1919 Ontario general election
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The 1919 Ontario general election, held on October 20, 1919, elected 111 Members of the
Premier William Howard Hearst had aimed to win a fifth consecutive term for the Conservatives, but instead the party became the first in Ontario history to fall from first to third place.[2] As newspaperman John Willison later remarked, "There could not have been a worse time for a general election."[2]
Campaign
The parties tended to have a targeted approach in fielding their candidates:
Candidates nominated | Ridings | Party | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Con | Lib | UFO | Lab | Ind | Farm-Lab | Ind-Con | Soc | Farm-Lib | Soldier | Sold-Lab | Ind-Lib | Totals | ||
Acclamation | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
2 | 48 | 44 | 15 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 96 | |||||
3 | 50 | 46 | 44 | 32 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 150 | |||
4 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 32 | ||
5 | – | |||||||||||||
6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
Total | 111 | 103 | 66 | 66 | 21 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 288 |
It was the first in which women could vote and run for office.[b] Election day was also held on the same day as the scheduled referendum on prohibition.[2]
Conservatives
Hearst alienated the business community with his progressive policies; he had a rift with Adam Beck (London) over the direction of the Ontario Hydro-Electric Commission; and his promotion of prohibition alienated the urban "wets".[2]
Only the Conservatives attempted to field a full slate—and were helped by having four candidates being declared elected by acclamation[5]—but about two dozen incumbents decided to step aside in favour of the local farmer candidates.[6]
Seventeen Conservative MLAs either retired from the Legislature, or had failed to be renominated.[7] Arthur Pratt (Norfolk South) opted to campaign as an Independent-Conservative, claiming earlier in the year that at least 27 MLAs privately opposed Hearst's prohibition policy.[6]
Beck also decided to stand as an Independent, saying, "I do not object to the Government having a control of the Hydro enterprise, but I object to its becoming a Government department; only as an Independent can I look after the interests of Hydro-Electric Power for the people of the Province in the most efficient manner."[6]
Liberals
The Liberals split between those still loyal to former leader
They tried to avoid direct contests with UFO candidates,
Proudfoot opted to campaign as an Independent.[10]
United Farmers
The UFO focused on rural areas. Its leader,
Labour
The labour political movement was fragmented between the Independent Labour Party, the Ontario section of the Canadian Labour Party, and the Ontario Labour Educational Association and its newspaper The Industrial Banner.[11] The ILP was the effective organization on the campaign trail that year, and it promoted joint action with the UFO.[12]
Media in the campaign
Media support in the campaign was mixed.
Electoral system
Of the 111 seats, 103 were from single-member constituencies elected through first-past-the-post voting. The remaining eight came from four dual-member ridings in Toronto, each of which had parallel contests voting separately for seat A and seat B under the same FPTP rules.
Synopsis of results
Results by riding - 1919 Ontario general election | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Riding | Region | 1914 | Winning party | Turnout [a 1] |
Votes | ||||||||||||||||||
Party | Votes | Share | Margin # |
Margin % |
UFO | Lab | F-Lab | F-Lib | Soldier | Lib
|
Con
|
Ind | I-Con | I-Lib | S-Lab | Soc | Total | ||||||
Addington | EAS | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||||||||||
Algoma‡ | NOR | Con | Lib | 2,272 | 35.48% | 39 | 0.61% | 75.21% | 1,898 | – | – | – | – | 2,272 | 2,233 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,403 | ||
Brant |
MWO | Lib | UFO | 3,597 | 44.21 % | 1,024 | 12.59% | 79.52% | 3,597 | – | – | – | – | 1,966 | 2,573 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,136 | ||
Brant South | MWO | Lib | Lab | 6,408 | 46.55% | 2,377 | 17.27% | 82.90% | – | 6,408 | – | – | – | 4,031 | 3,326 | – | – | – | – | – | 13,765 | ||
Brockville | EAS | Con | Lib | 4,866 | 56.47% | 1,115 | 12.94% | 81.26% | – | – | – | – | – | 4,866 | 3,751 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,617 | ||
