# 1904 Cardiganshire County Council election

The sixth election for Cardiganshire County Council took place in March 1904. They were preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election

## Overview of the Result

The election was dominated by the controversy over the Education Act and the funding of church schools. In some quarters, candidates were described as 'Progressive' or 'Sectarian' rather than on party lines. However, as in previous elections, there was a large Liberal majority, which was assured once the unopposed returns had been confirmed.

## Unopposed Returns

There were a large number of unopposed returns.

## Gains and Losses

A few seats were lost by Liberals.

## Contested Elections

contested elections were mostly won by Liberals.

## Retiring Aldermen

Eight aldermen retired, all of whom were Liberals apart from Sir Marteine Lloyd. Peter Jones, J.M. Howell, Walter T. Davies and the Rev T. Mason Jones stood in the election but were not re-elected aldermen. Sir Marteine Lloyd, Evan Richards and Rev John Williams were re-elected without facing the electorate. John Powell stood down.

## The New Council

Cardiganshire County Council 1904 : elected members :
* Party
* Liberal
* Conservative
* Liberal Unionist
* Independent
Cardiganshire County Council 1904 : elected members and sitting aldermen :
* Party
* Liberal
* Conservative
* Liberal Unionist
* Independent
Cardiganshire County Council 1904 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections :
* Party
* Liberal
* Conservative
* Liberal Unionist
* Independent

## Results
### Aberaeron

Aberaeron 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | J. Lima Jones* | 168 |
| | Liberal | D. Jones | 100 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Aberbanc

Aberbanc 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Evan Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberporth

Aberporth 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Thomas Watkins* | 84 |
| | Liberal | Joshua Hughes | 60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Aberystwyth Division 1

Aberystwyth Division 1 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | R.J. Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 2

Aberystwyth Division 2 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.C. Roberts* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 3

Aberystwyth Division 3 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Ellis* | 172 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 4

Aberystwyth Division 4 1901 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | E.H. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aeron

J.M. Howell, whose term as alderman had come to an end, was elected unopposed for a seat that was previously held by a Conservative.
Aeron 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Morgan Howell** | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative |

### Borth

Borth 1901 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard James | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bow Street

Bow Street 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | A. Howell | 119 |
| | Conservative | Henry Bonsall* | 72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 |
| | Liberal gain from Ind. Conservative | Liberal gain from Ind. Conservative | Swing |

### Cardigan North

Cardigan North 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | O. Beynon Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cardigan South

Cardigan South 1901 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stephens* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cilcennin

Cilcennin 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Dr Jenkin Lewis | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmrheidol

Cwmrheidol 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Devil's Bridge

Devil's Bridge 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev T. Mason Jones** | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfach

Llanfihangel Ystrad 1901 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Walter Thomas Davies** | 135 |
| | Liberal | John Jones | 98 |
| | Unionist | D. Jones | 75 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Goginan

Goginan 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Parry | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Lampeter Borough

Lampeter Borough 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Rev Ll.J. Bebb | 210 |
| | Liberal | Rev R.C. Jones | 182 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llanarth

Llanarth 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Morgan Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanbadarn Fawr

Llanbadarn Fawr 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J.J. Bonsall* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanddewi Brefi

Llanddewi Brefi 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Unionist | R.S. Rowland | 136 |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | 115 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llandygwydd

Llandygwydd 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Thomas Evans | 181 |
| | Conservative | E. Williams | 85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 96 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llandysul North

Llandysul North 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jenkin Jones | 147 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandysul South

Llandysul South 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llansysiliogogo

Llansysiliogogo 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Tom Parry | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfair Clydogau

Llanfair Clydogau 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | D.S. Davies | 176 |
| | Unionist | William Rees* | 93 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing |

### Llanfarian

Llanfarian 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Vaughan Davies | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Llanfihangel y Creuddyn

Llanfihangel y Creuddyn 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Morgans | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangoedmor

Llangoedmor 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | D. Samuel Jones | 140 |
| | Liberal | D. Samuel Jones | 70 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangeitho

Llangeitho 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangrannog

Llangrannog 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanilar

Llanilar 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanrhystyd

Llanrhystyd 1904 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | E.J. Evans | 139 |
| Conservative | D. Morgan James* | 129 |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Llanllwchaiarn

Llanllwchaiarn 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Evan Lewis | 110 |
| | Liberal | Rev D. Evans | 45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llansantffraed

Llansantffraed 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evan James Price | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanwnen

Llanwnen 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanwenog

Llanwenog 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Lledrod

Lledrod 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.L. Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Nantcwnlle

Dr Evan Evans, sitting member for Felinfach, switched to Nantcwnlle, allowing retiring alderman Walter Thomas Davies to contest Felinfach.
Nantcwnlle 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Dr Evan Evans* | 169 |
| | Unionist | Rev D Edwards | 71 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### New Quay

New Quay 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Evan James Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Penbryn

Penbryn 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Strata Florida

Strata Florida 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Taliesin

Taliesin 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Unionist | Dr James | 134 |
| | Liberal | David Williams* | 79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Talybont

Talybont 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Trefeurig

Trefeurig 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Peter Jones** | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Tregaron

Tregaron 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Dr Evan Lloyd* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Troedyraur

Troedyraur 1901 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Daniel Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Ysbyty Ystwyth

Ysbyty Ystwyth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Morgan Thomas | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

## Election of Aldermen

Once again a number of aldermen who had not faced the electorate were elected. Evan Richards was elected aldermen for a third term (although he had not faced the electorate since 1892) and Sir Marteine Lloyd and the Rev John Williams for a second term. The other five aldermen were new appointments, including Thomas Morris who had not contested the election. Peter Jones (an alderman since 1889 although he had always sought re-election) and J.M. Howell (an alderman since 1898) were two prominent figures who were re-elected as councillors but not as aldermen.
The following were elected:
* Sir Marteine Lloyd, Conservative. (retiring alderman, from outside Council - did not seek election)
* Edward Evans, Liberal (elected councillor for Strada Florida)
* Vaughan Davies, M.P., (elected councillor for Llanfarian)
* Thomas Morris. (from outside the Council, retiring member for Troedyraur)
* Lima Jones (elected councillor for Aberaeron)
* Evan Richards, (retiring alderman, from outside Council - did not seek election)
* Rev. John Williams (retiring alderman, from outside Council - did not seek election)
* Dr. Jenkyn Lewis.(elected councillor for Cilcennin)

## 1904 by-elections following the election of aldermen

At Cilcennin and Llanfarian Conservative candidates were elected unopposed to fill Liberal vacancies. While one local paper said it 'spoke well' of the Liberals to allow political opponents to take the two seats, including that previously held by the sitting Liberal MP, it also reflected the decline of partisan politics in the county since 1889.

### Aberaeron by-election

Following Lima Jones's election as alderman, three candidates contested the by-election.
Aberaeron by-election 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Francis Evans | 124 |
| | Liberal | John Davies | 98 |
| | Conservative | D. Pennant James | 48 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Cilcennin by-election

Cilcennin by-election 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Price Lewes | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Llanfarian by-election

Llanfarian by-election 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Powell | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Strata Florida by-election

Strata Florida by-election 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |