# 1904 Carmarthenshire County Council election

The sixth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1904. It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election.

## Overview of the result

The Liberals retained a strong majority with a majority of members returned unopposed. From the outset the election was dominated by the debate over the implementation of the 1902 Education Act, which was fiercely opposed by the radical wing of the Welsh Liberal Party.

## Candidates

The election was fought on more explicitly political lines, largely as a result of the way the education question dominated the election. Following the nominations, the Liberals already had a majority due to the number of candidates returned unopposed. These included all eight candidates in the Llanelli Urban area, including Joseph Roberts, who was returned unopposed, with the support of the local Trades and Labour Council, for the division previously represented by the veteran tinplate leader, Tom Phillips, who retired due to ill health.
Two sitting members, Col. J.W. Gwynne Hughes of Tregib, chairman of the council and his kinsman, Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy, stood as Unionists due to the education question.
Only six of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. None of the retiring aldermen stood as candidates.

## Outcome

There were a number of changes. At Laugharne, J.D. Morse, the member since 1889, was defeated by a Conservative while the Liberals captured seats from the Conservatives at Carmarthen, Llandovery and St Clears. Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy was defeated by a Liberal at Llanegwad.
The Liberals took all nine of the vacant aldermanic seats, with both J.S. Tregoining and Sir James Hills-Johnes receiving small numbers of votes.

### Abergwili

Abergwili 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd* | 296 |
| | Conservative | H.W. Pryse | 125 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Bettws

Bettws 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William Nathaniel Jones* | 527 |
| | Liberal | Tom Jones | 505 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Caio

Caio 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | T. Francis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | T.E. Brigstocke* | 268 |
| | Liberal | H.W. Thomas | 207 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Rev Andrew Fuller-Mills* | 255 |
| | Conservative | D. Davies | 135 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Lewis | 162 |
| | Conservative | James John* | 159 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Professor D.E. Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Stephens* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Unionist | Richard Evans | 185 |
| | Liberal | John D. Morse* | 152 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Jones-Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

David Thomas had been elected as a Conservative in 1901.
Llanboidy 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie

Llandebie 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

William Jones had been elected as an Independent at previous elections.
Llandilo Rural 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal.
Llandilo Urban 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | J.W. Gwynne Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | J.R. James | 193 |
| | Conservative | Walter Powell Jeffreys* | 105 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Ll. Thomas* | 280 |
| | Conservative | R.H. Sampson | 210 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanegwad

Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal and failed to defend the seat as an Unionist.
Llanegwad 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | D.J. Harries | 257 |
| | Unionist | Col. W. Gwynne Hughes* | 210 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | W. Griffiths | unopposed | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W. Williams | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division.3 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William David* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Thomas Johns* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.C. Parry* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Roberts | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D. Harry | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David John* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1904 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Rev B. Humphreys | 293 |
| Liberal | Rev John Evans | 129 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Earl Cawdor* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Barrett* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colonel W.P. Lewes* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Jenkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | T. Thomas | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1904 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | C.E. Morris* | 182 |
| Conservative | David Evan Stephens | 160 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Morgan Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart.* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Johns* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Williams was one of two Liberal candidates in 1901 when both polled the same number of votes and Williams lost on the toss of a coin.
Llanybyther 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | J. Thomas | 266 |
| | Conservative | David Williams | 234 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Mothvey

Mothvey 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1904 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Rev J.H. Rees* | 272 |
| Liberal | Dr J.H. Williams | 174 |
| Unionist | Rev W.G. Williams | 129 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Pembrey South

This ward was not recorded in the local press.
Pembrey South 1901 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Conservative | Thomas F. Wilkins | 391 |
| | John G. Thomas | 148 |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1904 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | W.J. Williams | 296 |
| Liberal | Gwilym Vaughan | 289 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

Dr Thomas had sat as a Conservative but was said to have fought this election as a 'radical'.
St Clears 1904 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | J. Lewis | 253 |
| Liberal | Dr R.L. Thomas* | 182 |
| Independent | Capt. D.J. Powell | 28 |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W. Thomas | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J. Scourfield* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes recorded in each case).
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
* John Williams, retiring alderman (47)
* John Lewis, retiring alderman (45)
* D.L. Jones, retiring alderman (42)
* R.W. Stephens, retiring alderman (48)
* John Rees, retiring alderman (42)
* Rev William Davies, retiring alderman (42)
In addition, two new aldermen were elected:
* W.N. Jones, elected member for Betws (46)
* Thomas Jones, elected member for Llanelli Ward 7 (42)
* Rev Thomas Johns, elected member for Llanelli Ward 4 (42
Four retiring aldermen were not re-elected:
* J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative
* Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal
* David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal
* James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative
All the elected aldermen were supported by the majority of members.

## By-elections between 1904 and 1907
### Betws by-election 1904

A by-election was held on 23 April due to the elevation of W.N. Jones to the aldermanic bench. The Rev. Towyn Jones, Garnant, consented to stand after two public meetings at Ammanford and in Cwmamman and was expected to be returned unopposed. However, he was opposed by David John Jones, an Ammanford ironmonger and a prominent Congregationalist, who refused to withdraw. After a contest between two Liberals which involved the local MP, Abel Thomas, Towyn Jones was elected by a relatively comfortable majority.
Betws by-election 1904 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | J. Towyn Jones | 611 |
| | Liberal | David John Jones | 416 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 195 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |