1904 Welsh local government election
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The 1904 Glamorgan County Council election was the sixth contest for seats on this authority in south Wales. It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election. Glamorgan was by far the largest county in Wales in terms of population. Glamorgan County Council had been established by the Local Government Act 1888, the first elections being held in early 1889.
Overview of the result
As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. In 1904 the majority of the seats were uncontested, in contrast to the position at previous elections.[1]
Results are drawn from a number of sources. They include a number of newspapers.[2]
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes at this election.
Retiring aldermen
Eight of the eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals.
Contested elections
In the Rhondda district, the local paper stated that 'no truer manifestation of good faith and respect for the retiring County Councillors could have been shown than that eight of them were returned unopposed.' There were only two contested elections in the valley.[3]
John Morgan Smith held on to the seat he had held since 1889 by a mere two votes. At previously elections he had described himself both as a Conservative and Independent and had been returned unopposed on several occasions.
This was a contest in which the controversy over the education rate featured and the sitting member, a Roman Catholic, was defeated by the clerk of the former School Board.[1]
After fifteen years, Edward P. Martin, managing director of Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds decided not to seek re-election but was replaced as candidate by Henry W. Martin, general manager of the company. A 'large deputation of tradespeople and workmen' was reported to have pressed him to stand.[5]
Griffith George, who had previously served on the Aberdare School Board and Aberdare Urban District Council had been invited to contest the seat three years previously but had declined. Parker then stood and came within 41 votes of victory.[7] There was some criticism of George for opposing Parker at this election but he held on to win by 96 votes.
The same two candidates had faced each other in 1895. On that occasion, Barrow had won and was elected as alderman for a three-year period. Jenkin Jones was then returned at a by-election.
E.T. Davies, auctioneer, had been elected at a by-election following Elias Henry Davies's appointment as alderman in 1902. He was now returned unopposed.[3]
In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1904 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies.
The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.
The results in the local press incorrectly refer to Davies as an Unionist.[2] He is described as a 'Radical' in a list of nominations in the same paper the previous week.[6]