1898 New York gubernatorial election
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 County results Roosevelt:
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
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The1898 New York gubernatorial electionwas held on November 8, 1898. Incumbent Republican GovernorFrank S. Blackwas defeated for re-nomination byTheodore Roosevelt,the formerUnited States Assistant Secretary of the Navyand a returning hero of theSpanish–American War.In the general election, Roosevelt narrowly defeated judgeAugustus Van Wyck.
Republican and Citizens Union nomination
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Frank S. Black,incumbent Governor since 1895
- Theodore Roosevelt,formerUnited States Assistant Secretary of the NavyandNew York City Police Commissioner
Campaign
[edit]Returning fromCubaas a war hero, Theodore Roosevelt had popular approval but lacked support from the state's Republican political machine, which he had opposed as a member of the State Assembly and Police Commissioner. Instead of directly approaching Republican Boss es Thomas C. Platt and Benjamin B. Odell, Roosevelt approached theCitizens Union,a good government organization, and suggested the nomination of a state ticket. The Citizens' Union Executive Committee endorsed the Roosevelt plan with only three dissenting votes.[1]An "Independent Citizens Committee" was formed, and six thousand signatures were gathered on a petition to file a ticket, with the signers believing that Roosevelt headed the ticket and that the Citizens Union backed it.[2]
Facing uncertain prospects of a three-cornered election against Roosevelt and the Democratic Party, the Republican Boss es instead offered Roosevelt the nomination against the wishes of GovernorFrank S. Black.On September 24, three days ahead of the Republican state convention, Roosevelt suddenly declined to run on the independent ticket.
Results
[edit]The state convention met on September 27 atSaratoga Springs, New York.Sereno E. Paynewas Temporary Chairman until the choice ofHorace Whiteas Permanent Chairman. Theodore Roosevelt was nominated for governor on the first ballot.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Theodore Roosevelt | 753 | 77.55% | |
| Republican | Frank S. Black(incumbent) | 218 | 22.45% | |
| Total votes | 971 | 100.00% | ||
Aftermath
[edit]On September 30,Robert Fulton Cuttingand a majority of the Citizens Union Executive Committee rejected the idea of a state ticket as "not only inconsistent with, but actually opposed to the fundamental principles and objects of the Citizens' Union."[5]However, the Independent Citizens' Committee declared the next day that they would proceed with nominations.[6]The petition to file an independent ticket with Roosevelt as its nominee was filed with the Secretary of State on October 12. Roosevelt immediately sent a letter to the Secretary of State declining to run on the independent ticket, which would have threatened Republican candidates for lower offices.[7]
The Independent Citizens' Committee substituted Theodore Bacon, a lawyer ofRochester,on the ticket, and Cutting, despite his earlier rejection of the state ticket idea per se, campaigned for the ticket.[8][9]
Democratic nomination
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- James Kennedy McGuire,mayor ofSyracuse
- John B. Stanchfield,New York City attorney and former Assemblyman and mayor ofElmira
- Robert C. Titus,judge of theNew York Supreme Courtand former State Senator fromBuffalo
- Augustus Van Wyck,judge of theNew York Supreme CourtfromBrooklynbrother of Mayor of New York CityRobert A. Van Wyck
Results
[edit]The Democratic ticket was a compromise between the three biggest Democratic Boss es:David B. Hillfrom upstate,Richard CrokerofTammany Hall,andHugh McLaughlinofBrooklyn.[10]TheDemocraticstate convention met on September 28 and 29 atSyracuse, New York.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Augustus Van Wyck | 351 | 78.00% | |
| Democratic | John B. Stanchfield | 41 | 9.11% | |
| Democratic | Robert C. Titus | 39 | 8.67% | |
| Democratic | James Kennedy McGuire | 19 | 4.22% | |
| Total votes | 450 | 100.00% | ||
Aftermath
[edit]The day after the Democratic convention, theNational Democratic Partystate committee met on September 30 at 52 William Street,New York City.The committee resolved not to call a convention or endorse any candidates.[12]
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Theodore Bacon,Rochesterattorney (Independent Citizens')
- Benjamin Hanford(Socialist Labor)
- John Kline (Prohibition)
- Theodore Roosevelt,formerUnited States Assistant Secretary of the NavyandNew York City Police Commissioner(Republican)
- Augustus Van Wyck,judge of theNew York Supreme CourtfromBrooklynbrother of Mayor of New York CityRobert A. Van Wyck(Democratic)
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Theodore Roosevelt | 661,707 | 49.02% | ||
| Democratic | Augustus Van Wyck | 643,921 | 47.70% | ||
| Socialist Labor | Benjamin Hanford | 23,860 | 1.77% | ||
| Prohibition | John Kline | 18,383 | 1.36% | ||
| Independent | Theodore Bacon | 2,103 | 0.16% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 1,349,974 | 100.00% | |||
Notes
[edit]- ^AN INDEPENDENT'S POSITIONin NYT on October 31, 1898
- ^At this time, a vote of 10,000 gave automatic ballot status for the next election, smaller parties or independent runners needed 3,000 voters to sign a petition to file a ticket and get on the ballot.
- ^ROOSEVELT THE STANDARD BEARERin NT on September 28, 1898
- ^ROOSEVELT THE STANDARD BEARERin NT on September 28, 1898
- ^REBUKE FOR INDEPENDENTSin NYT on September 30, 1898
- ^INDEPENDENTS TO PERSISTin NYT on October 1, 1898
- ^THE INDEPENDENT TICKET.; Petition for Nominations Is Delivered to the Secretary of State; MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FILEDin NYT on October 13, 1898
- ^MEETING OF INDEPENDENTSin NYT on October 26, 1898
- ^THE CITIZENS' STATE TICKETin NYT on October 15, 1898
- ^JUSTICE VAN WYCK FOR GOVERNORin NYT on September 30, 1898
- ^WORK OF THE CONVENTIONin NYT on September 30, 1898
- ^ACTION OF GOLD DEMOCRATSin NYT on October 1, 1898
- ^The Tribune Almanac 1899
- ^NEW YORK'S OFFICIAL VOTEin NYT on December 30, 1898
Sources
[edit]- How to vote split tickets:HOW TO MARK THE BALLOTin NYT on October 31, 1898
- The Democratic nominees:THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.; Sketches of the Men Nominated for Office by the Syracuse Conventionin NYT on September 30, 1898
- Result in New York County:OFFICIAL ELECTION FIGURES.; Vote Cast in New York County...in NYT on December 24, 1898
- Result in Kings County:...The Official Vote in Kingsin NYt on December 4, 1898
See also
[edit]New York gubernatorial elections
