1896 Birmingham municipal election: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
==Citizens Reform ticket== | ==Citizens Reform ticket== | ||
The Citizen's Reform Party was organized by a group of about 75 citizens who met at [[Erswell's Hall]] on [[November 9]]. [[ | The Citizen's Reform Party was organized by a group of about 75 citizens who met at [[Erswell's Hall]] on [[November 9]]. [[William Graves]] chaired the meeting, at which [[Benjamin Roden]] was initially elected as their candidate for mayor over [[Christian Enslen]]. When Roden declined to accept the next morning, former mayor [[James Van Hoose]] was reached by telephon. He also declined to be nominated unless Enslen had dropped out of consideration. He had not, so Enslen became the nominee. | ||
* Mayor: [[Christian Enslen]] | * Mayor: [[Christian Enslen]] |
Revision as of 14:06, 9 January 2024
The 1896 Birmingham municipal election was held in December 1896 to elected a Mayor of Birmingham and a Birmingham Board of Aldermen made up of representatives from the city's 9 voting wards. Frank Evans was elected to a second term as Mayor.
Election
Registrars in each ward were responsible for qualifying voters for the election, under the guidance of Birmingham City Attorney Richard Evans. Registration was open from November 10 to November 20 and each qualified voter was given a ticket to present on election day. The registrars were listed as:
- 1st Ward: R. E. Lee at the Magic City Hotel (Morris Avenue and 14th Street)
- 2nd Ward: I. Epstein at Shepherd's Store at 19th Street and Park Avenue
- 3rd Ward: Prof. S. L. Robertson at Emond's Store at 19th Street and 10th Avenue
- 4th Ward: J. W. Savage at Butt's Store at 24th Street and Avenue A
- 5th Ward: J. L. Davis at the Jefferson County Courthouse on 3rd Avenue and 21st Street
- 6th Ward: W. M. Malone at Malone's Store at 26th Street and Avenue G
- 7th Ward: C. F. Douthit at Reynold's Lumber Yard at 20th Street and Avenue E
- 8th Ward: E. H. Rickman at Rickman's Store at 20th Street and Avenue C
- 9th Ward: D. C. Behrens at Behrens' Store at 12th Street and Avenue F
Frank Evans ran for re-election as the incumbent and as a representative of the Democratic Party. Various opposition parties gathered in advance of the election and drew up "tickets" to run on a unified platform, often nominated individuals who were not present and later had to be notified by a reporting committee that they would appear on the ballot. As a result, some individuals were nominated by more than one party.
R. A. Mosely attended a meeting of Black voters for the sole purpose of assuring that the group did not endorse Frank Evans for re-election. He reported that the group made no endorsements at all.
Citizens Reform ticket
The Citizen's Reform Party was organized by a group of about 75 citizens who met at Erswell's Hall on November 9. William Graves chaired the meeting, at which Benjamin Roden was initially elected as their candidate for mayor over Christian Enslen. When Roden declined to accept the next morning, former mayor James Van Hoose was reached by telephon. He also declined to be nominated unless Enslen had dropped out of consideration. He had not, so Enslen became the nominee.
- Mayor: Christian Enslen
- Board of Aldermen
- 1st Ward: C. T. Hardeman and W. H. Doyle
- 2nd Ward: W. H. Herrick and George Alexander
- 3rd Ward: S. M. Hamby and Robert Kerr
- 4th Ward: John Copeland and A. A. Clisby
- 5th Ward: James Downey and William Snider
- 6th Ward: Thomas Gathwright and William Connors
- 7th Ward: Edward Erswell and Henry Sinnige
- 8th Ward: Henry Gray or John McCardin and James Mackin
- 9th Ward: Oliver Chalifoux and George Church
Citizens Independent ticket
At their party meeting at Engineers Hall on November 9 the Citizens Reform Party nominated Alva Lowery as their candidate for mayor.
- Mayor: Alva Lowery
- Board of Aldermen
- 1st Ward: C. T. Hardeman and W. H. Doyle
- 2nd Ward: J. Early Lee and W. H. Herrick
- 3rd Ward: Robert Kerr and Joseph McKnight
- 4th Ward: none reported
- 5th Ward: Harry Hawkins and H. P. Moody
- 6th Ward: Thomas Gathwright and William Connors
- 7th Ward: John Hamilton and Edward Erswell
- 8th Ward: Augustus Bright and James Morris
- 9th Ward: John Woodrow and M. H. Matthews
Endorsements
The Birmingham News endorsed the candidacy of Christian Ensley, questioning the integrity of Frank Evans in relation to a bond deal undertaken during his tenure as City Treasurer. The News also endorsed a slate of Aldermanic candidates drawn from both Evans and Enslen's tickets:
- 1st Ward: W. H. Doyle and Thomas Wheeler
- 2nd Ward: T. T. Ashford and W. H. Herrick
- 3rd Ward: Robert Kerr and Joseph McKnight
- 4th Ward: A. A. Clisby and Joe Meighan
- 5th Ward: Mel Drennen and M. M. Williams
- 6th Ward: George Jakcson and Thomas Gathwright
- 7th Ward: W. J. Pearce and Henry Sinnige
- 8th Ward: Henry Gray and S. P. Fowlkes
- 9th Ward: George Church and H. Henschell
In its editorial, the News explained that the city is a "municipal corporation" whose affairs were "simple business matters" requiring the attention of officers with the "capacity and character" for public service, rather than any political or religious affiliations. At the same time, the paper suggested that, "there are some otherwise admirably equipped candidates for Aldermanic duties, whose positions as to a water works deal, pool rooms, etc. tend to handicap their chances and will probably defeat them."
References
- "Three Men Will Run For Mayor of Birmingham." (November 10, 1896) The Birmingham News, p. 5
- "The Board of Aldermen." (November 28, 1896) The Birmingham News, p. 4