Jump to content

User:Mr Serjeant Buzfuz/Electoral history of James Garfield Gardiner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Gardiner
Fourth Premier of Saskatchewan
1926-1929
1934-1935

This article is the Electoral history of James Garfield Gardiner, the fourth Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. He served two non-consecutive terms, the only Saskatchewan Premier to do so, from 1926 to 1929 and from 1934 to 1935.

Gardiner led the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan in two provincial elections, in 1929 and 1934. The 1929 election returned a hung parliament and Gardiner resigned as Premier after being defeated on a confidence vote in the Assembly. He again led the Liberals in the 1934 election and won a majority government. He was the fourth of six Liberal premiers to date.

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan seven times from 1916 to 1934, five by contested elections and twice by acclamation.

In 1935, Gardiner resigned as Premier in 1935 to enter federal politics and was succeeded as Premier by William Patterson. He was elected to Parliament six times and served as the federal Minister of Agriculture for over twenty-one years, in the governments of William Lyon Mackenzie King and then Louis St. Laurent. He made an unsuccessful attempt to become Prime Minister on King's retirement in 1948, but was defeated by St. Laurent.

He was defeated in his own riding in the federal general election of 1958 and retired from politics.

Summary

[edit]

Gardiner ranks twelfth out of the fifteen Premiers of Saskatchewan for time in office, from February 26, 1926 to September 9, 1929, and from July 19, 1934 to November 1, 1935.[1] He was in office for a total of 4 years, 300 days. He is the only Premier to date who has served non-consecutive terms.

Gardiner stood for election provincially a total of seven times from 1914 to 1934, in two different ridings, North Qu'Appelle (six times) and Melville (once). He was elected by acclamation twice, and won five contested elections.[2] From 1922 to 1926, he was a member of the Cabinet of Premier Charles Dunning, as Minister of Highways.[3] When Premier Dunning resigned as premier in 1926, Gardiner succeeded him as Liberal leader and Premier.[1]

As Premier, Gardiner led the Liberals in two general elections, in 1929 and 1935. The 1929 election resulted in a hung parliament, with the Liberals having a plurality of seats but not a majority.[4] His government was defeated on a confidence motion in the Assembly and Gardiner resigned. He was replaced as Premier by James Anderson of the Conservative Party, who led a minority government. Gardiner became Leader of the Opposition.[5] He again led the Liberals in the general election of 1934, this time winning a majority government.[6]

Gardiner resigned as Premier in 1935 to enter federal politics. He was succeeded as Liberal leader and Premier by William Patterson.[1]

In November, 1935, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King appointed Gardiner as the Minister of Agriculture. Gardiner then stood for election in the Assiniboia constituency in a by-election and was elected in January, 1936. He held the position of Mininster of Agriculture for over twenty-one years, from 1935 to 1957, under Prime Minister King and then under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent. He was elected to the House of Commons six times from 1936 to 1957. He retired from politics after losing his seat in the 1958 federal election.

In 1948, when Prime Minister King announced his retirement, Gardiner ran to succeed him as the leader of the federal Liberal party, and thus Prime Minister. Gardiner was defeated at the Liberal leadership convention by St. Laurent.

In total, Gardiner led the Liberals in two provincial general elections and was defeated the first time, and won the second time. He stood for election at the constituency level fourteen times, in seven provincial elections and seven federal elections. He was elected twice by acclamation, eleven times in contested elections, and defeated once.

Saskatchewan general elections, 1929 and 1934

[edit]

Gardiner led the Liberal Party in two general elections, in 1929 and 1934. The 1929 election resulted in a Conservative minority government, but Gardiner won the 1934 election with a a majority government.

1929 General election

[edit]

Although Gardiner and the Liberals won pluralities in the popular vote and seats in the Assembly, they did not hold a majority. Gardiner chose to face the Assembly in hopes of obtaining sufficient support from some of the opposition members to maintain his government, but he lost a vote on a confidence matter and resigned. He was replaced as Premier by James Anderson, whose Conservative Party held the second-greatest number of seats.

Saskatchewan General Election: June 6, 1929
Party Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote Percentage
Liberal James Garfield Gardiner1 28 164,487 45.56%
Conservative James Anderson2 24 131,550 36.44%
  Independent 6 32,729 9.06%
Progressive 5 24,988 6.92%
Liberal–Labour 0 4,181 1.16%
  Economic Group 0 1,942 0.54%
  Independent Liberal 0 1,160 0.32%
Total 63 361,037 100.00%
Source: Elections Saskatchewan - Elections Results - 1929

1 Premier when election was called; lost confidence motion in the Assembly after the election; resigned as Premier and became Leader of the Opposition.
2 Co-Leader of the Opposition when the election was called; became Premier after successful non-confidence vote.

1934 General election

[edit]

Gardiner remained leader of the Liberals and led them into the 1934 election, at the depths of the Great Depression. The Liberals won a substantial majority government, taking fifty of the fifty-five seats in the Legislative Assembly. The election was a crushing defeat for the Conservative government under Anderson, failing to win a single seat. The Farmer-Labour Party won five seats and formed the Opposition.

Saskatchewan General Election: June 19, 1934
Party Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote Percentage
Liberal James Garfield Gardiner1 50 206,212 48.00%
  Farmer-Labour M. J. Coldwell2 5 102,944 23.96%
Conservative James Anderson3 0 114,923 26.75%
  Independent 0 2,949 0.69%
Labour 0 1,420 0.33%
  United Front 0 1,053 0.24%
  Independent Liberal 0 133 0.03%
Total 55 429,634 100.00%
Source: Elections Saskatchewan - Elections Results - 1934

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Premier after the election.
2 Party leader during the election, but failed to win seat; role as Leader of the Opposition taken by George Hara Williams
3 Premier when election was called; lost seat in the election and retired.

Saskatchewan constituency elections

[edit]

Gardiner stood for election to the Legislative Assembly seven times, once in a by-election and in six general elections. He was elected six times in the constituency of North Qu'Appelle, and the seventh and last election in the constituency of Melville. He was elected twice by acclamation, and five times in contested elections.[2]

1914 By-election: North Qu'Appelle

[edit]
Provincial By-Election, June 25, 1914: North Qu'Appelle
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes James Garfield Gardiner 1,171 56.79%
  Conservative William Ernest Read 891 43.21%
Total 2,062 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - North Qu'Appelle[7]

The by-election was called on the resignation of the sitting Conservative member, John Archibald McDonald, who admitted to "corrupt practices" by his agent in the 1912 general election.[8]

Yes Elected.

1917 General election: North Qu'Appelle

[edit]
Saskatchewan General Election, June 26, 1917: North Qu'Appelle
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 1,827 59.49%
Conservative George Wilson Balfour 1,244 40.51%
Total 3,071 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - North Qu'Appelle[7]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1921 General election: North Qu'Appelle

[edit]
Saskatchewan General Election, June 9, 1921: North Qu'Appelle
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner Acclaimed
Total
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - North Qu'Appelle[7]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1922 By-election: North Qu'Appelle

[edit]
Provincial Ministerial By-Election, June 5, 1922: North Qu'Appelle
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner Acclaimed
Total
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - North Qu'Appelle[7]

The by-election was called on Gardiner accepting the position of Minister of Highways in the Cabinet of Premier Dunning, an office of profit under the Crown, on April 5, 1922.
Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1925 General election: North Qu'Appelle

[edit]
Saskatchewan General Election, June 2, 1925: North Qu'Appelle
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 2,370 60.71%
Progressive Caleb H. Fisher 1,534 39.29%
Total 3,904 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - North Qu'Appelle[7]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1929 General election: North Qu'Appelle

