1908 Newfoundland general election

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    1908 Newfoundland general election
    ← 1904
    November 2, 1908
    1909 →
    36 seats of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
    19 seats needed for a majority
    Turnout73.78%[1] (Increase 2.61pp)
     First partySecond party
     
    LeaderRobert BondEdward Morris
    PartyLiberalPeople's
    Leader since18971908
    Leader's seatTwillingateSt. John's West
    Last election306[a]
    Seats won1818
    Seat changeDecrease 12Increase 12
    Popular vote48,34147,487
    Percentage50.22%49.34%
    SwingDecrease9.80%Increase9.77%
    Prime Minister before election

    Robert Bond
    Liberal

    		Prime Minister after election

    Robert Bond
    Liberal

    The 1908 Newfoundland general election was held on November 2, 1908 to elect members of the 21st General Assembly of Newfoundland in the Dominion of Newfoundland. The seats were split evenly between the Liberal Party and the new Newfoundland People's Party formed by Edward Morris after he resigned from the Liberal government in 1907 and joined with the opposition. Robert Bond, the Liberal leader, asked the Governor William MacGregor to dissolve the assembly. MacGregor refused to do this and Bond resigned as Premier. The Governor asked Edward P. Morris to form a government. The assembly was not able to elect a speaker and, after the Governor was unable to convince the two party leaders to form a coalition government, the house of assembly was dissolved on April 9, 1909.

    Results

    [edit]
     PartyLeader1904CandidatesSeats wonSeat change% of seats
    (% change)    		Popular vote% of vote
    (% change)
     LiberalRobert Bond303618Decrease1250.00%
    (Decrease33.33%)    		48,34150.22%
    (Decrease9.80%)
     People'sEdward Morris6[a]3618Increase1250.00%
    (Increase33.33%)    		47,48749.34%
    (Increase9.77%)
     Other020Steady0.00%
    (Steady)    		4240.44%
    (Increase0.03%)
    Totals367436Steady100%96,252[b]100%

    Results by district

    [edit]
    • Names in boldface type represent party leaders.
    • † indicates that the incumbent did not run again.
    • ‡ indicates that the incumbent ran in a different district.

    St. John's

    [edit]
    Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
    Liberal (historical)People's
    St. John's East
    84.83% turnout    		James Kent
    2,755
    21.37%    		Michael Gibbs
    1,935
    15.01%    		James Kent
    George Shea
    2,555
    19.82%    		Frank McNamara
    1,598
    12.40%    		George Shea
    John Dwyer
    2,461
    19.09%    		Maurice Devine
    1,588
    12.32%    		John Dwyer
    St. John's West
    83.37% turnout    		George Power[2]
    1,822
    15.89%    		Edward Morris
    2,274
    19.83%    		Edward Morris
    Andrew Glendenning[2]
    1,604
    13.99%    		John R. Bennett
    2,142
    18.68%    		John R. Bennett
    Edward Carter[3]
    1,575[4]
    13.73%    		Michael Kennedy
    2,052
    17.89%    		John Scott†

    Conception Bay

    [edit]
    Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
    Liberal (historical)People's
    Bay de Verde
    84.51% turnout    		William Penney
    998
    23.54%    		John Crosbie
    1,147
    27.06%    		William C. Winsor‡
    (ran in Bonavista Bay)
    F. Mews
    992
    23.40%    		Jesse Whiteway
    1,102
    26.00%    		Charles Hutchings†
    Carbonear
    80.73% turnout    		Joseph Maddock
    579
    51.01%    		John Goodison
    556
    48.99%    		Joseph Maddock
    Harbour Grace
    76.35% turnout    		Eli Dawe
    1,153
    16.55%    		Archibald Piccott
    1,206
    17.31%    		Eli Dawe
    Arthur Barnes
    1,129
    16.20%    		Edward Parsons
    1,200
    17.22%    		William Oke
    William Oke
    1,129
    16.20%    		Alfred Seymour
    1,150
    16.51%    		Arthur Barnes
    Harbour Main
    69.06% turnout    		John Lewis
    862
    25.44%    		William Woodford
    948
    27.98%    		Frank Morris‡
    (ran in Placentia and St. Mary's)
    Patrick Summers
    702
    20.72%    		John J. Murphy
    876
    25.86%    		John Lewis
    Port de Grave
    69.58% turnout    		William Lloyd
    581
    42.85%    		William Warren
    775
    57.15%    		Vacant[c]

    Avalon Peninsula

    [edit]
    Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
    Liberal (historical)People'sOther
    Ferryland
    89.12% turnout    		William Ellis
    639
    27.00%    		Michael Cashin
    916
    38.70%    		Michael Condon (Independent)
    298
    12.59%    		Michael Cashin
    R. J. Moore
    225
    9.51%    		Philip Moore
    587
    24.80%    		William Ellis
    Placentia and St. Mary's
    78.38% turnout    		Edward Jackman
    1,846
    19.94%    		Richard Devereaux
    1,343
    14.55%    		Edward Jackman
    Michael Sullivan
    1,724
    18.67%    		William Howley
    1,341
    14.52%    		Thomas Bonia†
    James Davis
    1,653
    17.90%    		Frank Morris
    1,326
    14.36%    		Michael Sullivan

    Eastern Newfoundland

    [edit]
    Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
    Liberal (historical)People's
    Bonavista Bay
    61.47% turnout    		Edward Bishop[5]
    1,013
    9.81%    		Sydney Blandford
    2,624
    25.40%    		Donald Morison
    James Blackwood[5]
    923
    8.93%    		William C. Winsor
    2,524
    24.43%    		Mark Chaplin†
    Philip Knowling[5]
    808
    7.82%    		Donald Morison
    2,439
    23.61%    		Sydney Blandford
    Trinity Bay
    71.06% turnout    		George Gushue
    2,007
    18.32%    		Robert Watson
    1,832
    16.72%    		George Gushue
    Arthur Miller
    1,882
    17.18%    		Richard Squires
    1,827
    16.67%    		William Lloyd‡
    (ran in Port de Grave)
    George Ayre
    1,690
    15.42%    		Aaron Stone[6]
    1,719
    15.69%    		Arthur Miller

    Central Newfoundland

    [edit]
    Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
    Liberal (historical)People's
    Fogo
    65.73% turnout    		Henry Earle
    757
    55.13%    		Henry Fitzgerald
    616
    44.87%    		Henry Earle
    Twillingate
    69.48% turnout    		Robert Bond
    2,639
    25.30%    		Alan Goodridge
    1,176
    11.28%    		Robert Bond
    James Clift
    2,550
    24.45%    		Jordan Milley
    975
    9.35%    		James Clift
    George Roberts
    2,290
    21.96%    		Sydney Woods
    800
    7.67%    		George Roberts

    Southern and Western Newfoundland

    [edit]
    Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
    Liberal (historical)People'sOther
    Burgeo and LaPoile
    73.06% turnout    		A. J. W. McNeilly
    566
    41.74%    		Robert Moulton
    790
    58.26%    		Robert Moulton
    Burin
    71.46% turnout    		Edward Davey
    930
    27.34%    		John A. Robinson
    802
    23.57%    		Edward Davey
    Henry Gear
    896
    26.34%    		Thomas LeFeuvre
    774
    22.75%    		Henry Gear
    Fortune Bay
    68.10% turnout    		Andrew Carnell
    758
    46.96%    		Charles Emerson
    856
    53.04%    		Albert Martin†
    St. Barbe
    69.80% turnout    		William Clapp
    972
    59.30%    		Henry Mott
    667
    40.70%    		William Clapp
    St. George's
    68.47% turnout    		Michael Abbott[7]
    676
    37.43%    		Joseph Downey
    1,004
    55.59%    		James Hayes[8] (Independent)
    126
    6.98%    		George Carty†

    Notes

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b As the United Opposition Party
    2. ^ This figure includes votes cast for more than one candidate in multi-member districts. A total of 42,082 individual votes were cast in this election.[1]
    3. ^ Charles Dawe had been elected in a 1906 by-election, but he died while in office on March 29, 1908.

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland 1909. St. John's, NL: J. W. Withers. 1909. pp. 18–19.
    2. ^ a b "The West End Aflame! The Fountainhead of Liberalism More Loyal Than Ever!". Evening Telegram. October 16, 1908. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
    3. ^ "Voters of St. John's West". Evening Chronicle. October 30, 1908. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
    4. ^ "Election Returns". The Western Star. November 11, 1908. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
    5. ^ a b c "Bonavista's Watchword: Vote For Bishop, Knowling and Blackwood, and No Confederation!". Evening Telegram. October 16, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
    6. ^ "The Trinity Team: Watson, Squires and Stone". Evening Chronicle. September 24, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
    7. ^ "Michael Francis Abbott". The Western Star. October 28, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
    8. ^ "Jas. R Hayes Addresses Electors". The Western Star. October 28, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.

    Further reading

    [edit]
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1908_Newfoundland_general_election&oldid=1326478909"

      1908 Newfoundland general election
      November 2, 1908
      36 seats of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
      19 seats needed for a majority
      Turnout73.78%[1] (Increase 2.61pp)
       First partySecond party
       
      LeaderRobert BondEdward Morris
      PartyLiberalPeople's
      Leader since18971908
      Leader's seatTwillingateSt. John's West
      Last election306[a]
      Seats won1818
      Seat changeDecrease 12Increase 12
      Popular vote48,34147,487
      Percentage50.22%49.34%
      SwingDecrease9.80%Increase9.77%
      Prime Minister before election

      Robert Bond
      Liberal

      		Prime Minister after election

      Robert Bond
      Liberal

      The 1908 Newfoundland general election was held on November 2, 1908 to elect members of the 21st General Assembly of Newfoundland in the Dominion of Newfoundland. The seats were split evenly between the Liberal Party and the new Newfoundland People's Party formed by Edward Morris after he resigned from the Liberal government in 1907 and joined with the opposition. Robert Bond, the Liberal leader, asked the Governor William MacGregor to dissolve the assembly. MacGregor refused to do this and Bond resigned as Premier. The Governor asked Edward P. Morris to form a government. The assembly was not able to elect a speaker and, after the Governor was unable to convince the two party leaders to form a coalition government, the house of assembly was dissolved on April 9, 1909.

      Results

       PartyLeader1904CandidatesSeats wonSeat change% of seats
      (% change)      		Popular vote% of vote
      (% change)
       LiberalRobert Bond303618Decrease1250.00%
      (Decrease33.33%)      		48,34150.22%
      (Decrease9.80%)
       People'sEdward Morris6[a]3618Increase1250.00%
      (Increase33.33%)      		47,48749.34%
      (Increase9.77%)
       Other020Steady0.00%
      (Steady)      		4240.44%
      (Increase0.03%)
      Totals367436Steady100%96,252[b]100%

      Results by district

      • Names in boldface type represent party leaders.
      • † indicates that the incumbent did not run again.
      • ‡ indicates that the incumbent ran in a different district.

      St. John's

      Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
      Liberal (historical)People's
      St. John's East
      84.83% turnout      		James Kent
      2,755
      21.37%      		Michael Gibbs
      1,935
      15.01%      		James Kent
      George Shea
      2,555
      19.82%      		Frank McNamara
      1,598
      12.40%      		George Shea
      John Dwyer
      2,461
      19.09%      		Maurice Devine
      1,588
      12.32%      		John Dwyer
      St. John's West
      83.37% turnout      		George Power[2]
      1,822
      15.89%      		Edward Morris
      2,274
      19.83%      		Edward Morris
      Andrew Glendenning[2]
      1,604
      13.99%      		John R. Bennett
      2,142
      18.68%      		John R. Bennett
      Edward Carter[3]
      1,575[4]
      13.73%      		Michael Kennedy
      2,052
      17.89%      		John Scott†

      Conception Bay

      Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
      Liberal (historical)People's
      Bay de Verde
      84.51% turnout      		William Penney
      998
      23.54%      		John Crosbie
      1,147
      27.06%      		William C. Winsor‡
      (ran in Bonavista Bay)
      F. Mews
      992
      23.40%      		Jesse Whiteway
      1,102
      26.00%      		Charles Hutchings†
      Carbonear
      80.73% turnout      		Joseph Maddock
      579
      51.01%      		John Goodison
      556
      48.99%      		Joseph Maddock
      Harbour Grace
      76.35% turnout      		Eli Dawe
      1,153
      16.55%      		Archibald Piccott
      1,206
      17.31%      		Eli Dawe
      Arthur Barnes
      1,129
      16.20%      		Edward Parsons
      1,200
      17.22%      		William Oke
      William Oke
      1,129
      16.20%      		Alfred Seymour
      1,150
      16.51%      		Arthur Barnes
      Harbour Main
      69.06% turnout      		John Lewis
      862
      25.44%      		William Woodford
      948
      27.98%      		Frank Morris‡
      (ran in Placentia and St. Mary's)
      Patrick Summers
      702
      20.72%      		John J. Murphy
      876
      25.86%      		John Lewis
      Port de Grave
      69.58% turnout      		William Lloyd
      581
      42.85%      		William Warren
      775
      57.15%      		Vacant[c]

