1896 Birmingham municipal election: Difference between revisions

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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 [[Birmingham city wards|9 voting wards]].
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 [[Birmingham city wards|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:
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:


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* 9th Ward: [[D. C. Behrens]] at [[Behrens' Store]] at [[12th Street South|12th Street]] and [[6th Avenue South|Avenue F]]
* 9th Ward: [[D. C. Behrens]] at [[Behrens' Store]] at [[12th Street South|12th Street]] and [[6th Avenue South|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. [[Christian Enslen]] was nominated for Mayor by the [[Citizens Reform Party]]. [[Alva Lowery]] was nominated by the [[Citizens Independent Party]].
[[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.
[[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.
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** 4th Ward: [[John Copeland]] and [[A. A. Clisby]]
** 4th Ward: [[John Copeland]] and [[A. A. Clisby]]
** 5th Ward: [[James Downey]] and [[William Snider]]
** 5th Ward: [[James Downey]] and [[William Snider]]
** 6th Ward: [[T. W. Gathright]] and [[William Connors]]
** 6th Ward: [[Thomas Gathwright]] and [[William Connors]]
** 7th Ward: [[Edward Erswell]] and [[H. H. Sinnige]]
** 7th Ward: [[Edward Erswell]] and [[H. H. Sinnige]]
** 8th Ward: [[Henry Gray]] or [[John McCardin]] and [[James Mackin]]
** 8th Ward: [[Henry Gray]] or [[John McCardin]] and [[James Mackin]]
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* Board of Aldermen
* Board of Aldermen
** 1st Ward: [[C. T. Hardeman]] and [[W. H. Doyle]]
** 1st Ward: [[C. T. Hardeman]] and [[W. H. Doyle]]
** 2nd Ward: [[J. Early Lee]] and [[W. H. Herrich]]
** 2nd Ward: [[J. Early Lee]] and [[W. H. Herrick]]
** 3rd Ward: [[Robert Kerr]] and [[Joseph McKnight]]  
** 3rd Ward: [[Robert Kerr]] and [[Joseph McKnight]]  
** 4th Ward: none reported
** 4th Ward: none reported
** 5th Ward: [[Harry Hawkins]] and [[H. P. Moody]]
** 5th Ward: [[Harry Hawkins]] and [[H. P. Moody]]
** 6th Ward: [[Thomas Gathright]] and [[William Connors]]
** 6th Ward: [[Thomas Gathwright]] and [[William Connors]]
** 7th Ward: [[John Hamilton]] and [[Edward Erswell]]
** 7th Ward: [[John Hamilton]] and [[Edward Erswell]]
** 8th Ward: [[Augustus Bright]] and [[James Morris]]
** 8th Ward: [[Augustus Bright]] and [[James Morris]]
** 9th Ward: [[John Woodrow]] and [[M. H. Matthews]]
** 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 [[H. H. 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==
==References==
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-three-men-will-run-f/138349372/ Three Men Will Run For Mayor of Birmingham]." (November 10, 1896) {{BN}}, p. 5
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-three-men-will-run-f/138349372/ Three Men Will Run For Mayor of Birmingham]." (November 10, 1896) {{BN}}, p. 5
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-the-board-of-alderme/138350316/ The Board of Aldermen]." (November 28, 1896) {{BN}}, p. 4


[[Category:Birmingham municipal elections]]
[[Category:Birmingham municipal elections]]
[[Category:1896 events]]
[[Category:1896 events]]

Revision as of 22:39, 8 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:

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. W. H. 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.

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.

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:

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

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