); Charles Caldwell - 1,351; Thomas Davies (incumbent) - 1,286; William Thompson - 333

The original count was reported as Anderson 1,571 and Foster 1,524. A recount found that Foster had 11 more votes than Anderson. As a result, Foster was seated as the ward's fourth alderman.^[8]

Third Ward: John Francis Loudon - 3,628; Oliver Barton Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,681; George McMurrich - 2,351; Bernard Saunders (incumbent) - 2,139; Richard John Score (incumbent) - 2,003; Herbert S. James - 458

Fourth Ward: Thomas Urquhart - 3,098; Wm. P. Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,674; James Crane (incumbent) - 2,601; Wm. Burns (incumbent) - 2,495^[9]; Stephen W. Burns - 2,476^[9]; Edward Hanlan (incumbent) - 1,345; Thomas Roberts - 384

Reports initially gave William Burns 2,497 votes and Stephen Burns 2,470 votes. A recount adjusted the figures but affirmed the election of William Burns.^[9]

Fifth Ward: William L. Bell - 2,173; John Dunn (incumbent) - 1,831; A.R. Denison (incumbent) - 1,703; Francis H. Woods (incumbent) - 1,611; Dr. William Stewart Fraleigh - 1,600; Robert H. Graham (incumbent) - 1,559; Alex Stewart - 1,117; Henry E. Hamilton - 848; D.T. Hedley - 95; John Sabine - 90

Sixth Ward: Alex Asher - 1,701; John J. Graham (incumbent) - 1,636; James M. Bowman (incumbent) - 1,615; John J. Ward - 1,419; James W. Mallon - 1,370; Dr Adam Lynd (incumbent) - 1,191; Hugh MacMath - 707; A.F. Hatch - 83

Source:^[2] and ^[10]

References

Results taken from the January 2, 1900 Toronto Globe and might not exactly match final tallies.

[1]
A FIELD OF THREE: Hallam, Clarke and Macdonald Nominated For the Mayoralty MAYOR SHAW QUITS He Assures the Electors That There is No Deal On CANDIDATES' ADDRESSES Ald. Hallam's Business Platform--Mr. Macdonald's Change of Front--Ex-Mayor Clarke's Policy Some Who Were There Entrance of the Candidates The Nominations Mr. Macdonald Changes Front Ald. Hallam's Business Platform Against Monopoly Favors New Industries Will Enforce City's Rights Opposed to Salaries Ex-Mayor Clarke's Nominators Mr. Clarke's Speech Had Given Honest Service The Educational Question Mayor Shaw's Denial The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]23 Dec 1899: 25.
[2]
THE STRAPHOLDERS WIN THE DAY: E. A. Macdonald Elected Mayor of Toronto by 2,615 Majority SCHOOL UNION FAVORED, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]02 Jan 1900:
[3]
VISITS CITY HALL: Mayor-elect Macdonald Puts in an Appearance The Scramble For Seats on Board of Control--Official Return of Monday's Vote, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]03 Jan 1900: 7.
[4]
CIVIC INAUGURATION: Mayor Macdonald's Message Outlines an Energetic Policy THREE NEW CONTROLLERS Mayor Favors Election of Controllers by the People and Abolition of the Double Vote--He Resents the "Vulgar and Intolerant Language" of Mr. Wm. Mackenzie, "the Representative of a Corrupt Plutocracy," and Accepts the Gauntlet Thrown Down by Covenant-breaking Corporations--Candidates For High School Board to Be Pledged--May or Complains of a Disgraceful Lobby--Send-off to Second Contingent, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]09 Jan 1900: 9
[5]
https://archive.org/details/statutesofprovin1900onta/page/110/mode/2up
[6]
BOWMAN NEW CONTROLLER: The Board of Control and Mayor Vote For Him Had Double tlte Vote of Alderman Saunders--Mayor Usos Strong Language--Meeting of City Council, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]09 May 1900: 12
[7]
LOSS WAS LIGHT: Record of the Fires, Losses and Insurance For the Year MORE THAN TWO TO ONE Vote on Amalgamation of School Boards-- Attempt to Evade Compliance With Mandate to people", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]06 Jan 1900: 20
[8]
THE PRICE OF GAS: Preparing Another Suit Against the Consumers' Gas Co. ACCOUNTS NOT AUDITED Wlmt the Controllers Discovered--Estimates to be Prepared Early--Recounts in Wards 2 and 4, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]11 Jan 1900: 7.
[9]
HOLDS THE SEAT: Re-count in Fourth Ward in Favor of Aid. Wm. Burns Mayor Inquires Into Complaints Against officials-- New Sureties Offered, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]15 Jan 1900: 5.
[10]
A"LDERMEN IN THE FIELD: Number of Candidates in City Wards Smaller Than Usual LARGE AUDIENCES Only Four Members of Present Council Retire SOME LIVELY MEETINGS Plenty of Sport in the Fifth Ward, Resulting in Breaking of Furniture--Trustee Contests FIRST WARD School Trustees THE SECOND WARD School Trustees THIRD WARD Aldermen School Trustees Fourth Ward School Trustees FIFTH WARD School Trustees SIXTH WARD, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]23 Dec 1899: 28.

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