1906 Toronto municipal election

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Municipal elections were held in Toronto , Ontario, Canada, on January 1, 1906. The position of Mayor of Toronto was open as the incumbent, Thomas Urquhart, did not stand for re-election. Alderman Emerson Coatsworth defeated Controller Frank S. Spence.

Contents

Also on the ballot were plebiscites on two liquor licensing proposals which would have reduced the number of taverns and stores permitted to sell alcohol. Controller Spence supported the by-laws and attributed his defeat to its opponents. [1]

Toronto mayor

Results
Ald. Emerson Coatsworth - 16,425
Controller Frank Spence - 12,328

Source: [1]

Board of Control

The three members of the Toronto Board of Control running for re-election were successful. Alderman Jones was elected to fill the vacant seat formerly held by Controller Spence.

Results
William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 14,081
S. Alfred Jones - 14,039
J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 13,770
John Shaw (incumbent) - 12,524
Thomas Hastings - 11,308

Source: [1] and [2]

Plebiscites

Two liquor licensing by-laws were on the ballot, one to reduce the number of taverns allowed to sell alcohol, the second to reduce the number of liquor stores. Both measures were defeated.

Reduction of the number of taverns
Yes - 13,409
No - 14,629
Reduction of shops.
Yes - 12,750
No - 14,904

Source: [1]

City council

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

Three aldermen were elected to Toronto City Council per ward. In the Second Ward, Joseph Oliver filled the vacancy left by Ald. Emerson Coatsworth mayoral candidacy. In the Fourth Ward, George McMurrich filled the vacancy left by Alderman Jones, who ran for Board of Control. In Sixth Ward, John Henry Adams replaced Alderman Lynd, who retired.

First Ward (Riverdale)
Daniel Chisholm (incumbent) - 1,979
Robert Fleming (incumbent) - 1,565
William Temple Stewart (incumbent) - 1,406
Edward Hales - 1,288
James Wilson - 1,222
J.M. Briggs - 180
Second Ward (Cabbagetown and Rosedale)
Joseph Oliver - 1,715
Dr. John Noble (incumbent) - 1,660
Tommy Church (incumbent) - 1,590
Edward Strachan Cox - 1,507
James Hales - 1,358
David Carlyle - 1,137
Thomas Foster - 997
W.S. Johnston - 787
W.A. Douglass - 366
Frederick Burrows - 179
Third Ward (Central Business District and The Ward)
George Reginald Geary (incumbent) - 3,034
Oliver Barton Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,681
Sam McBride (incumbent) - 2,544
John Wilson Bengough - 2,395
Frank Moses - 1,148
J.A. Humphrey - 1,118
John Dunlop - 104
Fourth Ward (Spadina)
Dr. D.W.S. Harrison (incumbent) - 3,094
Robert Crawford Vaughan (incumbent) - 3,009
George McMurrich - 2,386
Fred Dane - 2,176
E.J. Humphrey - 1,414
Edward Hanlan - 1,305
Fifth Ward (Trinity-Bellwoods)
John Dunn (incumbent) - 2,846
John Bell Hay (incumbent) - 2,263
Albert James Keeler (incumbent) - 2,237
Frank Woods - 2,055
James Cooper Claxton- 2,055
Sixth Ward (Brockton and Parkdale)
James Henry McGhie (incumbent) - 2,367
John James Graham (incumbent) - 2,037
John Henry Adams - 1,569
J. Harvey Hall - 1,074
Walter Mann - 742
D.R. Bell - 642
J.E. Stewart - 607
W.H. Warrington - 436
Thomas Cannon - 389
R.B. Noble - 191

Source: [1] and [3]

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References

Results taken from the January 2, 1906 Toronto Globe and might not exactly match final tallies.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "COATSWORTH AND LIQUOR; NESBITT MACHINE WINS: Majorities Against Spence and the Reduction By-laws FIGURES THAT SIGNIFY MUCH Coatsworth's Majorities Greatest in Strongholds of Liquor Men Controller Spence the Only Member of a Civic Board to Fail of Re-election Two Ex-Members and One New Aspirant Elected to the Council Aid. Jones Becomes a Member of the Board of Control No Change in the Board of Education-- Majorities Against the Reduction By-laws Large Controller Spence Attributes His Defeat to Effective Organization Formed For Defeat of Liquor License By-laws-- Coatsworth Calls it Victory of People", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]02 Jan 1906: 1
  2. "BETWEEN SPENCE AND COATSWORTH: Mayoralty Campaign is Now on in ...," The Globe (1844-1936); Dec 23, 1905; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 11
  3. CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL LINE uP: Aldermen Present and Future Begin Their Campaign AMBITIOUS NEW-COMERS Three Members of Last Council Disappear From List, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]23 Dec 1905: 14