Bruce North | MWO | Lib | UFO | 3,689 | 54.08% | 557 | 8.17% | 80.47% | 3,689 | – | – | – | – | 3,132 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6,821 | ||
Bruce South | MWO | Con | Lib | 2,727 | 41.88% | 797 | 12.24% | 83.97% | 1,930 | – | – | – | – | 2,727 | 1,855 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,512 | ||
Bruce West | MWO | Lib | Lib | 3,094 | 39.75% | 101 | 1.30% | 84.06% | 2,993 | – | – | – | – | 3,094 | 1,696 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,783 | ||
Carleton | EAS | Con | UFO | 4,877 | 56.24% | 1,082 | 12.48% | 70.04% | 4,877 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,795 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,672 | ||
Cochrane | NOR | Lib | Lib | 2,951 | 49.24% | 1,120 | 18.69% | 62.23% | – | 1,211 | – | – | – | 2,951 | 1,831 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,993 | ||
Dufferin | MWO | Con | UFO | 4,117 | 53.50% | 538 | 7.00% | 80.72% | 4,117 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,579 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,696 | ||
Dundas | EAS | Con | UFO | 4,792 | 59.45% | 1,524 | 18.90% | 79.05% | 4,792 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,268 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,060 | ||
Durham East | CEN | Con | UFO | 1,111 | 57.89% | 303 | 15.78% | 25.53% | 1,111 | – | – | – | – | – | 808 | – | – | – | – | – | 1,919 | ||
Durham West | CEN | Con | Lib | 3,346 | 56.20% | 738 | 12.40% | 81.53% | – | – | – | – | – | 3,346 | 2,608 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,954 | ||
Elgin East | SWO | Con | UFO | 4,937 | 59.47% | 1,572 | 18.94% | 80.21% | 4,937 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,365 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,302 | ||
Elgin West | SWO | Con | UFO | 7,542 | 57.11% | 1,879 | 14.22% | 74.67% | 7,542 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,663 | – | – | – | – | – | 13,205 | ||
Essex North | SWO | Lib | UFO | 6,486 | 71.09% | 3,848 | 42.18% | 75.06% | 6,486 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,638 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,124 | ||
Essex South | SWO | Lib | UFO | 3,558 | 41.30% | 130 | 1.51% | 81.13% | 3,558 | – | – | – | – | 3,428 | – | 1,629 | – | – | – | – | 8,615 | ||
Fort William | NOR | Con | Lab | 3,745 | 51.48% | 1,513 | 20.80% | 65.99% | – | 3,745 | – | – | – | 2,232 | 1,298 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,275 | ||
Frontenac | EAS | Con | Con | 3,016 | 47.32% | 509 | 7.99% | 77.45% | 2,507 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,016 | 850 | – | – | – | – | 6,373 | ||
Glengarry | EAS | Lib | UFO | 4,554 | 62.10% | 1,775 | 24.20% | 66.84% | 4,554 | – | – | – | – | 2,779 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7,333 | ||
Grenville* | EAS | Con | Con | 4,125 | 50.50% | 81 | 1.00% | 81.69% | 4,044 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,125 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,169 | ||
Grey Centre | MWO | Con | UFO | 4,363 | 52.87% | 474 | 5.74% | 83.76% | 4,363 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,889 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,252 | ||
Grey North* | MWO | Con | F-Lib | 5,659 | 55.92% | 1,198 | 11.84% | 79.73% | – | – | – | 5,659 | – | – | 4,461 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,120 | ||
Grey South | MWO | Con | UFO | 5,252 | 54.99% | 953 | 9.98% | 78.14% | 5,252 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,299 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,551 | ||
Haldimand | MWO | Con | UFO | 6,056 | 59.83% | 1,990 | 19.66% | 85.32% | 6,056 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,066 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,122 | ||
Halton | HAM | Con | UFO | 4,456 | 40.33% | 1,054 | 9.54% | 79.06% | 4,456 | – | – | – | – | 3,190 | 3,402 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,048 | ||
Hamilton East | HAM | Lab | Lab | 16,012 | 60.24% | 7,588 | 28.55% | 71.90% | – | 16,012 | – | – | 2,146 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,424 | – | 26,582 | ||
Hamilton West | HAM | Con | Lab | 8,722 | 60.25% | 4,643 | 32.07% | 72.94% | – | 8,722 | – | – | – | 1,675 | 4,079 | – | – | – | – | – | 14,476 | ||
Hastings East | EAS | Con | UFO | 3,641 | 51.22% | 174 | 2.44% | 80.76% | 3,641 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,467 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,108 | ||
Hastings North | EAS | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||||||||||
