1898 Ontario general election

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1898 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1894 March 1, 1898 1902  

94 seats in the 9th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
48 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Arthur Sturgis Hardy.jpg James Whitney.jpg
Leader Arthur S. Hardy James P. Whitney
Party Liberal Conservative
Leader since18961896
Leader's seat Brant South Dundas
Last election4523
Seats won5142
Seat changeIncrease2.svg6Increase2.svg19

Premier before election

Arthur S. Hardy
Liberal

Premier after election

Arthur S. Hardy
Liberal

The 1898 Ontario general election was the ninth general election held in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on March 1, 1898, to elect the 94 Members of the 9th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs"). [1]

Contents

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Arthur S. Hardy, won an eighth term in office with a clear majority – the Patrons of Industry and the Protestant Protective Association held no sway in this legislature.

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by Sir James P. Whitney, formed the official opposition.

Ottawa had two seats, and plurality block voting was used. Elsewhere the first-past-the-post election system was used.

Results

[1]

Elections to the 9th Parliament of Ontario (1898)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1894 Dissol. 1898±#%± (pp)
Liberal Arthur S. Hardy 9145516Increase2.svg202,33247.29%6.30Increase2.svg
Conservative James P. Whitney 90234219Increase2.svg204,01147.69%19.88Increase2.svg
Independent-Conservative111Increase2.svg1,7400.41%New
  Liberal-Patrons 1212Decrease2.svgDid not campaign
  ConservativeP.P.A. 55Decrease2.svg
Patrons of Industry Joseph Longford Haycock 33Decrease2.svg
  Conservative-Patrons 22Decrease2.svg
  Liberal-P.P.A. 22Decrease2.svg
Protestant Protective Association11Decrease2.svg
Independent-Conservative-PPA11Decrease2.svg
Independent 1819,6834.60%2.10Increase2.svg
Labour 1570.01%New
Vacant
Total201949494427,823100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots3,601
Registered voters / turnout525,79582.05%11.75Increase2.svg
Seats and popular vote by party of major influence
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
Liberal [a 1]
51 / 94
47.29%
6.306.3
 
Conservative [a 1]
42 / 94
47.69%
19.8819.88
 
Patrons of Industry
0 / 94
0.00%
-17.61
 
Protestant Protective Association [a 2]
0 / 94
0.00%
-11.09
 
Other
1 / 94
5.02%
2.522.52
 
  1. 1 2 Straight party support only. Other MLAs sponsored by Patrons of Industry, PPA or Equal Rights Party are allocated to the latter, to show extent of influence.
  2. Associated with the Orange Order.

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1898 Ontario general election [1]
Riding [a 1] Winning partyTurnoutVotes
Name [a 2] 1894 PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
LibConI-ConLabIndTotal
 
Addington ConCon1,90154.30%3018.60%74.61%1,6001,9013,501
Algoma East LibLib2,83352.55%2755.10%45.93%2,8332,5585,391
Algoma West ConLib1,72354.61%2919.22%51.55%1,7231,4323,155
Brant North LibLib1,16752.28%1024.57%83.53%1,1671,0652,232
Brant South LibLib3,03854.75%5279.50%84.72%3,0382,5115,549
Brockville LibLib2,23252.20%1884.40%78.96%2,2322,0444,276
Bruce Centre L-PILib1,85053.38%2346.75%68.35%1,8501,6163,466
Bruce North L-PPLib2,46452.84%2655.68%82.09%2,4642,1994,663
Bruce South LibLibacclaimed
Cardwell C-PICon2,26755.63%45911.26%70.72%1,8082,2674,075
Carleton C-PII-Con1,74063.64%74627.29%55.38%9941,7402,734
Dufferin PICon2,66055.99%56911.98%65.78%2,6602,0914,751
Dundas ConCon2,35451.37%1262.75%86.40%2,2282,3544,582
Durham East ConCon1,94954.26%3068.52%77.55%1,6431,9493,592
Durham West C-PPCon1,82551.69%1193.37%90.22%1,7061,8253,531
Elgin East ConCon2,26750.32%290.64%82.75%2,2382,2674,505
Elgin West L-PICon3,10150.01%10.02%78.62%3,1003,1016,201
Essex North LibLib2,68350.15%951.78%64.37%2,6832,588795,350
Essex South LibLib3,13856.05%67712.09%84.07%3,1382,4615,599
Frontenac L-PICon1,93653.73%2697.47%75.44%1,9361,6673,603
Glengarry L-PICon1,90547.35%46611.58%73.81%6791,9051,4394,023
Grenville ConCon2,36157.43%61114.86%68.35%1,7502,3614,111
Grey Centre PPACon2,81358.58%1,09122.72%73.97%1,7222,8132674,802
Grey North LibCon2,70751.30%1372.60%76.33%2,5702,7075,277
Grey South PICon2,24947.35%53211.20%75.47%1,7172,2497844,750
Haldimand ConLib1,95751.34%1022.68%85.14%1,9571,8553,812
Halton ConLib2,53151.25%1232.49%84.73%2,5312,4084,939
Hamilton East LibCon3,24757.84%88015.68%82.88%2,3673,2475,614
Hamilton West LibCon2,75252.66%2785.32%82.51%2,4742,7525,226
Hastings East L-PILib2,01151.64%1283.29%83.94%2,0111,8833,894
Hastings North PICon2,37452.80%2525.60%99.91%2,1222,3744,496
Hastings West LibCon1,98552.67%2015.33%67.44%1,7841,9853,769
Huron East LibLib2,41755.74%49811.49%74.69%2,4171,9194,336
Huron South LibCon2,77551.47%1592.95%86.14%2,6162,7755,391
Huron West LibLib2,46550.01%10.02%73.71%2,4652,4644,929
Kent East LibLib2,86955.32%55210.64%68.47%2,8692,3175,186
Kent West L-PILib3,68951.99%2833.99%78.63%3,6893,4067,095
Kingston ConLib2,12553.66%2907.32%84.35%2,1251,8353,960
Lambton East IC-PPLib2,36149.21%400.83%78.40%2,3611162,3214,798
Lambton West C-PPLib3,60053.73%5007.46%68.13%3,6003,1006,700
Lanark North ConLib1,98952.38%1814.77%82.92%1,9891,8083,797
Lanark South ConCon2,19561.09%79722.18%67.71%1,3982,1953,593
Leeds ConCon2,20055.81%45811.62%67.37%1,7422,2003,942
Lennox ConLib1,67750.65%431.30%78.74%1,6771,6343,311
Lincoln ConCon2,97453.15%3536.31%83.14%5,5955,595
London ConLib3,99450.75%3013.82%85.94%3,9943,693571267,870
Middlesex East L-PPCon2,46350.98%951.97%77.57%2,3682,4634,831
Middlesex North L-PILib2,19551.07%922.14%79.80%2,1952,1034,298
Middlesex West LibLib2,26251.73%1513.45%84.79%2,2622,1114,373
Monck LibLib1,98554.50%3289.01%84.46%1,9851,6573,642
Muskoka C-PPLib1,93850.97%741.95%70.35%1,9381,8643,802
Nipissing LibLib1,59050.98%611.96%97.47%1,5901,5293,119
Norfolk North LibLib1,88553.55%2507.10%81.09%1,8851,6353,520
Norfolk South LibLib1,72350.50%341.00%84.02%1,7231,6893,412
Northumberland East ConLib2,81453.95%4127.90%83.44%2,8142,4025,216
Northumberland West LibLib1,65452.11%1344.22%84.95%1,6541,5203,174
Ontario North LibCon2,32655.11%43110.21%95.93%1,8952,3264,221
Ontario South LibCon2,78150.88%961.76%97.89%2,6852,7815,466
Oxford North LibLib2,83853.99%1,02319.46%76.32%2,8386041,8155,257
Oxford South LibLib2,34358.40%67416.80%62.53%2,3431,6694,012
Parry Sound L-PILib2,33265.52%1,10531.05%90.05%2,3321,2273,559
Peel LibLib2,34353.32%2926.65%81.10%2,3432,0514,394
Perth North ConLib3,39651.21%1602.41%87.03%3,3963,2366,632
Perth South L-PILib2,35749.12%40.08%82.08%2,3572,353884,798
Peterborough East LibLib1,77153.25%2166.49%70.55%1,7711,5553,326
Peterborough West LibLib2,74261.14%99922.27%82.06%2,7421,7434,485
Prescott LibLibacclaimed
Prince Edward L-PICon2,38753.96%3578.07%78.17%72,3872,0304,424
Renfrew North LibCon2,32151.70%1533.41%82.63%2,1682,3214,489
Renfrew South LibLib2,45555.21%1,44132.40%72.25%2,4559781,0144,447
Russell LibLib2,73858.26%77616.51%70.52%2,7381,9624,700
Simcoe Centre LibCon1,76143.65%571.41%77.32%1,7041,7615694,034
Simcoe East ConCon2,59350.67%691.35%99.96%2,5242,5935,117
Simcoe West L-PICon2,01556.05%43512.10%65.83%1,5802,0153,595
Stormont L-PICon2,12543.16%1823.70%71.01%1,9432,1258554,923
Toronto East C-PPCon3,10367.78%1,62835.56%67.37%1,4753,1034,578
Toronto North ConCon3,51350.24%340.49%97.76%3,4793,5136,992
Toronto South ConCon4,46452.38%4054.75%67.83%4,0594,4648,523
Toronto West ConCon3,69855.73%76011.45%95.31%2,9383,6986,636
Victoria East ConCon2,28955.29%43810.58%69.88%1,8512,2894,140
Victoria West LibCon2,16350.82%701.64%74.02%2,0932,1634,256
Waterloo North LibCon2,70150.61%651.22%75.18%2,6362,7015,337
Waterloo South LibCon2,53251.10%1092.20%75.81%2,4232,5324,955
Welland LibLib3,12556.11%68112.23%92.26%3,1252,4445,569
Wellington East LibLib1,47636.85%1884.69%75.97%1,4761,2411,2884,005
Wellington South LibLib2,34149.88%3968.44%90.53%2,3411,9454074,693
Wellington West C-PPCon1,91253.18%2296.37%76.73%1,6831,9123,595
Wentworth North LibCon1,70055.43%33310.86%79.58%1,3671,7003,067
Wentworth South LibLib1,64952.78%1745.57%83.62%1,6491,4753,124
York East LibLib2,09155.63%42311.25%69.47%2,0911,6683,759
York North LibLib2,54355.08%46910.16%80.61%2,5432,0744,617
York West ConLib2,46550.36%350.72%83.12%2,4652,4304,895
  1. excluding Ottawa, a multi-member constituency
  2. order is as given in EO reports
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = incumbency arose from prior election result being overturned by the court
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates

[1]

Results for Ottawa (2 seats)
Political partyCandidateVotes %ElectedIncumbent
Liberal Alexander Lumsden 4,79326.86Green check.svgY
Conservative Charles Berkeley Powell 4,54825.49Green check.svgY
Liberal George O. O'Keefe 4,53925.44Red x.svgNGreen check.svgY
Conservative B. Slattery3,96422.21
Majority [a 1] 90.05
  1. plurality for second winning candidate

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place [1] [a 1]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
AcclLibConInd
Liberal 242650
Conservative 361441
Independent Conservative11
Total237431092
  1. excluding Ottawa seats
Candidates ranked 1st to 4th place, by party [1]
PartiesAccl1st2nd3rd4th
  Liberal 249373
  Conservative 414441
 Independent Conservative1
  Independent 108
  Labour 1
Resulting composition of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario [1]
SourceParty
LibConI-ConTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned221032
Returned by acclamation22
Open seats held639
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated101525
Open seats gained51015
Byelection gains held213
Incumbent changed allegiance3216
Ottawa seatsNew MLAs11
Total5142194

MLAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  Liberal
  Conservative
  Independent Conservative

    Seats that changed hands

    Elections to the 9th Parliament of Ontario – seats won/lost by party, 1894–1898
    Party1894Gain from (loss to)1898
    LibConInd-CLib-PC-PPAPOICon-PL-PPAPPAICP
    Liberal 4510(14)621151
    Conservative 2314(10)63311142
    Independent-Conservative11
      Liberal-Patrons 12(6)(6)
      ConservativeP.P.A. 5(2)(3)
    Patrons of Industry 3(3)
      Conservative-Patrons 2(1)(1)
      Liberal-P.P.A. 2(1)(1)
    Protestant Protective Association1(1)
    Independent-Conservative-PPA1(1)
    Total9414(20)10(29)(1)1253221194

    There were 50 seats that changed allegiance in the election:

    MLAs changing parties

    Six members changed their principal affiliation from the previous election:

    RidingMLA18941898
    Kent West Thomas Letson Pardo   Patrons of Industry   Liberal
    Middlesex North William Henry Taylor   Patrons of Industry   Liberal
    Parry Sound William Rabb Beatty   Patrons of Industry   Liberal
    Durham West William Henry Reid  Protestant Protective Association  Conservative
    Cardwell Edward Alfred Little   Patrons of Industry   Conservative
    Carleton George Nelson Kidd   Patrons of Industry  Independent-Conservative

    See also

    Notes and references

    Notes

    1. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Loughrin was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    2. Tendered resignation in exchange for withdrawing election petition. Writ for new election issued. Allen was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    3. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Aylsworth was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    4. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Douglas was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    5. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Barber was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    6. Tendered resignation in exchange for withdrawing election petition. Writ for new election issued. Garrow was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    7. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Samuel Nelson Monteith (Conservative) was elected in the subsequent byelection. [2]
    8. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Appeal was dismissed. [2] Writ for new election issued. Louis Jacob Breithaupt (Liberal) was elected in the subsequent byelection. [3]
    9. Court ruling dismissing original election petion was overturned on appeal. Writ for election issued. Brower was reelected in the subsequent byelection. [3]
    10. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Donald Macnish (Liberal) was elected in the subsequent byelection. [2] Byelection declared void, and MacDiarmid returned in a later byelection. [3]
    11. Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. John Dryden (Liberal) was elected in the subsequent byelection. [2]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "1898 General Election". Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Vol. XXXIII. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1899. pp. 4, 61–64, 75, 185–186, 210. hdl:2027/mdp.39015068543175.
    3. 1 2 3 Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Vol. XXXIV. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1900. pp. 9–15. hdl:2027/mdp.39015068543167.