1914 Calgary municipal election
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December 14, 1914 (1914-12-14)
 
Candidate Michael Copps Costello William George Hunt Alexander Allan
Popular vote 4,019 2,219 820
Percentage 56.94% 31.44% 11.62%
Mayor before election

Herbert Arthur Sinnott

 Elected Mayor

Michael Copps Costello

The 1914 Calgary municipal election took place on December 14, 1914 to elect a Mayor to a one year term and six Aldermen on a two-year term, to sit on the thirtieth Calgary City Council.[1] Additionally a Commissioner, members for the Public School Board, members for the Separate School Board, two borrowing bylaws and a plebiscite on church taxation were included on the ballot.

There were six Alderman positions contested for a two-year term for the election as Edward Henry Crandell, Harold William Hounsfield Riley, Stanley Gordon Freeze, Thomas Alfred Presswood Frost, and William Ross Sr. were elected for two-year terms in 1913.

Background

The election was held under multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor, commissioner and six ballots for Aldermen who were elected at-large with the city as one large district. Half of Calgary's twelve Aldermen were elected to two year terms each year.

Three votes on a question were present during the election, two borrowing bylaws to purchase the stockyards for $240,000 and contraction of a Fourth Street West subway below the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks for $195,147 both failed to garner the two-thirds support necessary. A Plebiscite on the taxation of church property failed to garner the required support of half of voters.[2]

Voting franchise was open to all men or women listed on the City's assessment roll with real property valued over $400.[3]

A single one-year Alderman position was opened on Council following Costello's resignation half way through his two year term to run for Mayor. The one-year Alderman term was to be a separate ballot, however on nomination day on December 7, 1914, Douglas Ralph Crichton was the only candidate to file a nomination for the position. Crichton was subsequently elected by acclimation for the one-year term.[4]

Results

Mayor

Candidate Votes Percent
Michael Copps Costello 4,019
William George Hunt 2,219
Alexander Allan 820

Commissioner

Candidate Votes Percent
James Hay Garden 3,923
Adoniram Judson Samis 3,057

Councillors

Candidate Votes Percent
Isaac Gideon Ruttle 4,536
James Abel Hornby 4,486
John Leslie Jennison 4,361
John William Mitchell 4,460
Arthur Walter Ellson Fawkes 3,977
John Sidney Arnold 3,820
George J. Bryan 3,676
S.J. Blair 2,635
James Smalley 2,899
J. Rae 2,772
Robert John Tallon 2,763

School board trustee

Public school board

Candidate Votes Percent
John Thomas MacDonald 4,578
George William Kerby 4,233
William McCartney Davidson 4,007
J.H. Birch 3,729
Alex Ross 3,504
James A. Walker 2,922
Robert Eldon Campbell 2,820
James Short 2,386
J. Webster 1,432

Separate school board

Candidate Votes Percent
J.B. Creagon 330
George Demetrio Venini 235
F.J. Conroy 182
G.J. Calhoun

Plebiscite

Stockyard purchase

Bylaw proposing to purchase the stockyards for $240,000, requiring two-thirds of eligible voters.

  • For - 2,655
  • Against - 2,165

Fourth street subway

Construction of a subway below the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks at Fourth Street West for $195,147, requiring two-thirds of eligible voters.

  • For - 2,769
  • Against - 2,049

Taxation of church property

Plebiscite on taxation of church property, requiring a majority of eligible electors.

  • For - 2,867
  • Against - 3,571

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Costello and Garden Sweep City in Municipal Contest---Heavy Vote is Polled". Calgary Herald. December 15, 1914. p. 9. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Money Bylaws and Taxation of Church Property are Defeated". Calgary Herald. December 15, 1914. p. 9. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Those Entitled to Vote Today". Calgary Herald. December 14, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ "No Surprises at the Civic Nomination". Calgary Herald. December 7, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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