1901 Toronto municipal election

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 7, 1901. In the mayoral election, Oliver Aiken Howland was elected, defeating Alderman Frank S. Spence as well as incumbent Mayor Ernest A. Macdonald, who came in third place, and former mayor John Shaw, who came in fourth place. In the council elections, seventeen incumbent alderman were returned and five were defeated.^[1]

Shortly after the election, Mayor Howland called off plans by the city to put into public ownership the privately owned municipal gasworks company, despite the plan having been approved in the plebiscite by a large majority.^[2]

Toronto mayor

Results: Oliver Aiken Howland - 12,300; Alderman Frank S. Spence - 8,076; Ernest A. Macdonald (incumbent) - 3,354; John Shaw - 990; Charles Christopher Woodley - 224

Source:^[1]

Board of Control

The Toronto Board of Control was elected by Toronto City Council from among its members. The number of Controllers was increased from thee to four, in addition to the Mayor who chairs the Board. At the first council meeting following the general election, four Conservatives were chosen. Aldermen Sheppard, Frame and Lamb were chosen on the first ballot and Aldermen Hubbard was chosen on the second, beating out Alderman Graham.^[2]

Plebiscites

A plebiscite was held on putting the municipal gas plant into public ownership and operation. Despite the plebiscite passing, the new Howland administration cancelled the project.^[2]

Gasworks: For - 13,398; Against - 6,488

Source:^[1]

City council

Map of Toronto's six wards (1892–1909), published in *The Globe*, 1 January 1892.

Four aldermen were elected to Toronto City Council per ward.

First Ward (Riverdale): James Frame (incumbent) - 1,870; John Russell (incumbent) - 1,352; William Temple Stewart (incumbent) - 1,321; Fred H. Richardson - 1,207; John Preston - 1,077

Second Ward (Cabbagetown and Rosedale): Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 2,947; Joseph Oliver - 2,432; Edward Strachan Cox (incumbent) - 1,824; Daniel Lamb (incumbent) - 1,742; John Akers - 1,360; Thomas W. Barber - 1,329

Third Ward (Central Business District and The Ward): Oliver Barton Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,561; John Francis Loudon (incumbent) - 2,314; Henry Sheard - 1,922; George McMurrich (incumbent) - 1,878; Bernard Saunders (incumbent) - 1,620; John Morrison - 1,585; Joseph George Ramsden - 1,499; Samuel George Curry - 993; Thomas Hunter - 733; Robert L. Fraser - 720; Thomas W. Curtis - 286; Robert Barton - 101; James B. Tremaine - 100

Fourth Ward (Spadina): Thomas Urquhart - 3,191; William Burns (incumbent) - 2,680; William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,673; James Crane (incumbent) - 2,500; Alex R. Williamson - 1,688; Samuel Platt - 740

Fifth Ward (Trinity-Bellwoods): James Russell Lovett Starr - 1,887; Dr. William Stewart Fraleigh - 1,748; William Bell (incumbent) - 1,593; Frank Woods (incumbent) - 1,571; Alexander Stewart - 1,503; A.R. Denison (incumbent) - 1,418; John Dunn (incumbent) - 1,340; David Clark - 594; J.J. Dunbar - 447; Edmund Schilling - 81

Sixth Ward (Brockton and Parkdale): John James Graham (incumbent) - 1,758; John Joseph Ward (incumbent) - 1,562; W.W. Hodgson (incumbent) - 1,523; Dr. Adam Lynd - 1,367; J.M. Bowman - 1,318; Alexander Asher (incumbent) - 1,171; William O'Neill - 359

Source:^[1] and ^[3]

References

Results taken from the January 8, 1901 Toronto Globe and might not exactly match final tallies.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "HOWLAND IS MAYOR: His Plurality Over Spence Fully Four Thousand SHAW NOWHERE The Desertion From His Ranks Was Complete SEVEN NEW ALDERMEN Old Members Slaughtered In the Third. Fifth and Sixth Wards, Municipal Gas Plant Favored", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]08 Jan 1901: 1
^ ^a ^b ^c CONSERVATIVE RULE IN CITY: Work of Machine Appears in Election of Controllers GAS CO. PURCHASE Mayor Says it is Declared Off by His Election GAMBLING MUST STOP Mayor Howland Says so in His inaugural Address-Fallacy of His Plan to Make a Cabinet of Board of Control", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]15 Jan 1901: 2
^ "FORTY-SEVEN GO TO POLLS: Aldermanic Candidates Who Remain In the Field MANY TRUSTEES ALSO A System of Commissions, Which Has Produced Good Results In Detroit", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]03 Jan 1901: 2.

[results-1] "HOWLAND IS MAYOR: His Plurality Over Spence Fully Four Thousand SHAW NOWHERE The Desertion From His Ranks Was Complete SEVEN NEW ALDERMEN Old Members Slaughtered In the Third. Fifth and Sixth Wards, Municipal Gas Plant Favored", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]08 Jan 1901: 1

[board-2] CONSERVATIVE RULE IN CITY: Work of Machine Appears in Election of Controllers GAS CO. PURCHASE Mayor Says it is Declared Off by His Election GAMBLING MUST STOP Mayor Howland Says so in His inaugural Address-Fallacy of His Plan to Make a Cabinet of Board of Control", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]15 Jan 1901: 2

[3] "FORTY-SEVEN GO TO POLLS: Aldermanic Candidates Who Remain In the Field MANY TRUSTEES ALSO A System of Commissions, Which Has Produced Good Results In Detroit", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]03 Jan 1901: 2.

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