[edit]
Saskatchewan General Election, June 6, 1929: North Qu'Appelle
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 2,752 59.79%
Conservative Walter Weston 1,448 31.46%
Progressive Richard McSweeney 403 8.75%
Total 4,603 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - North Qu'Appelle[7]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1934 General election: Melville

[edit]
Saskatchewan General Election, June 19, 1934: Melville
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 4,989 59.23%
Conservative Elisha Forest Scharf 1,930 22.91%
Farmer–Labour Wilfrid Wass 1,504 17.86%
Total 8,423 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division - Melville[7]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

Federal constituency elections, 1936 to 1958

[edit]

Gardiner stood for election to the House of Commons seven times from 1936 to 1958, in two different Saskatchewan ridings (Assiniboia originally, and then Melville for the next six elections). He was elected six times. After his defeat in the 1958 election, he retired from politics.

1936 By-election: Assiniboia

[edit]
Federal By-election, 1936: Assiniboia, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes James Garfield Gardiner 7,282 66.21%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation William Irvine 3,717 33.79%
Total 10,999 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament: Assiniboia

By-election called after the sitting Liberal MP, Robert McKenzie, accepted an office of profit under the Crown on December 9, 1935.

Yes Elected.

1940 General Election: Melville

[edit]
Federal Election, 1940: Melville, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes James Garfield Gardiner 10,158 48.29%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Louise Lucas 9,042 42.98%
  National Unity Gilbert Henry Bartlett 1,837 8.73%
Total 21,037 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament: Melville

Yes Elected.

1945 General Election: Melville

[edit]
Federal Election, 1945: Melville, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 10,095 50.07%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Helmer John Benson 10,067 49.93%
Total 20,162 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament: Melville

Yes Elected.

1949 General Election: Melville

[edit]
Federal Election, 1949: Melville, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 11,120 58.61%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation William James Arthurs 6,388 33.67%
Progressive Conservative Thomas William Drever 1,465 7.72%
Total 18,973 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament: Melville

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1953 General Election: Melville

[edit]
Federal Election, 1953: Melville, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 10,024 50.02%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Percy Ellis Wright 8,092 40.38%
Progressive Conservative James Norris Ormiston 1,142 5.70%
Social Credit Louis Wendell 783 3.91%
Total 20,041 100.01%1
Source: Library of Parliament: Melville

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1957 General Election: Melville

[edit]
Federal Election, 1957: Melville, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes X James Garfield Gardiner 7,949 40.63%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation John Burton 7,590 38.80%
Progressive Conservative James Norris Ormiston 2,596 13.27%
Social Credit David Mercier 1,429 7.30%
Total 19,564 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament: Melville

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1958 General Election: Melville

[edit]
Federal Election, 1958: Melville, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Progressive Conservative YesJames Norris Ormiston 8,440 42.60%
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation John Burton 5,698 28.76%
Liberal X James Garfield Gardiner 5,673 28.64%
Total 19,811 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament: Melville

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

Liberal Party leadership convention, 1948

[edit]

When King announced his retirement as Liberal leader, Gardiner made a bid for the leadership, but St. Laurent entered the convention as the favourite. King opposed Gardiner and behind the scenes threw his support to St. Laurent. As a result of King's maneuvering, most of the other candidates dropped out in favour of St. Laurent, who won on the first ballot and became Prime Minister.

Liberal Leadership Convention, August 7, 1948
Voting results by ballot
Candidate First Ballot
Votes cast %
Louis St. Laurent 848 69.1%
James Garfield Gardiner 323 26.3%
Charles Gavan Power 56 4.6%
Douglas Abbott*
Lionel Chevrier*
Brooke Claxton*
Stuart Garson*
C.D. Howe*
Paul Martin Sr.*
Total 1,227 100.0%
Source: Report of the proceedings of the National Liberal Convention, 1948.[9]
  • Nominated, but withdrew on the floor of the convention prior to the first ballot.

References

[edit]
[edit]