Maurice Conner
Encyclopedia
Maurice Joy Conner was a Canadian politician who served as the member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for Warner
from 1921 until 1935. Before entering politics, he was a Methodist preacher in the United States. He first sought office in the 1921 Alberta provincial election
as a candidate for the United Farmers of Alberta
(UFA) in Warner
. He defeated Liberal
incumbent Frank Leffingwell
and became one of 38 UFA candidates elected as the party, which was contesting its first election, won a surprise majority government
. He was re-elected in the 1926
and 1930
elections, and did not seek re-election in the 1935 election
, when the UFA lost every seat and the new Social Credit League
won a majority.
In 1928, Conner abstained from voting on the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta
, introduced by Premier John Edward Brownlee
's UFA government, and was the only UFA member present not to support the bill.
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
for Warner
Warner (provincial electoral district)
Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:...
from 1921 until 1935. Before entering politics, he was a Methodist preacher in the United States. He first sought office in the 1921 Alberta provincial election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
as a candidate for the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
(UFA) in Warner
Warner (provincial electoral district)
Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:...
. He defeated Liberal
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
incumbent Frank Leffingwell
Frank Leffingwell
Frank Seth Leffingwell was a business man, stone cutter, horse trader, real estate agent, officer of the law, as well as a municipal and provincial politician who was elected to public office in both the United States and Canada.-Early life:Leffing well was born on November 16, 1868 in Whitewater,...
and became one of 38 UFA candidates elected as the party, which was contesting its first election, won a surprise majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
. He was re-elected in the 1926
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
and 1930
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
elections, and did not seek re-election in the 1935 election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, when the UFA lost every seat and the new Social Credit League
Social Credit Party of Alberta
The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values....
won a majority.
In 1928, Conner abstained from voting on the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta
Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta
In 1928, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada, enacted the Sexual Sterilization Act. The Act, drafted to protect the gene pool, allowed for sterilization of mentally disabled persons in order to prevent the transmission of undesirable traits to offspring.At that time, eugenicists argued that...
, introduced by Premier John Edward Brownlee
John Edward Brownlee
John Edward Brownlee was the fifth Premier of Alberta, Canada, serving from 1925 until 1934. Born in Port Ryerse, Ontario, he studied history and political science at the University of Toronto's Victoria College before moving west to Calgary to become a lawyer...
's UFA government, and was the only UFA member present not to support the bill.
Electoral record
| 1930 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1930 The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... results (Warner Warner (provincial electoral district) Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 70.7% | |||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
United Farmers of Alberta United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary... |
Maurice Conner | 1342 | 65.43% |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
R. W. Risinger | 709 | 34.57% | |||||
| 1926 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1926 The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert... results (Warner Warner (provincial electoral district) Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 76.4% | |||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
United Farmers of Alberta United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary... |
Maurice Conner | 741 | 64.10% |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Frank Leffingwell Frank Leffingwell Frank Seth Leffingwell was a business man, stone cutter, horse trader, real estate agent, officer of the law, as well as a municipal and provincial politician who was elected to public office in both the United States and Canada.-Early life:Leffing well was born on November 16, 1868 in Whitewater,... |
225 | 19.46% |
Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... |
G. N. Giles | 190 | 16.44% | |
| 1921 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1921 The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly.... results (Warner Warner (provincial electoral district) Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 74.8% | |||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
United Farmers of Alberta United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary... |
Maurice Conner | 755 | 60.64% |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Frank Leffingwell Frank Leffingwell Frank Seth Leffingwell was a business man, stone cutter, horse trader, real estate agent, officer of the law, as well as a municipal and provincial politician who was elected to public office in both the United States and Canada.-Early life:Leffing well was born on November 16, 1868 in Whitewater,... |
490 | 39.36% | |||||