1900 Utah gubernatorial election

none related races 1900 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1900 Utah gubernatorial election Utah 1896 Presidential no 1895 Utah gubernatorial election 1895 1904 Utah gubernatorial election 1904 November 6, 1900 x150px Heber M. Wells Republican Party (United States) 40,209 51.19% x150px James H. Moyle Democratic Party (United States) 37,152 47.80% 1900 Utah gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 230px County results Wells: #e27f7f 50–60% #d72f30 70–80% #A80000 90–100% Moyle : #7996e2 50–60% #0D0596 90–100% Governor Heber M. Wells Republican Party (United States) Heber M. Wells Republican Party (United States) The 1900 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1900. Incumbent Republican Heber M. Wells defeated Democratic nominee James H. Moyle with 51.98% of the vote. Republican nomination Heber M. Wells, the first incumbent governor of the state of Utah, ran and was nominated for a second term at the Republican State Convention on September 4, 1900. Wells's and the state Republican's party's platform mirrored the national Republican platform, led by incumbent president William McKinley. They praised the president for his policies, toned down the fears of a low money supply, and accused the Democrats for being the true "anti-silver" party for choosing anti-silver vice president, Adlai Stevenson I, even though Stevenson was pro-silver.Penrod Gary 1968 The Elections of 1900 in Utah https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6028&context=etd Theses and Dissertations 28–36 Democratic nomination On September 7, the Democrats nominated James H. Moyle, founder of the Utah Democratic Party, attorney, and territorial house representative, at a rather quiet convention. Moyle was popular with both Mormons and non-Mormons, and the party's platform centered on free-silver, lower tariffs, anti-trust legislation Campaign The campaign heavily centered around the free silver movement, which handed presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan a landslide victory in the state in 1896, as well as labor, trusts, tariffs, and international politics due to the US's conquest of both Cuba and the Philippines. Campaigning didn't take place until the last few days of the election, October 31 to November 6, in which Utah newspapers covered dozens of events each day. The Democrats accused Wells of being against free silver, as well as accusing him of wanting to get national bank notes accepted as money, thus ruining silver mining. Republicans accused Democrats of being populist, and just throwing "free silver" around as a way to catch votes. Republicans did not believe free silver would lead to prosperity, but still favored some action in favor of it anyway. Generally, state Republicans did follow many Democratic policies, but claimed they were the ones that actually got said policies passed.Penrod Gary 1968 The Elections of 1900 in Utah https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6028&context=etd Theses and Dissertations 36–41 On the topic of the Philippines, Governor Wells praised the work of volunteers who fought in the Philippines in Manti, and claimed for a way to preserve their sacrifice was to vote Republican. State Republicans further capitalized on the issue by holding a rally with both Philippines and Civil war veterans in Salt Lake City. Multiple generals spoke in favor of US expansion in the Philippines, accused Adlai Stevenson I of being a copperhead, and blamed Democrats for being hostile to the nation. Major F.A. Grant was quoted saying, "we ought not to let the tears of the mothers of those boys of ours who died in the Philippines be shed in vain." At the same rally, a black soldier, J Gordon McPherson, made a speech comparing the freeing of African Americans in the Civil War to the liberation of the Cuban people in the Caribbean. However, he claimed that the Filipino people "stabbed their friends in the back" for not wanting to be liberated. State Republicans successfully tied the Civil War and the Philippine issue together for emotional appeal. The Democrats, on the other hand, did not rely heavily on the Philippines issue due to criticisms in the form patriotic pleas, but Moyle still argued against US imperialism in the region as "evil".Penrod Gary 1968 The Elections of 1900 in Utah https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6028&context=etd Theses and Dissertations 56–58Salt Lake Herald-Republican 1900-11-04 Page 5 Moyle at the Park https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=12087022 2024-08-14 newspapers.lib.utah.edu en On labor, Wells was criticized for vetoing an eight hour work day bill, and state labor organizations refused to back his campaign. He defended himself by stating the bill only affected state and county employees, and that the bill came so late in the session he could not give it proper time to look it over. He also brought up the passage of a similar law that gave miners and smelters eight hour works days, and if another similar bill appeared on his desk, he would sign it.Salt Lake Herald-Republican 1900-11-04 Page 7 Wells on the Rack https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=12087073 2024-08-13 newspapers.lib.utah.edu en Moyle was reported to have taken the "labor question" for a rally at an opera house in Park City, and gave a speech on why he was for the "working man."Salt Lake Tribune 1900-11-04 Page 5 Outlook at Enterprise