1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

none March 2026 September 2023 1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts presidential no 1877 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1877 1889 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1889 January 16–18, 1883 x140px Majority of legislature needed to win File:George Frisbie Hoar - Brady-Handy.jpg George Frisbie Hoar Republican Party (US) 148 54.61% File:3x4.svg Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 88 32.47% File:John Davis Long.jpg John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 38 14.02% Senator George Frisbie Hoar Republican Party (United States) George Frisbie Hoar Republican Party (United States) The 1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held in January 1883. Incumbent Republican Senator George Frisbie Hoar was re-elected to a second term in office despite a serious challenge from Democrats and members of his own party. At the time, Massachusetts elected United States Senators by a resolution of the Massachusetts General Court. Background State legislature 1883 Massachusetts legislature At the time, the Massachusetts legislature was controlled by the Republican Party, as it had been since that party's founding. However, 1883 was the high point of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in the latter half of the 19th century. The upcoming Senate election was a dominant issue in the 1882 legislature elections.New York Times 3 11 Jan 1883 Aspirants in Massachusetts: Hoar Leading, Long Second, and Crapo Held in Reserve The Senate was composed of 22 Republicans and 18 Democrats, Composition of the Massachusetts State Senate Mass.gov June 6, 2020 Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library https://www.mass.gov/service-details/resources-on-massachusetts-political-figures-in-the-state-library https://web.archive.org/web/20200606063917/https://www.mass.gov/doc/composition-of-the-massachusetts-state-senate-0/download and the House had 151 Republicans, 84 Democrats, and 5 independents.Composition of the State of Massachusetts House of Representatives Mass.gov June 6, 2020 Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library https://www.mass.gov/service-details/resources-on-massachusetts-political-figures-in-the-state-library https://web.archive.org/web/20200606064043/https://www.mass.gov/doc/composition-of-the-massachusetts-state-house-of-representatives-0/download Unless the Republicans could emerge unanimously in favor of one candidate, it was possible for the Democratic Party to choose the winner from among the Republican candidates. Anti-Hoar sentiment Incumbent George F. Hoar, who was elected in 1877 after a protracted four-day struggle, faced strong opposition from within the Republican Party. The anti-Hoar faction cited his icy and aloof demeanor, which had allegedly cost him any chance at influence in the Senate. Harvard President Charles William Eliot was among those who called for Hoar's defeat.Boston Daily Globe 4 Jan 1883 2 The Trouble With Senator Hoar Newly elected Democratic Governor Benjamin F. Butler, a former Republican, was also a bitter rival of Hoar, decreasing the chances that he could rely on Democratic votes. The Democratic party, now at its apex, also may have looked to defeat Hoar to weaken the unity of the Republicans in the long term.The Butler-Democratic Plot The New York Tribune 5 Jan 1883 5 However, Governor Butler's inaugural address may have inflamed partisan tensions, leading many Republicans to return to Hoar's side.Political News 9 Jan 1883 New York Tribune 4 Edmunds speech Before the election, Hoar made a speech in which he excoriated his Republican Senate colleague George F. Edmunds for missing a minor vote; Edmunds had been at the deathbed of his teenage daughter and just returned from her funeral. Edmunds rose in response and choking back tears said, "The Senator knows I was not present at the session." Hoar attempted to apologize, but his speech was widely criticized in the Democratic press.A Rancorous Senator 9 Jan 1883 St. Louis Post-Dispatch 4Mr. Hoar's Smartness 10 Jan 1883 Boston Daily Globe 2Hoar's Brutality 10 Jan 1883 1 The Atlanta Constitution Candidates Declared William W. Crapo, U.S. Representative from New BedfordThe Baltimore Sun 2 Jan 1883 2 Congressman Crapo George F. Hoar, incumbent Senator John Davis Long, outgoing Governor of Massachusetts The chief names offered by anti-Hoar faction were William W. CrapoDetroit Free Press Notes and Comments 4 3 Jan 1883 and outgoing Governor John Davis Long, a candidate more friendly to the Butler Democrats and the younger "progressive" element in the Republican Party, including Henry Cabot Lodge and Oliver Ames.Gath: The Eastern Nag Said to Be Slightly Ahead 8 Jan 1883 The Cincinnati Enquirer 1Seeking Senate Honors: Aspirants for the Office in Ten States 3 New York Times 11 Jan 1883 Any candidate faced the difficult task of uniting the disparate elements of the anti-Hoar faction, which included Democrats, Butler Republicans, and anti-reform Stalwarts. Potential The following candidates were mentioned as potential candidates or received votes, but did not openly declare their willingness or desire to be elected. Charles Francis Adams, Jr., author, business magnate, and reformer Theodore Lyman, U.S. Representative-elect from Brookline Declined Benjamin F. Butler, Governor of MassachusettsA Lie to Help Hoar 2 12 Jan 1883 Boston Daily Globe Election Republican conference (January 10) There was some effort made by Long supporters to call for a binding caucus of the Republican legislators, but this effort was defeated at an informal conference. Speeches at the conference expressed favor for Senator Hoar.Informal Senatorial Conference in Massachusetts 11 Jan 1883 Chicago Daily Tribune 2The Massachusetts Senatorship 12 Jan 1883 2 Hartford Daily Courant January 16 On the first day, balloting in the Senate dominated. First, second, and third State Senate ballotsThe Senatorial Strife: Hoar and Long Still Struggling for Victory George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 16 41.02% Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 15 38.46% John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 6 15.38% William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 2 5.13% 39 100.00% Fourth State Senate ballot George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 16 41.02% Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 12 30.77% 3 John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 9 23.08% 3 William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 2 5.13% 39 100.00% On the fifth ballot, Democrats abandoned Bowerman in favor of Long, giving him victory in the Senate. Fifth State Senate ballot John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 21 53.85% 12 George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 16 41.02% William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 2 5.13% 39 100.00% In the House, a single ballot was taken, showing Hoar with a lead but 11 votes short of a majority. First State House ballot George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 108 45.57% Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 82 34.60% John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 29 12.24% William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 10 4.22% Benjamin F. Butler Democratic Party (US) 2 0.84% Ambrose Ranney Republican Party (US) 2 0.84% George D. Robinson Republican Party (US) 2 0.84% Charles Francis Adams, Jr. Republican Party (US) 1 0.42% Edward Atkinson Democratic Party (US) 1 0.42% 237 100.00% January 17 On the second day, the two houses met in a joint convention. No candidates achieved a majority, but Hoar and Long each gained. First joint ballotFor Senatorial Honors 18 Jan 1883 New York Times 1 George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 129 46.74% 5 Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 90 32.61% 8 John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 41 14.86% 9 William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 11 3.99% 1 Others Scattering 5 1.81% 5 276 100.00% Second joint ballot George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 131 46.74% 2 Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 81 29.35% 9 John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 49 17.75% 8 William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 12 4.35% 1 Others Scattering 3 1.09% 2 276 100.00% After the second ballot, a motion for a third ballot was defeated by the Hoar faction 128–119. The Long supporters claimed that a third ballot would have given their man the victory. January 18 Third joint ballotHoar the Choice 19 Jan 1883 Boston Daily Globe 1 George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) Republican Party (US) 148 54.61% 17 Samuel W. Bowerman Democratic Party (US) 88 32.47% 7 John Davis Long Republican Party (US) 38 14.02% 11 William W. Crapo Republican Party (US) 3 1.11% 9 271 100.00% References 1883 Massachusetts United States Senate