Hastings West | EAS | Con | Con | 5,072 | 52.19% | 425 | 4.38% | 79.54% | – | – | – | – | – | 4,647 | 5,072 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,719 | ||
Huron Centre | MWO | Lib | Lab | 3,193 | 38.65% | 163 | 1.97% | 81.37% | 2,039 | 3,193 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,030 | – | – | – | – | 8,262 | ||
Huron North | MWO | Con | Con | 2,897 | 37.61% | 341 | 4.43% | 85.18% | 2,249 | – | – | – | – | 2,556 | 2,897 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,702 | ||
Huron South | MWO | Con | UFO | 3,298 | 41.91% | 774 | 9.84% | 84.22% | 3,298 | – | – | – | – | 2,047 | 2,524 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,869 | ||
Kenora | NOR | Con | Lab | 1,870 | 49.47% | 975 | 25.79% | 73.99% | – | 1,870 | – | – | – | 405 | 610 | 895 | – | – | – | – | 3,780 | ||
Kent East | SWO | Lib | UFO | 5,374 | 55.28% | 1,026 | 10.56% | 84.57% | 5,374 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,348 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,722 | ||
Kent West | SWO | Con | Lib | 8,098 | 48.03% | 2,919 | 17.31% | 82.89% | 5,179 | – | – | – | – | 8,098 | 3,583 | – | – | – | – | – | 16,860 | ||
Kingston | EAS | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||||||||||
Lambton East | SWO | Con | UFO | 4,575 | 53.09% | 2,414 | 28.01% | 85.86% | 4,575 | – | – | – | – | 1,882 | 2,161 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,618 | ||
Lambton West | SWO | Con | UFO | 6,081 | 40.42% | 1,299 | 8.64% | 80.56% | 6,081 | 4,782 | – | – | – | – | 4,180 | – | – | – | – | – | 15,043 | ||
Lanark North | EAS | Con | UFO | 2,881 | 40.85% | 83 | 1.18% | 81.33% | 2,881 | – | – | – | – | 1,373 | 2,798 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,052 | ||
Lanark South | EAS | Con | UFO | 3,872 | 48.18% | 803 | 9.99% | 76.05% | 3,872 | 1,096 | – | – | – | – | 3,069 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,037 | ||
Leeds | EAS | Con | Con | 4,351 | 54.59% | 731 | 9.18% | 78.03% | – | – | – | – | – | 3,620 | 4,351 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,971 | ||
Lennox | EAS | Con | Con | 2,329 | 39.98% | 314 | 5.39% | 81.71% | 1,482 | – | – | – | – | 2,015 | 2,329 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,826 | ||
Lincoln | HAM | Lib | Lib | 3,242 | 39.39% | 507 | 6.16% | 80.22% | 2,735 | – | – | – | – | 3,242 | 2,253 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,230 | ||
London | SWO | Con | Lab | 13,008 | 53.94% | 1,901 | 7.88% | 78.32% | – | 13,008 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,107 | – | – | – | – | 24,115 | ||
Manitoulin |
NOR | Con | UFO | 2,428 | 60.20% | 823 | 20.40% | 74.05% | 2,428 | – | – | – | – | – | 1,605 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,033 | ||
Middlesex East | SWO | Con | UFO | 5,463 | 52.61% | 2,963 | 28.53% | 80.53% | 5,463 | – | – | – | – | 2,500 | 2,421 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,384 | ||
Middlesex North | SWO | Lib | UFO | 3,857 | 50.41% | 1,696 | 22.18% | 84.48% | 3,857 | – | – | – | – | 1,627 | 2,161 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,645 | ||
Middlesex West | SWO | Lib | UFO | 4,394 | 75.59% | 2,975 | 51.18% | 81.35% | 4,394 | – | – | – | – | – | 1,419 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,813 | ||
Muskoka | CEN | Con | Con | 3,054 | 46.22% | 290 | 4.39% | 67.05% | – | – | – | – | – | 2,764 | 3,054 | 789 | – | – | – | – | 6,607 | ||
Niagara Falls | HAM | Con | Lab | 4,057 | 38.37% | 368 | 3.48% | 76.25% | – | 4,057 | – | – | – | 3,689 | 2,826 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,572 | ||
Nipissing | NOR | Con | Lib | 3,122 | 42.44% | 934 | 12.70% | 71.52% | – | 2,188 | – | – | – | 3,122 | 2,046 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,356 | ||
Norfolk North | MWO | Lib | UFO | 4,522 | 63.09% | 1,877 | 26.18% | 79.98% | 4,522 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,645 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,167 | ||
Norfolk South | MWO | Con | UFO | 3,280 | 62.67% | 1,326 | 25.34% | 79.50% | 3,280 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,954 | – | – | – | 5,234 | ||
Northumberland East | CEN | Con | UFO | 4,521 | 50.49% | 87 | 0.98% | 78.31% | 4,521 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,434 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,955 | ||
Northumberland West | CEN | Lib | Lib | 3,401 | 55.32% | 654 | 10.64% | 81.20% | – | – | – | – | – | 3,401 | 2,747 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,148 | ||
Ontario North | CEN | Con | UFO | 4,162 | 54.12% | 633 | 8.24% | 84.13% | 4,162 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,529 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,691 | ||
Ontario South | CEN | Con | Lib | 7,843 | 63.97% | 3,425 | 27.94% | 75.93% | – | – | – | – | – | 7,843 | 4,418 | – | – | – | – | – | 12,261 | ||
Ottawa East | OTT | Lib | Lib | 7,309 | 63.57% | 4,431 | 38.54% | 62.40% | – | 2,878 | – | – | – | 7,309 | 1,311 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,498 | ||
Ottawa West | OTT | Lib | Con | 8,953 | 34.36% | 1,097 | 4.21% | 69.56% | – | 7,856 | – | – | – | 6,526 | 8,953 | 2,723 | – | – | – | – | 26,058 | ||
Oxford North | MWO | Lib | Lib | 5,369 | 47.61% | 2,313 | 20.51% | 80.76% | – | – | 2,852 | – | – | 5,369 | 3,056 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,277 | ||
Oxford South | MWO | Con | UFO | 4,452 | 39.84% | 617 | 5.52% | 83.74% | 4,452 | – | – | – | – | 2,888 | 3,835 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,175 | ||
Parkdale | TOR | Con | Con | 11,091 | 68.95% | 6,096 | 37.90% | 67.61% | – | – | – | – | – | – | 11,091 | 4,995 | – | – | – | – | 16,086 | ||
Parry Sound | CEN | Con | Lib | 4,618 | 54.49% | 761 | 8.98% | 67.01% | – | – | – | – | – | 4,618 | 3,857 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,475 | ||
Peel | CEN | Con | Con | 4,562 | 40.25% | 105 | 0.93% | 83.63% | 2,315 | – | – | – | – | 4,457 | 4,562 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,334 | ||
Perth North | MWO | Con | Lib | 6,095 | 41.63% | 1,641 | 11.21% | 80.08% | 4,454 | – | – | – | – | 6,095 | 4,092 | – | – | – | – | – | 14,641 | ||
Perth South | MWO | Con | UFO | 5,847 | 64.20% | 2,586 | 28.40% | — | 5,847 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,261 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,108 | ||
Peterborough East | CEN | Con | UFO | 3,623 | 58.18% | 1,019 | 16.36% | 73.91% | 3,623 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,604 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,227 | ||
Peterborough West | CEN | Lib | Lab | 4,732 | 41.49% | 685 | 6.01% | 76.19% | – | 4,732 | – | – | – | 4,047 | 2,625 | – | – | – | – | – | 11,404 | ||
Port Arthur | NOR | Con | Con | 2,578 | 41.33% | 483 | 7.74% | 70.97% | – | – | – | – | – | 2,095 | 2,578 | 1,564 | – | – | – | – | 6,237 | ||
Prescott | EAS | I-Lib | Lib | 3,929 | 47.43% | 1,298 | 15.67% | 71.03% | 2,631 | – | – | – | – | 3,929 | 1,724 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,284 | ||
Prince Edward | EAS | Lib | Lib | 4,557 | 55.78% | 945 | 11.56% | 82.46% | – | – | – | – | – | 4,557 | 3,612 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,169 | ||
Rainy River | NOR | Con | Con | 1,420 | 40.00% | 352 | 9.92% | 68.44% | 1,062 | – | – | – | – | 1,068 | 1,420 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,550 | ||
Renfrew North | EAS | Con | UFO | 3,979 | 41.10% | 230 | 2.38% | 82.45% | 3,979 | – | – | – | – | 1,954 | 3,749 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,682 | ||
Renfrew South | EAS | Con | UFO | 5,426 | 51.53% | 322 | 3.06% | 72.51% | 5,426 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,104 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,530 | ||
Riverdale | TOR | Con | Soldier | 7,472 | 38.84% | 1,599 | 8.31% | — | – | 5,873 | – | – | 7,472 | – | 5,706 | – | – | – | – | 189 | 19,240 | ||
Russell | EAS | Lib | Lib | 6,121 | 49.98% | 1,174 | 9.59% | 70.80% | 4,947 | – | – | – | – | 6,121 | – | 1,180 | – | – | – | – | 12,248 | ||
St. Catharines | HAM | Con | Lab | 6,313 | 48.67% | 1,891 | 14.58% | 77.71% | – | 6,313 | – | – | – | 2,235 | 4,422 | – | – | – | – | – | 12,970 | ||
Sault Ste. Marie | NOR | Con | Lab | 4,444 | 59.11% | 1,370 | 18.22% | 75.23% | – | 4,444 | – | – | – | – | 3,074 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,518 | ||
Simcoe Centre | CEN | Con | UFO | 5,234 | 57.89% | 1,426 | 15.78% | 77.00% | 5,234 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,808 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,042 | ||
Simcoe East | CEN | Con | UFO | 5,063 | 40.78% | 483 | 3.89% | 73.05% | 5,063 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,580 | 2,773 | – | – | – | – | 12,416 | ||
Simcoe South | CEN | Con | UFO | 2,927 | 53.68% | 401 | 7.36% | 79.99% | 2,927 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,526 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,453 | ||
Simcoe West | CEN | Con | Con | 4,491 | 55.46% | 885 | 10.92% | 74.57% | 3,606 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,491 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,097 | ||
Stormont | EAS | Con | Lib | 4,284 | 43.01% | 1,338 | 13.43% | 70.19% | 2,946 | – | – | – | – | 4,284 | 2,731 | – | – | – | – | – | 9,961 | ||
