Elecciones generales de Alberta de 1909

The 1905 Alberta general election as a fiercely contested battle between the formidable Liberal machine led by Rutherford and the less organized Conservative Party under R. B. Bennett. The Liberals had the advantage of incumbency, as Rutherford had been appointed as the first Premier, and their superior organizing ability. These factors contributed to a resounding victory for the Liberals, who won 22 out of the 25 seats in the Legislature. In contrast, the Conservative Party only managed to win two seats.^[4]

Historian Lewis Thomas argues that the overwhelming Liberal triumph can be attributed to their incumbent status. The Liberal government, in its two months of power, had not faced any scandals or policy failures, making it difficult for the opposition to effectively criticize and challenge them.^[5] Additionally, the Liberals were able to leverage their control over the machinery of government, both at the provincial and federal levels. Thomas notes that there are a few surviving written suggestions of Liberal appointments, indicating their effective exercise of patronage powers.^[6] Furthermore, Thomas argues that the Conservative Party's strong positions on issues such as provincial control over the school system and public lands did not resonate significantly with the voters.^[5] The Conservatives attributed their defeat to the Roman Catholic vote, which was perceived to be sympathetic to Wilfrid Laurier due to his support for separate schools. Bennett himself believed that his loss in Calgary by a margin of 37 votes to William Henry Cushing was influenced by Roman Catholic interests,^[5] the labor vote, and his absence from the district during campaigning.^[7] Consequently, Bennett promptly resigned as leader and temporarily withdrew from politics.^[8]

Durante la primera sesión de la Legislatura de Alberta, se celebraron cuatro elecciones parciales , tres de ellas en 1906. En cada una de ellas, el Partido Liberal, en el poder, logró conservar sus escaños. La primera elección parcial tuvo lugar en Lethbridge tras el nombramiento del liberal Leverett George DeVeber al Senado de Canadá el 8 de marzo de 1906. El candidato liberal William Simmons resultó victorioso con el 43,9 por ciento de los votos, derrotando al candidato laborista Frank Henry Sherman, que obtuvo el 37,4 por ciento, y al candidato conservador AE Keffer, que consiguió el 18,7 por ciento. ^{[ 9 ] [ 10 ]} Tras el nombramiento de Matthew McCauley , representante de Vermilion , como alcaide de la Penitenciaría de Edmonton, el liberal James Bismark Holden fue aclamado como su sucesor el 16 de julio de 1906. ^{[ 9 ]} De manera similar, cuando Charles Stuart , representante de Gleichen , fue nombrado miembro del Tribunal Supremo de los Territorios del Noroeste en octubre de 1906, se celebró una elección parcial, en la que el candidato liberal Ezra Riley obtuvo el 56,3 por ciento de los votos y derrotó al candidato conservador William L. Walsh . ^{[ 9 ]}

Una sorpresa significativa ocurrió en las elecciones parciales de 1909 en Lethbridge cuando William Simmons renunció para postularse en las elecciones federales canadienses de 1908 en Medicine Hat . El candidato laborista Donald McNabb fue aclamado como representante de Lethbridge el 8 de enero de 1909, convirtiéndose en el primer representante laborista de Alberta. ^{[ 9 ] [ 11 ]}

La primera Legislatura de Alberta fue disuelta y la orden de elecciones fue retirada el 22 de marzo de 1909. ^{[ 12 ]}

Los límites de los distritos electorales para las primeras elecciones generales de Alberta en 1905 fueron determinados por la Ley de Alberta y se convirtieron en objeto de controversia. Surgieron acusaciones de manipulación electoral a favor del Partido Liberal y el norte de Alberta, ^{[ a ]} con periódicos con sede en Calgary como el Calgary Herald , Calgary Albertan y Eye-Opener afirmando que los límites proporcionaban un trato preferencial a Edmonton y el norte de Alberta. ^{[ 14 ]} El primer ministro Laurier había recibido garantías de los miembros del Parlamento de Alberta Peter Talbot y Frank Oliver de que la distribución era justa. ^{[ 14 ]}

La cuestión de si hubo manipulación electoral basada en la población suscita diferentes respuestas. El historiador Lewis Thomas señala que el diseño final favoreció al norte de Alberta con un distrito adicional, a pesar de que Oliver y Talbot sabían que más de 1000 votantes adicionales al sur del río Red Deer habían participado en las elecciones federales de 1904. [ ^{15 ] Alexander} Bruce Kilpatrick señala que los resultados del censo de 1906 indican que si se elige el municipio 38 como línea divisoria (Ciudad de Red Deer), había 93 601 personas en el norte de Alberta y 87 381 en el sur de Alberta, con 4430 adicionales residiendo en el municipio 38. ^{[ 16 ]} Kilpatrick argumenta que hubo una idea errónea con respecto a la distribución de la población en el distrito censal de Strathcona, con la suposición de que la mayoría de las personas vivían al sur del municipio 38, cuando en realidad una mayoría significativa vivía al norte del mismo. ^{[ 13 ]} Sin embargo, Kilpatrick describe el trazado de los distritos electorales como una "manipulación flagrante del mapa electoral para un propósito particular". ^{[ 17 ]} Afirma que Oliver diseñó las circunscripciones para maximizar la influencia de Edmonton, con límites que no se alineaban con las circunscripciones anteriores de la Asamblea de los Territorios del Noroeste , y en cambio, se trazaron para tener varias circunscripciones que limitaban con la ciudad. ^{[ 17 ]} Mientras tanto, Calgary no tuvo las mismas ventajas en el diseño y pasó de tener dos escaños en la Asamblea de los Territorios del Noroeste a uno en la nueva Legislatura de Alberta. ^{[ 17 ]}

It was not until the fourth and final session of the 1st Alberta Legislature that changes to provincial elections procedures and electoral districts were addressed. The government introduced the Act respecting the Legislative Assembly of Alberta,^[1] which significantly altered the electoral map and extended the maximum term of the Legislature from four to five years.

Sixteen new seats were added, increasing the total number of seats from 25 to 41.^[18] Seven of the new constituencies were located south of the central City of Red Deer, seven were north of Red Deer, and two districts were adjacent to the Red Deer city in land to be opened up for settlement by new railroads.^[19] The districts of Calgary and Edmonton were provided with a second seat, and elections were to be held using multiple non-transferable vote.^[20] Historian Lewis Thomas notes that the idea of redistribution was deemed necessary due to the rapid population growth and development, and the significant increase in seats was generally accepted without controversy.^[18] However, Albert Robertson, leader of the Conservative Party and representative for High River, criticized the extension of the election cycle from four to five years and the provisions for two members in each of Calgary and Edmonton.^[20] Liberal representative Anthony Rosenroll, who represented Wetaskiwin, also criticized the changes, believing that rural constituencies deserved greater representation.^[20]

During the first provincial election in 1905, the eligibility requirements for voters and candidates remained in place as per the rules established by the North-West Legislative Assembly through The Territories Elections Ordinance.^[21][22]The right to vote was granted to male British subjects who were 21 years or older, had resided in the North-West Territories for at least 12 months, and had lived in the electoral district for the preceding three months.^[22] The election took place on November 9, 1905, with polling stations open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.^[22] During the 1905 election, voters marked an "X" on a blank sheet of paper using a coloured pencil that corresponded to the candidate they wished to vote for, with red representing the Liberal Party and blue representing the Conservative Party.^[15][23]

During the fourth session of the first Legislative Assembly, the government introduced the Act respecting Elections of Members of the Legislative Assembly.^[24] This Act stipulated that voters must be male British subjects, 21 years of age or older, who had resided in Alberta for a minimum of 12 months, and had lived in the electoral district for the preceding three months.^[25] The new Act continued to exclude judges, prisoners, and Indigenous persons from voting.^[26] Additionally, the Act provided the government with the option to postpone the election date for the electoral districts of Athabasca and Peace River to allow more time for information about the nominated candidates to be disseminated.^[27] This provision proved unnecessary for Peace River, as Liberal candidate James Cornwall was acclaimed.^[28] However, it was utilized for Athabasca, with the election taking place more than three months later on July 15, 1909.^[29]

Unlike the 1905 election, the Returning Officers were required to print ballots with each candidate's name listed in alphabetical order.^[27]

