The 1912 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Republican William Spry defeated Democratic nominee John Franklin Tolton with 38.17% of the vote against his 32.36% in a four way race, with Progressive nominee Nephi L. Morris winning 21.16% of the vote, and Socialist nominee Homer P. Burt winning 7.89% of the vote.
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 County results Spry: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Tolton: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% Morris: 30–40% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
editIn 1912, the Republican party had split between incumbent President William Taft and former president Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt and other progressive Republicans were dissatisfied with Taft and the conservative wing of the party, and Roosevelt challenged him for the nomination. Taft ultimately was given the nomination, resulting in Roosevelt forming his own party, the Progressive Party, or popularly known as the Bull Moose Party, in response.[1][2] The new party resulted in hundreds of local office seekers running as Progressives, including Nephi L. Morris for Utah's governor seat. The Socialist Party of America ran Homer P. Burt for governor, resulting in a four way race.
Republican Nomination
editWilliam Spry, the incumbent Republican governor, was re-nominated with no real opposition against him on September 5th, noticeably with no members of the "Federal Bunch," a group of powerful federal-level state Republicans, among the delegates. The Bunch effectively ousted previous governor John C. Cutler by removing their support for him, causing him to withdraw from the primary, and instead supported William Spry in 1908.[3][4][5]
Democratic Nomination
editDemocrats nominated John F. Tolton of Beaver. Considered a dark horse for the nomination, he was largely supported by southern county delegates. Will R. Wallace, while considered the lead contender for the nomination, dropped out before the delegates voted, leaving C. C. Richards and T. N. Talyor leading the first ballot. By the third ballot, however, southern county delegates had generated enough support for Tolton that he won on the fourth ballot with 379 delegates, and won the nomination with acclaim.
Progressive Nomination
editThe Progressives nominated business man, stake president, former Republican state legislator, and KSL radio speaker (nicked name "Air Morris") Nephi L. Morris for governor on September 13th.[6][7] Morris's name was constantly suggested and often talked about in progressive-Republican circles prior to the convention due to his public appearances, leading to Morris personally feeling like the nomination was thrust upon him, and he only accepted due to a sense of duty. [8][9][10][7]
Before the nominations began during the convention, party leaders debated whether to begin at all until expected guest Theodore Roosevelt, the "Bull Moose" himself, arrived, who ended up being two hours late. Debate continued until Judge Hiles, the permanent chairmen of the party, arrived, and the nominations took place after Hiles gave a speech. In his acceptance speech, Morris stated that he "could no longer conscientiously affiliate with the local or national Republican party because of its sins of omission and commission." After Morris and several other nominations were made, the delegates "grew restless" waiting for Roosevelt, and in the fear that he would leave town without seeing them, raced to the doors and to twenty-fifth street to great the former president. After the president arrived and was greeted, he gave a speech detailing the reasons for the Bull Moose Party, as well as denouncing big party bosses and "crooks." The delegates then had dinner and returned to finish the rest of the nomination process.[11][12]
Socialist Nomination
editThe Socialist Party of America nominated Homer P. Burt, member of the Stationary Engineers Union and the SPA's state party char, for governor on July 24th.[13][14] According to delegates, the convention was "by far the most successful Utah socialists have ever held." It was reported that the SPA's organization in the state was in "far better shape" than ever before as well. Most delegates came from socialist dominated towns, such as "Murray, Eureka, Mammoth, Tintic, and other towns..."[15]
General election
editCandidates
editMajor party candidates
- William Spry, Republican
- John Franklin Tolton, Democratic
Other candidates
- Nephi L. Morris, Progressive
- Homer P. Burt, Socialist
- E. A. Battell, Socialist Labor
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William Spry (incumbent) | 42,552 | 38.17% | ||
| Democratic | John Franklin Tolton | 36,076 | 32.36% | ||
| Progressive | Nephi L. Morris | 23,591 | 21.16% | ||
| Socialist | Homer P. Burt | 8,797 | 7.89% | ||
| Socialist Labor | E. A. Battell | 479 | 0.43% | ||
| Majority | 6,476 | ||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Third-Party Reformers". Digital Public Library of America. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Button, Theodore Roosevelt, 1912". americanhistory.si.edu. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Telegram | 1912-08-31 | Page 3 | Republicans in Primaries Indorse Spry". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-08-31 | Page 1 | Governor Spry Now Certain for Renomination". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Jul 22, 1908, page 8 - The Salt Lake Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Nephi L. Morris papers - Archives West". archiveswest.orbiscascade.org. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-09-13 | Page 14 | Bull Moose Hold Convention Today". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1912-08-30 | Page 2 | Nephi Morris Mentioned". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-08-29 | Page 12 | Enthusiastic Crowd Listens to Johnson". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1912-10-31 | Page 12 | Only Sense of Duty Prompted Morris to Accept Nomination". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Ogden Evening Standard | 1912-09-14 | Page 1 | Nephi L. Morris for Governor". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-09-14 | Page 1 | Utah Delegates to Chicago Hit by Roosevelt". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Salt Lake Telegram | 1911-07-25 | Page 3 | Socialist Party Candidates to be Subject to Recall". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Ogden Evening Standard | 1912-07-26 | Page 6 | Socialists' Ticket Named". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "Ogden Evening Standard | 1912-07-26 | Page 6 | Socialists' Ticket Named". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ Kalb, Deborah (December 24, 2015). Guide to U.S. Elections. CQ Press. ISBN 9781483380353. Retrieved August 4, 2020.