Sturgeon Falls |
NOR | Lib | Lib | 2,690 | 62.02% | 1,798 | 41.46% | 71.69% | 755 | – | – | – | – | 2,690 | 892 | – | – | – | – | – | 4,337 | ||
Sudbury | NOR | Con | Con | 3,551 | 40.59% | 142 | 1.62% | 67.63% | – | – | – | 1,789 | – | 3,409 | 3,551 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,749 | ||
Timiskaming | NOR | Con | Con | 3,092 | 35.84% | 77 | 0.89% | 70.81% | – | – | 3,015 | – | – | 2,520 | 3,092 | – | – | – | – | – | 8,627 | ||
Toronto NE - A | TOR | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||||||||||
Toronto NE - B | TOR | Con | Con | 13,495 | 44.59% | 5,323 | 17.59% | 56.95% | – | 2,910 | – | – | – | 5,685 | 13,495 | – | 8,172 | – | – | – | 30,262 | ||
Toronto NW - A | TOR | Con | Con | 18,797 | 53.93% | 2,741 | 7.86% | — | – | – | – | – | – | 16,056 | 18,797 | – | – | – | – | – | 34,853 | ||
Toronto NW - B | TOR | Con | Lib | 18,522 | 50.80% | 585 | 1.60% | — | – | – | – | – | – | 18,522 | 17,937 | – | – | – | – | – | 36,459 | ||
Toronto SE - A | TOR | Con | Lib | 10,037 | 38.43% | 4,585 | 17.55% | — | – | – | – | – | – | 10,037 | 5,452 | 1,063 | – | – | – | – | 26,119 | ||
Toronto SE - B | TOR | Con | Lib | 10,508 | 66.92% | 5,313 | 33.84% | — | – | – | – | – | – | 10,508 | 5,195 | – | – | – | – | – | 15,703 | ||
Toronto SW - A | TOR | Con | Lib | 16,555 | 63.86% | 7,186 | 27.72% | 54.34% | – | – | – | – | – | 16,555 | 9,369 | – | – | – | – | – | 25,924 | ||
Toronto SW - B | TOR | Con | Lib | 12,428 | 46.88% | 4,800 | 18.10% | 55.57% | – | 6,457 | – | – | – | 12,428 | 7,628 | – | – | – | – | – | 26,513 | ||
Victoria North | CEN | Con | UFO | 3,348 | 57.94% | 918 | 15.88% | 69.02% | 3,348 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,430 | – | – | – | – | – | 5,778 | ||
Victoria South | CEN | Con | UFO | 2,452 | 68.97% | 1,349 | 37.94% | 82.03% | 2,452 | – | – | – | – | – | 1,103 | – | – | – | – | – | 3,555 | ||
Waterloo North | MWO | Con | I-Lib | 5,354 | 34.62% | 2,141 | 13.85% | 74.15% | 2,211 | 3,213 | – | – | – | 2,974 | 1,487 | – | – | 5,354 | – | 225 | 15,464 | ||
Waterloo South | MWO | Con | F-Lab | 8,074 | 55.49% | 4,238 | 29.12% | 78.62% | – | – | 8,074 | – | – | 3,836 | 2,641 | – | – | – | – | – | 14,551 | ||
Welland |
HAM | Con | Lib | 5,183 | 49.03% | 1,743 | 16.49% | 95.96% | 1,949 | – | – | – | – | 5,183 | 3,440 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,572 | ||
Wellington East | MWO | Lib | UFO | 3,279 | 45.08% | 908 | 12.48% | 82.86% | 3,279 | – | – | – | – | 1,623 | 2,371 | – | – | – | – | – | 7,273 | ||
Wellington South* | MWO | L-Tmp | Con | 4,362 | 36.70% | 120 | 1.01% | — | – | – | 3,060 | – | – | 4,242 | 4,362 | – | – | – | – | 223 | 11,887 | ||
Wellington West |
MWO | Con | UFO | 3,379 | 54.60% | 569 | 9.20% | — | 3,379 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,810 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,189 | ||
Wentworth North | HAM | Con | UFO | 4,634 | 72.21% | 2,851 | 44.42% | 76.21% | 4,634 | – | – | – | – | – | 1,783 | – | – | – | – | – | 6,417 | ||
Wentworth South | HAM | Con | UFO | 2,642 | 34.62% | 311 | 4.07% | 74.29% | 2,642 | – | – | – | – | 1,995 | 2,331 | – | – | – | 664 | – | 7,632 | ||
Windsor | SWO | Lib | Lib | 10,874 | 63.59% | 4,649 | 27.18% | 72.11% | – | – | – | – | – | 10,874 | 6,225 | – | – | – | – | – | 17,099 | ||
York East | CEN | Con | Con | 8,962 | 36.85% | 1,672 | 6.87% | 68.47% | 7,290 | – | – | – | – | 6,926 | 8,962 | 1,144 | – | – | – | – | 24,322 | ||
York North | CEN | Con | Con | 4,139 | 38.10% | 286 | 2.63% | 83.24% | 2,869 | – | – | – | – | 3,853 | 4,139 | – | – | – | – | – | 10,861 | ||
York West |
CEN | Con | Con | 10,436 | 37.54% | 2,113 | 7.61% | 67.24% | – | – | 8,323 | – | – | – | 10,436 | 4,935 | 4,087 | – | – | – | 27,781 |
(* - on recount; ‡ - recount requested but subsequently abandoned)
- = incumbent re-elected under the same party banner
- = returned by acclamation
- = incumbency arose from byelection gain
- = incumbent switched allegiance for 1919 nomination
- = other incumbents renominated
- ^ including spoilt ballots
Post-election pendulum
The robustness of the margins of victory for each party can be summarized in electoral pendulums. These are not necessarily a measure of the volatility of the respective riding results. The following tables show the margins over the various 2nd-place contenders, for which one-half of the value represents the swing needed to overturn the result. Actual seat turnovers to the opposition parties in the 1919 election are noted for reference.