      Avalon Peninsula

      Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
      Liberal (historical)People'sOther
      Ferryland
      89.12% turnout      		William Ellis
      639
      27.00%      		Michael Cashin
      916
      38.70%      		Michael Condon (Independent)
      298
      12.59%      		Michael Cashin
      R. J. Moore
      225
      9.51%      		Philip Moore
      587
      24.80%      		William Ellis
      Placentia and St. Mary's
      78.38% turnout      		Edward Jackman
      1,846
      19.94%      		Richard Devereaux
      1,343
      14.55%      		Edward Jackman
      Michael Sullivan
      1,724
      18.67%      		William Howley
      1,341
      14.52%      		Thomas Bonia†
      James Davis
      1,653
      17.90%      		Frank Morris
      1,326
      14.36%      		Michael Sullivan

      Eastern Newfoundland

      Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
      Liberal (historical)People's
      Bonavista Bay
      61.47% turnout      		Edward Bishop[5]
      1,013
      9.81%      		Sydney Blandford
      2,624
      25.40%      		Donald Morison
      James Blackwood[5]
      923
      8.93%      		William C. Winsor
      2,524
      24.43%      		Mark Chaplin†
      Philip Knowling[5]
      808
      7.82%      		Donald Morison
      2,439
      23.61%      		Sydney Blandford
      Trinity Bay
      71.06% turnout      		George Gushue
      2,007
      18.32%      		Robert Watson
      1,832
      16.72%      		George Gushue
      Arthur Miller
      1,882
      17.18%      		Richard Squires
      1,827
      16.67%      		William Lloyd‡
      (ran in Port de Grave)
      George Ayre
      1,690
      15.42%      		Aaron Stone[6]
      1,719
      15.69%      		Arthur Miller

      Central Newfoundland

      Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
      Liberal (historical)People's
      Fogo
      65.73% turnout      		Henry Earle
      757
      55.13%      		Henry Fitzgerald
      616
      44.87%      		Henry Earle
      Twillingate
      69.48% turnout      		Robert Bond
      2,639
      25.30%      		Alan Goodridge
      1,176
      11.28%      		Robert Bond
      James Clift
      2,550
      24.45%      		Jordan Milley
      975
      9.35%      		James Clift
      George Roberts
      2,290
      21.96%      		Sydney Woods
      800
      7.67%      		George Roberts

      Southern and Western Newfoundland

      Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
      Liberal (historical)People'sOther
      Burgeo and LaPoile
      73.06% turnout      		A. J. W. McNeilly
      566
      41.74%      		Robert Moulton
      790
      58.26%      		Robert Moulton
      Burin
      71.46% turnout      		Edward Davey
      930
      27.34%      		John A. Robinson
      802
      23.57%      		Edward Davey
      Henry Gear
      896
      26.34%      		Thomas LeFeuvre
      774
      22.75%      		Henry Gear
      Fortune Bay
      68.10% turnout      		Andrew Carnell
      758
      46.96%      		Charles Emerson
      856
      53.04%      		Albert Martin†
      St. Barbe
      69.80% turnout      		William Clapp
      972
      59.30%      		Henry Mott
      667
      40.70%      		William Clapp
      St. George's
      68.47% turnout      		Michael Abbott[7]
      676
      37.43%      		Joseph Downey
      1,004
      55.59%      		James Hayes[8] (Independent)
      126
      6.98%      		George Carty†

      Notes

      1. ^ a b As the United Opposition Party
      2. ^ This figure includes votes cast for more than one candidate in multi-member districts. A total of 42,082 individual votes were cast in this election.[1]
      3. ^ Charles Dawe had been elected in a 1906 by-election, but he died while in office on March 29, 1908.

      References

      1. ^ a b Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland 1909. St. John's, NL: J. W. Withers. 1909. pp. 18–19.
      2. ^ a b "The West End Aflame! The Fountainhead of Liberalism More Loyal Than Ever!". Evening Telegram. October 16, 1908. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
      3. ^ "Voters of St. John's West". Evening Chronicle. October 30, 1908. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
      4. ^ "Election Returns". The Western Star. November 11, 1908. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
      5. ^ a b c "Bonavista's Watchword: Vote For Bishop, Knowling and Blackwood, and No Confederation!". Evening Telegram. October 16, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
      6. ^ "The Trinity Team: Watson, Squires and Stone". Evening Chronicle. September 24, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
      7. ^ "Michael Francis Abbott". The Western Star. October 28, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
      8. ^ "Jas. R Hayes Addresses Electors". The Western Star. October 28, 1908. Retrieved May 20, 2025.

      Further reading

      • Riggs, Bert (1981). "General Election #21: November 2, 1908". Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, volume 1. St. John's: Harry Cuff Publications Ltd. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
      • Webb, Jeff (2001). "The 1908 Tie Election". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
      Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1908_Newfoundland_general_election&oldid=1326478909"