United States Senate election in New York, 1897
Encyclopedia
The 1897 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19, 1897, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State of New York
in the United States Senate
.
had been elected to this seat in 1891
, and his term would expire on March 3, 1897.
At the State election in November 1895
, 36 Republicans and 14 Democrats were elected for a three-year term (1896-1898) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1896, 115 Republicans and 35 Democrats were elected for the session of 1897 to the Assembly. The 120th State Legislature met from January 5, 1897, on at Albany, New York
.
(43rd D.), Ex-Mayor of Rochester, presided. The caucus nominated the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt
, who had been briefly a U.S. Senator in 1881, on the first ballot.
was re-nominated.
Note: The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Background
Democrat David B. HillDavid B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
had been elected to this seat in 1891
United States Senate election in New York, 1891
The 1891 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20 and 21, 1891, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:Republican William M...
, and his term would expire on March 3, 1897.
At the State election in November 1895
New York state election, 1895
The 1895 New York state election was held on November 5, 1895, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York...
, 36 Republicans and 14 Democrats were elected for a three-year term (1896-1898) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1896, 115 Republicans and 35 Democrats were elected for the session of 1897 to the Assembly. The 120th State Legislature met from January 5, 1897, on at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
Republican caucus
The Republican caucus met on January 14. 149 State legislators attended, and State Senator Cornelius R. ParsonsCornelius R. Parsons
Cornelius R. Parker was the Mayor of Rochester for seven consecutive two-year terms between 1876 and 1890....
(43rd D.), Ex-Mayor of Rochester, presided. The caucus nominated the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
, who had been briefly a U.S. Senator in 1881, on the first ballot.
| Office | Candidate | First ballot |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 3) | Thomas C. Platt Thomas C. Platt Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century... |
142 |
| Joseph H. Choate Joseph Hodges Choate Joseph Hodges Choate , was an American lawyer and diplomat.-Biography:He was born in Salem, Massachusetts on January 24, 1832. He was the son of physician George Choate and the brother of George C. S. Choate. His father's first cousin was Rufus Choate... |
7 | |
Democratic caucus
The Democratic caucus met on January 18. 46 State legislators attended, but 5 walked out before the roll was called, after making speeches against Hill. The incumbent U.S. Senator David B. HillDavid B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
was re-nominated.
| Office | Candidate | First ballot |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 3) | David B. Hill David B. Hill David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:... |
36 |
| Wilbur F. Porter | 3 | |
| Robert T. Titus | 2 | |
Result
Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. Four anti-Hill Democrats voted for Labor leader Henry George who later the same year ran for Mayor of New York as a "Jefferson Democrat" but died a few days before the election.| Office | House | Republican | Democrat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 3) | State Senate New York State Senate The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve... (50 members) |
Thomas C. Platt Thomas C. Platt Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century... |
35 | David B. Hill David B. Hill David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:... |
11 | Henry George Henry George Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land... |
2 |
| State Assembly New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652... (150 members) |
Thomas C. Platt Thomas C. Platt Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century... |
112 | David B. Hill David B. Hill David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:... |
31 | Henry George Henry George Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land... |
2 | |
Note: The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
Aftermath
Platt was re-elected in 1903, and served two terms, remaining in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1909.Sources
- Members of the 55th United States Congress
- PROCEEDINGS OF THE CAUCUS in NYT on January 15, 1897
- MR. HILL IS RENOMINATED in NYT on January 19, 1897
- MANY SENATORS SELECTED; Platt Gets a Big Majority in Each House of New York's Legislature in NYT on January 20, 1897