1917 San Diego mayoral election

none January 2025 September 2023 1917 San Diego mayoral election Flag of San Diego, California.svg presidential no 1915 San Diego mayoral election 1915 1919 San Diego mayoral election 1919 1917 4 3 x150px Louis J. Wilde Republican Party (US) 12,901 58.3% x150px George Marston Progressive Party (United States, 1912) 9,246 41.7% Mayor Edwin M. Capps Democratic Party (US) Louis J. Wilde Republican Party (US) The 1917 San Diego mayoral election was held on April 3, 1917, to elect the mayor for San Diego. The election became known as the "Smokestacks vs. Geraniums" election because the dominant issue was whether the city's development should focus on planning and beautification or job creation and factories. In the primary election Louis J. Wilde, advocating for "smokestacks", and George Marston, derided as "Geranium George" by his opponents, received the most votes and advanced to the runoff. Wilde was then elected mayor with a majority of the votes. Candidates Louis J. Wilde, bankerSies Mary Corbin Silver Christopher Planning the Twentieth-century American City 1996 JHU Press 9780801851643 171–173 https://books.google.com/books?id=vTGq0NhtE38C&q=Marston&pg=PA172 en George Marston, department store owner and mayoral candidate in 1913 Charles H. Bartholomew, retired postmasterNew Postmaster Will Take Office Today http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2:136E6A0F0DF56B38@EANX-139B85C4BAD289D0@2421289-139A33F952BD9938@4-139BA4794E1725B0@?p=WORLDNEWS April 23, 2017 The San Diego Union March 1, 2017 Campaign Incumbent Mayor Edwin M. Capps declined to run for re-election, leaving an open seat.Mayor Extends Sympathy to Successor in Office http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2:136E6A0F0DF56B38@EANX-139B85CE7AEE7520@2421296-139A35B68DF16DA1@8-139BA5AF40ED0B98@?p=WORLDNEWS April 23, 2017 The San Diego Union March 8, 1917 The main challengers for the open seat were local department store owner and philanthropist George Marston, a Progressive, and banker Louis J. Wilde, a Republican. Also contesting the race was recently retired postmaster Charles Bartholomew. Marston had previously run for mayor in 1913 advocating for planned expansion of the city and projects that would lead to a beautiful and prosperous city rather focusing on commerce and industry.Ports Uldis Moss James E. Geraniums vs. Smokestacks San Diego's Mayoralty Campaign of 1917 - San Diego History Center San Diego, CA Our City, Our Story The Journal of San Diego History Summer 1975 21 3 http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/1975/july/geraniums/ April 23, 2017 In the intervening years, he had played a large role in shepherding through the Panama–California Exposition.Larson Thomas Elections San Diego Style http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2004/oct/28/elections-san-diego-style/?page=3& April 23, 2017 San Diego Reader October 28, 2004 en In the 1917 campaign, Marston once again emphasized planned growth. In his campaign, he advocated for city planning, energy conservation, and building and pollution controls on industrial development. He also supported the growth of the military industry, chiefly the navy and the Marine Corps, since he did not consider this to be industrial growth. Marston's campaign also had the backing of influential city leaders such as John D. Spreckels, E.W. Scripps, and Albert Spalding. In contrast to Marston, Wilde campaigned on a promise of increased industry in San Diego. He campaigned strongly for the labor vote, arguing that increased industry would lead to good jobs and good wages. Wilde billed himself as the "Smokestack Candidate" and labeled his opponent "Geranium George", giving the election its nickname. Wilde campaigned more aggressively than Marston, for example threatening that if Marston won the Salt Lake Railroad would never arrive in San Diego. Marston often refused to respond to these accusations. On March 20, 1917, Wilde received the highest number of votes in the primary election, followed by Marston. In the April 3, 1917 runoff between the top-two candidates, Wilde received a majority and was elected mayor. Primary Election results San Diego mayoral primary election, 1917Election History - Mayor of San Diego https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/city-clerk/pdf/mayorresults.pdf City of San Diego April 15, 2017 Louis J. Wilde Republican Party (United States) 8,728 47.1 George Marston Progressive Party (United States, 1912) 7,502 40.5 Charles H. Bartholomew Republican Party (United States) 2,297 12.4 18,528 100 General Election results San Diego mayoral general election, 1917 Louis J. Wilde Republican Party (US) 12,901 58.3 George Marston Progressive Party (United States, 1912) 9,246 41.7 22,147 100 References 1917 Category:1917 California elections 1917 Category:1917 United States mayoral elections Category:April 1917 in the United States