- = seats that opposition parties gained in the election
Post-election pendulum - 1919 Ontario general election
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Impact
The result was highly skewed as a result of the way the ridings were drawn up. The Ottawa Journal noted, "The arrangement of electoral districts in Ontario (and throughout Canada) is such that a farmer’s vote has practically twice the effect of the vote of any person resident in cities or large towns. Ottawa, for instance, with 110,000 population elects two members to the Ontario Legislature; Carleton County on one side with 20,000 people elects one member; Russell County on the other side has a population of 40,000 and elects one member."[17]
The UFO emerged from the vote with the largest bloc of seats, joining the eleven
The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Hartley Dewart, increased the size of its caucus by a small number, despite turning over more than half the seats held. The Conservative Party lost ground to all other parties, despite receiving the most votes.
The election had several sweeping results:[7]
- only about two dozen MPPs from the previous Legislative Assembly were re-elected;
- notably, Conservative William Hearstwas defeated by a Labour candidate;
- Beck and Proudfoot were also defeated by Labour candidates, despite the decision of the Conservatives and Liberals not to contest the seats;
- three clergymen were elected;
- eighteen returned soldiers were elected; and
- all anti-Prohibition candidates were defeated.
Upon hearing the news of the Conservative defeat, Hearst noted:
I will not make any prophecy as to what will take place. I thought the Government was going to sweep the country, and I was not alone in that, for a great many Liberals who were supporting me thought so, too. The Temperance Act no doubt had a great deal to do with my defeat, but I did what I felt was right, and if I had it to do over again, I would do the same thing.[18]
Three days after the election, James J. Morrison, Secretary of the UFO, reported on the way he had addressed the need to form a working majority in the chamber. He released the following statement:
The members-elect of the United Farmers of Ontario, after due consideration of the matter, have decided that it would be unwise for them to enter into alliance with either of the old Parties as parties. They are prepared to assume the fullest share of responsibility and form a Government in co-operation with such members of other parties as are in sympathy with their platform and principles and are free to give support thereto. In the formation of a Cabinet full consideration will be given to the various interests of the Province.[19]
Results overview
Political party | Party leader | MPPs | Votes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidates | 1914 | Dissol. | 1919 | ± | # | % | ± (pp) | |||
UFO-Labour Coalition | ||||||||||
█ United Farmers | – | 66 | – | 2 | 44 | 44 | 248,274 | 20.97% | New | |
█ Labour | Walter Rollo | 21 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 107,588 | 9.09% | 7.75 | |
█ Farmer–Labour | 5 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 27,841 | 2.35% | New | ||
█ Farmer-Liberal | 2 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 7,448 | 0.63% | New | ||
█ Soldier | 2 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 9,618 | 0.81% | New | ||
Coalition Total | 58 | 400,679 | 33.85% | |||||||
Liberal | Hartley Dewart | 66 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 3 | 301,995 | 25.51% | 12.41 | |
Conservative | William Hearst
|
103 | 84 | 79 | 25 | 59 | 403,655 | 34.09% | 19.78 | |
Independent Liberal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5,354 | 0.45% | 0.01 | |||
Liberal-Temperance | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | Did not campaign | ||||
Independent | 14 | – | – | – | – | 48,244 | 4.07% | 3.08 | ||
Independent Conservative | 3 | – | – | – | – | 14,213 | 1.20% | 0.81 | ||
Soldier–Labour | 2 | – | – | – | – | 9,088 | 0.77% | New | ||
Socialist | 3 | – | – | – | – | 637 | 0.05% | 0.87 | ||
Total | 288 | 111 | 111 | 111 | 1,183,955 | 100.00% | ||||
Blank and invalid ballots | 50,810 | |||||||||
Registered voters / turnout | 1,443,746 | 85.53% | 21.10 |
Party | Seats | Votes | Change (pp) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coalition | 58 / 111 |
33.85% |
32.51 | |||
Liberal | 27 / 111 |
25.51% |
-12.41 | |||
Conservative | 25 / 111 |
34.09% |
-19.75 | |||
Temperance factions | 0 / 111 |
0.00% |
-3.97 | |||
Other | 1 / 111 |
6.55% |
3.62 |
Results by riding
Italicized names indicate members returned by acclamation. Two-tone colour boxes indicate ridings that turned over from the 1914 election, eg,
William David Black Samuel Clarke
George Howard Ferguson Hammett Pinhey Hill Ralph Melville Warren
Welland: Robert Cooper
|
Harry Corwin Nixon Francis Wellington Hay Wellington West: Robert Neil McArthur
Manitoulin: Beniah Bowman Sturgeon Falls: Zotique Mageau
Donald McDonald Hogarth
|
Hugh Allen Stevenson James Craig Tolmie
Toronto Northeast - B:
Joseph Elijah Thompson Toronto Northwest - B: Henry Sloane Cooper
Toronto Southeast - B: James Walter Curry
Herbert Hartley Dewart Toronto Southwest - B: John Carman Ramsden
William Edmund Newton Sinclair York West: Forbes Godfrey
|
Analysis
Party | Acc | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
█ United Farmers | 44 | 12 | 9 | 1 | |||
█ Labour | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |||
█ Farmer–Labour | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||
█ Farmer-Liberal | 1 | 1 | |||||
█ Soldier | 1 | 1 | |||||
█ Liberal | 27 | 21 | 17 | 1 | |||
█ Conservative | 4 | 21 | 59 | 18 | 1 | ||
█ Independent-Liberal | 1 | ||||||
█ Independent | 4 | 8 | 2 | ||||
█ Independent-Conservative | 2 | 1 | |||||
█ Soldier–Labour | 1 | 1 | |||||
█ Socialist | 2 | ||||||
Totals | 4 | 107 | 107 | 59 | 9 | 1 |
Party | UFO | Lab | F-Lab | Lib | Con | Ind | Ind-Con | S-Lab | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
█ United Farmers | 1 | 4 | 38 | 1 | |||||
█ Labour | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |||||
█ Farmer–Labour | 1 | ||||||||
█ Farmer-Liberal | 1 | ||||||||
█ Soldier | 1 | ||||||||
█ Liberal | 8 | 2 | 17 | ||||||
█ Conservative | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 | |||
█ Independent-Liberal | 1 | ||||||||
Totals | 12 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 59 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Parties | Seats | |
---|---|---|
█ United Farmers | █ Conservative | 42 |
█ Liberal | █ Conservative | 29 |
█ Liberal | █ United Farmers | 12 |
█ Labour | █ Liberal | 6 |
█ Labour | █ Conservative | 4 |
█ Labour | █ Independent | 3 |
█ Conservative | █ Farmer–Labour | 2 |
█ Conservative | █ Independent | 1 |
█ Conservative | █ Independent-Conservative | 1 |
█ Farmer–Labour | █ Liberal | 1 |
█ Farmer-Liberal | █ Conservative | 1 |
█ Independent-Liberal | █ Labour | 1 |
█ Labour | █ Soldier–Labour | 1 |
█ Soldier | █ Labour | 1 |
█ United Farmers | █ Independent-Conservative | 1 |
█ United Farmers | █ Labour | 1 |
Total | 107 |
Seats that changed hands
Party | 1914 | Gain from (loss to) | 1919 | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UFO | Lab | F-Lab | F-Lib | Sol | Lib | Con | I-Lib | L-Tmp | |||||||||||||
█ United Farmers | – | 10 | 34 | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
█ Labour | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
█ Farmer–Labour | – | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
█ Farmer-Liberal | – | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
█ Soldier | – | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liberal | 24 | (10) | (3) | 16 | (1) | 1 | 27 | ||||||||||||||
Conservative | 84 | (34) | (7) | (1) | (1) | (1) | 1 | (16) | (1) | 1 | 25 | ||||||||||
Independent-Liberal | 1 | (1) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Liberal-Temperance | 1 | (1) | – | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | 111 | – | (44) | – | (10) | – | (1) | – | (1) | – | (1) | 14 | (17) | 61 | (2) | 1 | (1) | 1 | – | 111 |
There were 77 seats that changed allegiance in the election:
(* - open seats, # - byelection gains held, ^ - change of affiliation)
(Riding names in italics did not have Liberal candidates. Riding names in bold did not have Conservative candidates.)
