Mayor Stewart's Re-Election - January 1895
Alexander David Stewart had come along way
back from the day he had been fired as Hamilton’s Police Chief in 1886, and had
left the city in disgrace.
Eight years later,
after some time as an alderman, he had run successfully for the office of mayor
of Hamilton.
Nine years later,
running for a second term, he faced strong opposition in the election.
As pointed out in the
Hamilton Herald of January 2, 1895, the election was being closely followed by
Hamiltonians throughout the city:
“Municipal politics seem to occupy the public mind to
the exclusion of almost every other topic, and the only subject of conversation
is the chance of this or that aldermanic or mayoral candidate .
Both
the nominees for mayor have put the finishing touches to their organization,
and the committee rooms were crowded last night.”1
1 “Elections
on Monday : The Mayor’s Organization Better Than Ever”
Hamilton
Herald. January 2, 1895.
At
the headquarters of both mayoral candidates, there was a lot of activity particularly
regarding last minute details for getting out the vote:
“At the
Stewart headquarters, the utmost enthusiasm was manifested. The mayor addressed
his supporters, stating that the same men who were with him a year ago were
supporting him now, with one or two exceptions, and as for conveyances for use
on election day, he has one half more.” 1
Rumors
were circulating that the supporters of Stewart’s
opposing candidate, James Dixon, were about to attempt to buy votes on election
day with direct cash outlays:
“Having
learned from sources that they considered well-informed that the Dixon party
had commenced to use money, the Stewart workers at once organized a detective
force, with the object of checking any attempts at personation, and entrapping
bribers, who, if caught, will be punished to the full extent of the law. The
mayor’s supporters say they have first-class presumptive evidence that the
Dixon barrel was tapped yesterday, and they have hopes of tracking some of the
money thus improperly used for the purpose of influencing the electors.”
Candidate
Stewart was fully aware of what the Dixon campaigners were capable of doing,
but, at least publicly, he expressed no worry:
“Speaking
of the outlook this morning, Mayor Stewart expressed the utmost confidence in
the result, the only fear he had being that the opening of a “barrel” by his
opponent would reduce his majority. He had heard that money was being used to
compass his defeat, and while he did not believe the other side could buy votes
enough to accomplish that end, he thought it possible that his expected
majority in certain sections might be cut down.”1
Election
day was January 8, 1895. Throughout the early part of the day, things were
relatively quiet. However once the afternoon had ended, and the early hours of
evening had arrived, things picked up noticeably. It was not until after the
polls closed that the excitement really began to build,
By six o’clock, the downtown
streets were crowded. The Dixon and Stewart headquarters were both filled with
workers and supporters, while the sidewalks in front of the newspaper offices
of the Times, The Herald and the Spectator were filled with citizens anxious to
learn the results as the returns from the various polling stations were made
public. The Hamilton Herald had supported Stewart’s re-election, the Times had
supported James Dixon while the Spectator had remained neutral.
The early returns had looked
extremely good for James Dixon, but it did not take too long for that tide to
turn. The reactions of the crowds went up and down as the varying news became
known, supporters of one candidate were delighted when the news was got for
him, then their mood would change soon after:
“Until nearly eight
o’clock, men, boys and many women stood in the slush and wet of the road
cheering each favorable return announced and groaning when Candidate Dixon’s
vote headed a division. There were more groans than cheers in the early part of
the evening, and for some time it looked as if Stewart were doomed to defeat.
When Mr. Dixon’s majority went up over 200, there was a dampness on the enthusiasm
as well as in the feet of the waiting crowd.
“From in front of the
newspaper offices, people hurried over to Mayor Stewart’s headquarters in
anticipation of a speech from him explaining how it happened that defeat had
overtaken him.
“But that
speech was not called for”2
The Herald
reporter described the rise and fall of emotions at the Stewart headquarters as
follows :
“So discouraging were the reports for Stewart that many
of his most sanguine supporters proclaimed that it was all over, some going
home despondent, while the men who had backed Dixon to win shook hands with
each other, and gave utterance to the stereotyped expression, “I told you so.”
“But
gradually, as the returns from Stewart’s strongholds commenced to come in, the
scene changed; the sepulchral silence of the Stewart headquarters became a
pandemonium, so vigorous were the cheers which emanated from the buildings.
“Slowly
but surely, Dixon’s majority was cut, and Stewart’s increased, till about 7:30,
when the mayor’s majority was announced by Dave Gillies, from the third story
of the building. He also announced that the mayor-elect would give his address
from the City Hall steps.” 1
1 “Victory for Stewart : How the
Citizens Received the News ; While It Looked Like a Dixon Triumph The Leader’s
Supporters Were Elated, But the Final Figures Depressed Them – Wild Enthusiasm
on the Streets
Hamilton
Herald. January 8, 1895.
A
few blocks north on James Street at the Royal Hotel, one person noticeably felt
the roller coaster of emotions as the returns had come out over the course of
the evening:
“Harry McIntyre, of the Royal, was a happy man for a few minutes last
night. As the returns were coming in, it looked Dixon’s victory. Mac pulled the
money he had wagered out of the safe and commenced to count it. “Why didn’t I
have nerve to bet more?” he said, slapping a fiend on the back. In a few
minutes, it was announced that Stewart was elected. Mac’s face got red and he
silently stole away.” 1
1 “Stewart
Victorious : But He Had a Closer Call Than Many of His Friends Anticipated :
For a Time It Looked Like Dixon, But Late Returns Re-Elected the Mayor”
Hamilton
Spectator. January 8, 1895.
As soon
as it was announced that Mayor-Elect Stewart would speak first on the City Hall
steps, there was a rush to get to that location, the crowd led by A. D. Stewart
himself..
The
Spectator reporter caught up in the rush to the Hall shared these impressions
of that effort :
“The mayor wore his well-known Tam o’ Shanter, and in
imitation thereof many of his workers displayed the same head-dress.
“The
Hamilton football men were jubilant at Mayor Stewart’s victory and paraded the
streets with brooms, every now and then punctuating the air with their club
call.
“The
crowd on the streets was what is generally known as a good-natured, ‘pushing’
crowd. It was sometimes dangerous to be caught in the crush at the corner of
King and James streets
“An
attempt was made to carry the mayor, college fashion, upon the shoulders of his
friends. As Mr. Stewart is no lightweight, the carrying process continued but a
short distance.”1
On the City Hall steps, a very tired and somewhat
hoarse mayor-elect delivered the following short address:
“I
have come down to City Hall, according to custom, to return thanks for the
honor you have done me in electing me mayor of the city of Hamilton for the
second time. I will not say much tonight, because I have been hunting jackals
all day, and am very tired. It would be easy for me just now, in the flush of
victory, to say hard things about my opponents, but I have nothing to say about
them. I have tried to do the best I could for your interests, and you have
pronounced upon my actions. I have done my duty faithfully, and I am not here
to abuse my opponents, but to thank you and say that during the next year, I
will carry out my platform as stated before the election. I wish to thank the
Herald for the hearty support it has given me, and also the Spectator for the
neutral position it took. I wish you all to believe that I am profoundly
thankful for the honor you have done me, and I will try to preform my duties
faithfully .”2
The mayor-elect then went to the Herald office, the
office of the only daily newspaper, of the three, in Hamilton to support him.
There, speaking from a second floor window of the Herald building, he said:
“ ‘I again thank you heartily for the manner
in which you have worked for me, and hope that if you ever aspire to a similar
position, you will call upon me, that I may reciprocate the kindness done me.’
“He
again thanked the Herald, and concluded his address by wishing everyone a happy
New Year.”2
Not matter how worn out the winning candidate might have
been, it was a tradition that a street procession, with the new mayor as star
attraction, would have to take place:
“A procession was formed by S. R. Hammond and proceeded to Mayor
Stewart’s house by way of King and Bay streets. In response to the demands for
a speech, the mayor addressed the gathering. He was proud that the election had
been won honestly. With the workingman’s vote, the young men’s vote and the
ladies’ vote, he thought he could sweep any election. He again thanked his
followers and invited them all into his house, where light refreshments were
provided. The procession then proceeded down Hunter street, and around the
residence of William Hendrie, where there was vigorous cheering.” 1
As noted in the Spectator, the re-election of A. D. Stewart for a second
year as Hamilton’s mayor had prompted some excitement, but perhaps not as much
as what had taken place after the results of his first successful mayoral
election had been announced :
“Although
there was not as much enthusiasm over Mayor Stewart’s election last night as
was the case a year ago, the streets in the center of the city were crowded
till about 10 o’clock, and the wet sidewalks and crossings became very slushy
and disagreeable long before the people tired.
“Fireworks and fish-horns were in
evidence on the streets to some extent, but the majority of the citizens who
were out were more inclined to discuss the election results than to shout or
toot horns.”1
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