1903 Kentucky gubernatorial election
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  Beckham: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Belknap: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Kentucky |
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The 1903 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1903. Incumbent Democrat J. C. W. Beckham defeated Republican nominee Morris B. Belknap with 52.12% of the vote.
Background
1899 election
In the 1899 Kentucky gubernatorial election, the Democratic nominee, William Goebel, chose J. C. W. Beckham as his running mate. Goebel was hesitant about the selection because he wanted someone who could deliver the vote of his home county in the general election, and Beckham's native Nelson County was already committed to a rival candidate. However, friends of Goebel assured him that Beckham would be loyal to Goebel's reform agenda, but the two other men Goebel was considering as running mates would "stack the Senate committees against him." Beckham was not yet 30, the minimum age to serve as governor, at the time of his selection.[1] However, Goebel lost the election to William S. Taylor, the Republican nominee.[2]
When the General Assembly's session opened on January 2, 1900, the election results were immediately challenged.[3] With Democrats in control of both houses of the Assembly, the results seemed sure to be reversed.[4] The Assembly was still deliberating on January 30, 1900, when Goebel was shot by an unknown assailant as he entered the state capitol building.[5] The following day, as Goebel was being treated for his wounds at a local hotel, the General Assembly invalidated enough votes to give him the election.[6] Goebel was sworn into office from his bed the same day.[6] Three days later, Goebel died, never having risen from the bed.[7]
Legislative chaos ensued, as Taylor refused to acknowledge the Assembly's decision and vacate the governorship. The Republicans in the legislature obeyed Taylor's orders, but the Democrats ignored Taylor and followed the orders of their leadership. Finally, on February 21, 1900, Taylor and Beckham agreed to let the courts settle the matter. The case first went before the Louisville Circuit Court, which found in favor of Beckham. Republicans appealed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, then the court of last resort in the state. On April 6, 1900, the Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the lower court. Taylor appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case on May 21, 1900.[8] After the Supreme Court ruling, Taylor fled to Indianapolis, Indiana, fearing he would be implicated in Goebel's assassination.[9]
1900 election
Beckham remained governor, but because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the election, a special election was held on November 6, 1900, to determine who would complete Goebel's unexpired term.[10] Beckham won the election over Republican John W. Yerkes by fewer than 4,000 votes.[2]
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 County results Beckham: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Yerks: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Candidates
Major party candidates
- J. C. W. Beckham, Democratic
- John W. Yerkes, Republican
Other candidates
- John D. White, Prohibition
- A. H. Cardin, People's
- Walter T. Roberts, Social Democratic
- James Doyle, Socialist Labor
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. C. W. Beckham (incumbent) | 233,052 | 49.89% | ||
| Republican | John W. Yerkes | 229,363 | 49.09% | ||
| Prohibition | John D. White | 2,269 | 0.49% | ||
| Populist | A. H. Cardin | 1,666 | 0.36% | ||
| Social Democratic | Walter T. Roberts | 456 | 0.10% | ||
| Socialist Labor | James Doyle | 408 | 0.09% | ||
| Majority | 3,689 | 0.80% | |||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- J. C. W. Beckham, Democratic
- Morris B. Belknap, Republican
Other candidates
- T.P. Demaree, Prohibition
- Alfred Schmitz, Socialist Labor
- Adam Nagel, Socialist
Campaign
Although the Constitution of Kentucky prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms, Beckham announced that he would seek a full term as governor in 1903. His candidacy was challenged in court, but the court ruled Beckham had not served a full first term and so was eligible to run.[12] His record of reconciliation and of supporting non-controversial reforms prevented significant opposition when he won the party's nomination. His record also deprived his Republican opponent, Morris B. Belknap, of any significant campaign issue in the general election.[13] Beckham defeated Belknap and three minor candidates.[14]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. C. W. Beckham (incumbent) | 229,014 | 52.12% | ||
| Republican | Morris B. Belknap | 202,862 | 46.17% | ||
| Prohibition | T.P. Demaree | 4,830 | 1.10% | ||
| Socialist Labor | Alfred Schmitz | 2,044 | 0.47% | ||
| Socialist | Adam Nagel | 615 | 0.14% | ||
| Majority | 26,152 | ||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
Citations
- ^ Burckel 1978, p. 288.
- ^ a b Harrison 1992, p. 65.
- ^ Klotter 1977, p. 94.
- ^ Klotter 1977, p. 95.
- ^ Klotter 1977, p. 100.
- ^ a b Klotter 1977, p. 105.
- ^ Klotter 1977, p. 108.
- ^ Klotter 1977, pp. 111–114.
- ^ Klotter 1977, p. 114.
- ^ "Kentucky Governor John Crepps Wickliffe Beckham". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
- ^ a b McFarland & Company 2010, pp. 226–227.
- ^ Klotter 1996, p. 206.
- ^ Burckel 1978, p. 290.
- ^ Powell 1976, p. 78.
- ^ CQ Press 2005, p. [page needed].
Works cited
Books
- United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861–1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland & Company. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
- Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. 2. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 978-1-56802-981-8.
- Harrison, Lowell H. (1992). Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-1772-0.
- Klotter, James C. (1977). William Goebel: The Politics of Wrath. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-0240-5.
- —— (1996). Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, 1900–1950. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-916968-24-3.
- Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. Bluegrass Printing Company.
Journal articles
- Burckel, Nicholas C. (1978). "From Beckham to McCreary: The Progressive Record of Kentucky Governors". The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. 76 (4): 285–306. JSTOR 23378562.