https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=13401431 2024-08-14 newspapers.lib.utah.edu en Wells and other Republican candidates ended their campaigns at a Park City rally at the Dewey Theatre, where he spoke generally on local Issues, as well as giving the "true history" explaining his veto of an early eight hour work law, and reviewing Republican legislation.Salt Lake Tribune 1900-11-06 Page 5 Grand at Park City https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=13427506 2024-08-13 newspapers.lib.utah.edu en Meanwhile, Democrats concluded their campaign with a rally in Brigham City, were Moyle was given high remarks by Brigham Henry Roberts.Salt Lake Herald-Republican 1900-11-06 Page 2 Cheers for Roberts https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=12089967 2024-08-13 newspapers.lib.utah.edu en Governor Wells would go on to defeat Moyle with 51% of the vote to Moyle's 48%, a margin of slightly over 3 points; a slight decrease compared to his 5.6 point victory in 1895. His victory, as well as President William McKinley's victory, has been attributed to the good organization and funding of the Utah Republican Party, as well as his position on protective tariffs and support of the conquest of the Philippines.Penrod Gary 1968 The Elections of 1900 in Utah https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6028&context=etd Theses and Dissertations 118–122 General election Candidates Heber M. Wells, Republican James H. Moyle, Democratic Martin Wright, Social DemocraticThe Salt Lake Herald https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1900-11-05/ed-1/seq-7/ 31 March 2025 November 5, 1900 Jacob S. Boreman, Prohibition P. E. Nelson, Socialist Labor Results 1900 Utah gubernatorial electionUtah State Archives, Statement of the Vote cast at the General Election held on the 6th day of November 1900, for Presidential and Vice Presidential Electors, Representative in Congress, State Officers, and on the proposed amendments to the Constitution Republican Party (United States) Heber M. Wells 47,600 51.19% +0.88% Democratic Party (United States) James H. Moyle 44,447 47.80% +3.07% Social Democratic Party of America Martin Wright 641 0.69% Prohibition Party Jacob S. Boreman 207 0.22% Socialist Labor Party of America P. E. Nelson 85 0.09% 92,890 100.00% 3,153 3.39% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) -2.20% Results by county County Heber M. WellsRepublican John T. CaineDemocratic Martin WrightSocialist Jacob S. BoremanProhibition P. E. NelsonSocialist Labor Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % # %Beaver68152.06%62447.71%30.23%00.00%00.00%574.36%1,308Box Elder1,64652.74%1,46646.97%40.13%50.16%00.00%1805.77%3,121Cache2,89448.81%2,99650.53%350.59%40.07%00.00%-102-1.72%5,929Carbon75254.53%61944.89%50.36%10.07%20.15%1339.64%1,379Davis1,21546.13%1,40753.42%50.19%50.19%20.08%-192-7.29%2,634Emery66745.44%79654.22%30.20%20.14%00.00%-129-8.79%1,468Garfield64561.96%39638.04%00.00%00.00%00.00%24923.92%1,041Grand18247.40%20152.34%10.26%00.00%00.00%-19-4.95%384Iron64748.39%68951.53%10.07%00.00%00.00%-42-3.14%1,337Juab1,57643.97%1,93754.05%661.84%20.06%30.08%-361-10.07%3,584Kane39070.14%16629.86%00.00%00.00%00.00%22440.29%556Millard94953.11%83546.73%30.17%00.00%00.00%1146.38%1,787Morgan40353.03%35746.97%00.00%00.00%00.00%466.05%760Piute33054.55%27244.96%10.17%10.17%10.17%589.59%605Rich38257.01%28842.99%00.00%00.00%00.00%9414.03%670Salt Lake13,59150.61%12,76347.53%3501.30%820.31%660.25%8283.08%26,852San Juan8856.05%6642.04%00.00%31.91%00.00%2214.01%157Sanpete3,55959.03%2,44440.54%190.32%50.08%20.03%1,11518.49%6,029Sevier1,58355.00%1,26543.95%260.90%30.10%10.03%31811.05%2,878Summit1,65549.65%1,66950.08%70.21%20.06%00.00%-14-0.42%3,333Tooele1,29654.23%1,08245.27%110.46%10.04%00.00%2148.95%2,390Uintah66146.71%75253.14%10.07%10.07%00.00%-91-6.43%1,415Utah5,67850.92%5,38948.33%600.54%210.19%30.03%2892.59%11,151Wasatch74049.07%76550.72%20.13%10.07%00.00%-25-1.66%1,508Washington41429.36%99470.50%20.14%00.00%00.00%-580-41.13%1,410Wayne32653.62%28246.38%00.00%00.00%00.00%447.24%608Weber4,65053.53%3,92745.21%360.41%680.78%50.06%7238.32%8,686Total 47,60051.19%44,44747.80%6410.69%2070.22%850.09%3,1533.39%92,980 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Rich San Juan Utah Wayne Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Grand Iron Juab Summit Aftermath Wells's second term would involve major legalization, including establishing the School of Mines at the University of Utah and a State Bureau of Statistics, setting standards for dairy products and other foods, and accepting provisions of the federal Carey Act. He would also send the National Guard to Carbon County during the Carbon County Strike upon (false) reports that violence would break out, a costly move that required the state to borrow money, and upset strikers who saw the guard as protecting the company's property, rather than keeping the peace.Utah History Encyclopedia https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/w/WELLS_HEBER.shtml 2024-08-14 www.uen.orgUtah History Encyclopedia https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/u/UNITED_MINE_WORKERS.shtml 2024-08-14 www.uen.org Moyle would run again for governor in 1904, as would Wells, but the latter would lose the Republican nomination to John C. Cutler, due to party opposition from a group called the "Federal Bunch." Moyle would lose to Cutler in the general election. References 1900 Utah Gubernatorial