Source | Party | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UFO | Lab | F-Lab | F-Lib | Soldier | Lib | Con | Ind-Lib | Total | ||
Seats retained | Incumbents returned | 1 | 8 | 14 | 23 | |||||
Open seats held | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||
Byelection loss reversed | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
Acclamation | 4 | 4 | ||||||||
Seats changing hands | Incumbents defeated | 23 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 46 | ||
Open seats gained | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 27 | ||||
Byelection gain held | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
Change in affiliation | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
Total | 44 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 25 | 1 | 111 |
Notable groups of candidates
Party | Riding | Candidate | Military rank | Votes | Placed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Kingston | Arthur Edward Ross* | Brigadier-General | Acclaimed | ||
Leeds | Andrew Wellington Gray | Major | 4,351 | 1st | ||
Parkdale | William Herbert Price* | Colonel | 11,091 | 1st | ||
Peel | Thomas Laird Kennedy | Colonel | 4,562 | 1st | ||
Port Arthur | Donald McDonald Hogarth * |
Brigadier-General | 2,578 | 1st | ||
Timiskaming | Thomas Magladery* | Captain | 3,092 | 1st | ||
Toronto Northeast - B | Joseph Thompson | Captain | 13,495 | 1st | ||
Wellington South | Caleb Henry Buckland† | Captain | 4,362 | 1st | ||
Liberal | Algoma | Kenneth Spencer Stover | Lieutenant | 2,272 | 1st | |
Cochrane | Malcolm Lang* | Major | 2,951 | 1st | ||
Hastings West | Edward O'Flynn | Lieutenant-Colonel | 4,647 | 2nd | ||
Middlesex East | Bart Robson | Lieutenant-Colonel | 2,500 | 2nd | ||
Sudbury | Robert Arthur | Lieutenant-Colonel | 3,409 | 2nd | ||
Toronto Northwest - B | Henry Sloane Cooper | Lieutenant-Colonel | 18,522 | 1st | ||
Toronto Southwest - B | John Carman Ramsden | Captain | 12,428 | 1st | ||
Windsor | James Craig Tolmie † |
Major | 10,874 | 1st | ||
Soldier | Hamilton East | Maurice Fitzgerald | Captain | 2,146 | 3rd | |
Riverdale |
Joseph McNamara | Sergeant-Major | 7,472 | 1st | ||
Soldier-Labour | Hamilton East | Samuel Landers | Lieutenant | 8,424 | 2nd | |
Wentworth South | Samuel Wilkinson | 664 | 3rd | |||
United Farmers | Grey Centre |
Dougall Carmichael | Lieutenant-Colonel | 4,363 | 1st | |
York East | George Little | Captain | 7,290 | 2nd | ||
Independent | Kenora | Harold Arthur Clement Machin *‡ |
Lieutenant-Colonel | 895 | 2nd | |
Independent Conservative | Norfolk South | Arthur Clarence Pratt *‡ | Colonel | 1,954 | 2nd | |
Toronto Northeast - B | Kelly Evans ‡ | Lieutenant-Colonel | 8,172 | 2nd |
(* - incumbent; † - chaplain; ‡ - Anti-Prohibition)
Riding | Candidate | Votes | Placed | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ottawa West | █ Independent | Justenia Sears | 2,723 | 4th |
Toronto Northeast - B | █ Liberal | Henrietta Bundy | 5,685 | 3rd |
Party | Riding | Candidate | |
---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Addington | William David Black
| |
Hastings North | John Robert Cooke | ||
Kingston | Arthur Edward Ross | ||
Toronto Northeast - A | Henry John Cody |
Cooke was the only acclaimed candidate who had not previously been an incumbent.[25]
See also
- Politics of Ontario
- List of Ontario political parties
- Premier of Ontario
- Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)
Notes and references
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "1919 General Election". Elections Ontario. Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Bradburn, Jamie (May 3, 2018). "The year the UFOs came to power in Ontario". tvo.org.
- ^ The Ontario Franchise Act, 1917, S.O. 1917, c. 5, s. 4
- ^ The Women's Assembly Qualification Act, 1919, S.O. 1919, c. 8
- ^ Hopkins 1920, pp. 650–651.
- ^ a b c Hopkins 1920, p. 651.
- ^ a b Hopkins 1920, p. 661.
- ^ a b c d e Hopkins 1920, p. 655.
- ^ Strange, Carolyn (2005). "Dewart, Herbert Hartley". In Cook, Ramsay; Bélanger, Réal (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XV (1921–1930) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Hopkins 1920, pp. 654–655.
- ^ a b Hopkins 1920, p. 657.
- ^ Hopkins 1920, p. 658.
- ^ Hopkins 1920, p. 652.
- ^ Hopkins, J. Castell (1917). The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1916. Toronto: The Annual Review Publishing Co. Ltd. pp. 532–540.
- Toronto World. October 15, 1919. p. 6.
- ^ Miller, Scott (2019). "Devil Copper: War and the Canadian Nickel Industry, 1883–1970" (PDF). Canadian Military Journal. 20 (1): 31–39. at 34
- ^ Hopkins 1920, p. 665.
- ^ Hopkins 1920, pp. 665–666.
- ^ a b Hopkins 1920, p. 667.
- Toronto World. October 30, 1919. p. 1.
- ^ Hopkins 1920, pp. 668–669.
- ^ Hopkins 1920, pp. 660–661.
- The Daily British Whig. Kingston. October 21, 1919. p. 1.
- ^ Scollie 2012, pp. 2, 9–13.
- ^ The Daily British Whig. Kingston. October 14, 1919. p. 1.
Further reading
- "Return from the Records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1919". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1920, No.51-79. Toronto: King's Printer. 1919.
- Hopkins, J. Castell (1920). The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1919. Toronto: The Annual Review.
- Piva, Michael J. (1977). "Workers and Tories: The Collapse of the Conservative Party in Urban Ontario, 1908-1919" (PDF). Urban History Review (3–76): 23–39.
- Scollie, Frederick Brent (2012). "The Woman Candidate for the Ontario Legislative Assembly, 1919-1929" (PDF). Ontario History. 104 (2): 1–27.
- Tennyson, Brian Douglas (1969). "The 1919 General Election in 1919: The Beginnings of Agrarian Unrest". .