In the 1905 election, the Liberal Party, led by Rutherford, achieved a landslide victory by securing 22 out of the 25 seats. During the first Legislature, the Liberal Party focused on implementing measures to develop the province. Their campaign centered on portraying the Conservative Party as subordinates to the Canadian Pacific Company, labeling them as "butler-in-ordinary" to the company.^[30] The Liberal Party faced hostility from the Canadian Pacific Company due to the government's actions, such as imposing taxes on railway lands, enacting the Workers Compensation Act, limiting the workday in coal mines to eight hours, enforcing Sabbath restrictions strictly, and implementing a new provincial railway policy to expand railway lines within the province.^[30]

Premier Rutherford dedicated much of his election efforts to conservative strongholds in Southern Alberta, including Calgary, Lethbridge, and Pincher Creek, where he campaigned for candidates.^[12] The Liberal Party's campaign slogan was "Rutherford, Reliability, and Railroads."^[12] Rutherford also appealed to voters, urging them not to view the election as a purely partisan affair. He emphasized that all voters were "Albertans" and that the interests of the province should take precedence over party affiliations.^[12] Prominent Conservative lawyer Paddy Nolan unexpectedly supported the Liberal Party during the election, Nolan went as far as campaigning alongside Rutherford throughout the province, despite his own Conservative affiliation.^[31]

Once again, the Liberal Party emerged victorious in the election, securing a strong majority of votes and seats in the Legislature. Eight members were elected by acclamation,^[32] while Cabinet members enjoyed significant support from their constituents. The Liberal Party's influence was particularly dominant in Northern Alberta.^[32]

Tras el decepcionante resultado de las elecciones de 1905 y al no conseguir un escaño en Calgary, RB Bennett, líder del Partido Conservador, dimitió y se retiró temporalmente de la política. ^{[ 8 ]} Solo dos candidatos conservadores resultaron elegidos: Hiebert en Rosebud y Albert Robertson en High River . Cuando comenzó la primera sesión de la Legislatura en 1906, Robertson fue nombrado Líder de la Oposición . En la Legislatura, Robertson abogó por la propiedad pública del sistema telefónico ^{[ 33 ]} y de los ferrocarriles, ^{[ 34 ]} lo que difería de la política del gobierno de dejar ambos sectores bajo control privado.

Prior to the 1909 election, the Conservative Party convention was held to establish party policies and select a new leader. Robertson, known for his staunch conservatism and loyalty,^[30] faced criticism for his imperial connections.^[30] The other Conservative representative, Cornelius Hiebert, displayed little interest in partisan politics and increasingly aligned himself with the Liberal government.^[35] Hiebert and Robertson clashed during the session, and although Hiebert supported the party platform at the convention, he decided to run as an Independent in the 1909 election.^[36] The leadership of the Conservative Party was offered to Maitland Stewart McCarthy, a lawyer and Member of the House of Commons for Calgary. However, McCarthy declined the leadership offer as it would require him to resign his federal seat, which he had controversially won in the 1908 election, and he believed that such a resignation would be perceived as an admission of guilt for the 1908 controversy.^[30] Despite not contesting the election, Robert Brett was seen as the de facto leader of the Conservative Party.^[37] R. B. Bennett, without his consent, was nominated as a candidate, which led him to return to politics.^[37] However, he did not consider taking on the leadership of the party again.^[30] The convention failed to select a permanent leader, leaving the party effectively without a leader, despite Robertson holding the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislature.^[30][12]

The Conservative convention platform aligned with many aspects of the Liberal government's policies but advocated for government ownership in certain areas such as railways and telephones.^[38] The platform also promised initiatives such as Initiative, Referendum, and Recall, as well as a plebiscite on the prohibition of liquor trafficking.^[35] Other platform proposals included reforestation in areas affected by forest fires, a commission for electrical power, the establishment of an experimental farm, civil service reform, the construction of highways, government-owned grain elevators, and other initiatives.^[35]

Once again, the Conservative Party failed to make a significant impact with voters, managing to secure only two seats in the Legislature, with Bennett winning in Calgary and George Hoadley in the neighboring Okotoks constituency.^[32] Historian Lewis Thomas notes that the Conservatives were compelled to accept another "moral victory," although prominent Conservative William Antrobus Griesbach expressed weariness with such symbolic victories.^[32]

Third parties and Independent candidates played a large role in the election. In five districts the only opposition to the Liberal candidate was an Independent or candidate of a small party. These were St. Albert, Strathcona, Camrose, Red Deer and Pakan.^[39]

In the 1909 election, Charles M. O'Brien, a Socialist candidate, achieved victory in the coal mining district of Rocky Mountain.^[32][29] Although he did not receive official union support, he gained significant backing from the coal miners in the district. In a closely contested race, O'Brien narrowly defeated Liberal candidate John Angus Macdonald by a margin of only 32 votes.^[29] O'Brien's successful election to the legislature indicated a growing trend of radicalization among coal miners in Alberta.^[40]

Lethbridge City's incumbent MLA Donald McNabb, the only Labour Party man in the Legislature, ran for his seat again in 1909 but he placed a distant third. Since his election earlier in 1909, he been recognized as a moderate man - it is reported that BC labour king-pin R.P. Prettipiece had criticized his politics.^[39] He was the only man to run under the Labour label in 1909.^[41]

Independent-Conservative candidate Edward Michener defeated the Liberal incumbent John Thomas Moore in Red Deer.^[32] The Conservative Party chose not to field a candidate in the district, and Michener captured 51.3 per cent of the vote.^[29] Courting Liberal voters, he had said if elected, he would support Liberal Premier Rutherford.^[39]

Antes de las elecciones de 1909, el presidente de Alberta and Great Waterways Railway (A&GW), William Clarke, había anunciado que la línea estaría terminada a finales de 1912, antes de lo previsto. ^{[ 32 ]} Cuando los bonos de A&GW salieron a la venta en Londres en noviembre de 1909, la emisión tuvo una sobredemanda. Al mes siguiente, se adjudicó el contrato para las traviesas . ^{[ 42 ]} Todo parecía avanzar según lo planeado cuando, al comienzo de la nueva sesión legislativa, el diputado liberal John R. Boyle hizo al gobierno una serie de preguntas inocuas sobre la compañía y las garantías otorgadas a ella. Rutherford, ministro de Ferrocarriles y también primer ministro, respondió a las preguntas por escrito. ^{[ 43 ]} Sin embargo, antes de que lo hiciera, comenzó a circular el rumor de que William Henry Cushing , ministro de Obras Públicas, había renunciado al gabinete. ^{[ 44 ]}

Boyle y el líder conservador RB Bennett interrogaron a Rutherford sobre los rumores, pero este se negó inicialmente a hacer ningún anuncio. Sin embargo, al día siguiente, el rumor se confirmó cuando el Primer Ministro leyó la carta de renuncia de Cushing en la legislatura. En dicha carta, Cushing expuso como motivos de su renuncia su desacuerdo con la política ferroviaria del gobierno, la cual, según él, se había desarrollado sin su participación ni consentimiento. Rutherford discrepó de esta afirmación y lamentó la renuncia de Cushing. ^{[ 45 ]}

The scandal split the Liberal Party: Rutherford's Minister of Public Works, William Henry Cushing, resigned from the government and publicly attacked its railway policy, and a large portion of the Liberal caucus voted to defeat the government in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The government survived all of these votes.^[46] Rutherford largely placated the legislature by appointing a royal commission to investigate the affair, but pressure from Lieutenant-GovernorGeorge Bulyea and unrest within his own caucus forced Rutherford's resignation and his replacement by Arthur Sifton.^[47]

The royal commission gave its report months after Rutherford resigned. The majority on the commission did not find Rutherford or his cabinet guilty of any wrongdoing, but criticized them for poor judgment, both concerning to the loan guarantees and the exemptions the A&GW received from provincial legislation.^[48] A minority report was more sympathetic, and declared the allegations against them "disproved".^[49]

James Cornwall, a Liberal backbencher who supported Rutherford, fared somewhat worse: his personal financial involvement in the railway gave rise to "suspicious circumstances", but he too was not proven guilty of any wrongdoing.^[48]

Besides provoking Rutherford's resignation, the scandal opened rifts in the Liberal Party that took years to heal. Sifton eventually smoothed over most of these divisions, but was frustrated in his railway policy by legal defeats. He ultimately adopted a similar policy to Rutherford's, and the A&GW was eventually built by private interests using the money raised from provincial loan guarantees.