# 1912 Utah gubernatorial election

Elections in Utah :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1896
1897
1899
1901 sp
1903
1905
1908
1909
1911
1914
1916
1920
1922
1926
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1950
1952
1956
1958
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1994
1998
2000
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2022
2024
2028
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1895
1896
1898
1900
AL sp
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
2nd sp
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2017
3rd sp
2018
2020
2022
2023
2nd sp
2024
2026 :
State government
General elections
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1895
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2010 sp
2012
2016
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
1996
2020
2024
Auditor elections
2024
Treasurer elections
2022 sp
2024
State Senate elections
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
2004
Amendment 3
2018
Proposition 4
2020
Amendment A :
Salt Lake City
Mayoral elections
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Salt Lake County
Mayoral elections
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024 :
vte :
The 1912 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Republican William Spry defeated Democratic nominee John Franklin Tolton with 38.17% of the vote against his 32.36% in a four-way race, with Progressive nominee Nephi L. Morris winning 21.16% of the vote, and Socialist nominee Homer P. Burt winning 7.89% of the vote.

## Background

In 1912, the Republican party had split between incumbent President William Taft and former president Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt and other progressive Republicans were dissatisfied with Taft and the conservative wing of the party, and Roosevelt challenged him for the nomination. Taft ultimately was given the nomination, resulting in Roosevelt forming his own party, the Progressive Party, or popularly known as the Bull Moose Party, in response. The new party resulted in hundreds of local office seekers running as Progressives, including Nephi L. Morris for Utah's governor seat. The Socialist Party of America ran Homer P. Burt for governor, ultimately resulting in a four-way race.

## Republican Nomination

William Spry, the incumbent Republican governor, was re-nominated with no real opposition against him on September 5, noticeably with no members of the "Federal Bunch," a group of powerful federal-level state Republicans, among the delegates. The Bunch effectively ousted previous governor John C. Cutler by removing their support for him, causing him to withdraw from the primary, and instead supported William Spry in 1908.

## Democratic Nomination

Democrats nominated John F. Tolton of Beaver. Considered a dark horse for the nomination, he was largely supported by southern county delegates. Will R. Wallace, while considered the lead contender for the nomination, dropped out before the delegates voted, leaving C. C. Richards and T. N. Talyor leading the first ballot. By the third ballot, however, southern county delegates had generated enough support for Tolton that he won on the fourth ballot with 379 delegates, and won the nomination with acclaim.

## Progressive Nomination

The Progressives nominated business man, stake president, former Republican state legislator, and KSL radio speaker (nicked name "Air Morris") Nephi L. Morris for governor on September 13. Morris's name was constantly suggested and often talked about in progressive-Republican circles prior to the convention due to his public appearances, leading to Morris personally feeling like the nomination was thrust upon him, and he only accepted due to a sense of duty.
Before the nominations began during the convention, party leaders debated whether to begin at all until expected guest Theodore Roosevelt, the "Bull Moose" himself, arrived, who ended up being two hours late. Debate continued until Judge Hiles, the permanent chairmen of the party, arrived, and the nominations took place after Hiles gave a speech. In his acceptance speech, Morris stated that he "could no longer conscientiously affiliate with the local or national Republican party because of its sins of omission and commission." After Morris and several other nominations were made, the delegates "grew restless" waiting for Roosevelt, and in the fear that he would leave town without seeing them, raced to the doors and to twenty-fifth street to great the former president. After the president arrived and was greeted, he gave a speech detailing the reasons for the Bull Moose Party, as well as denouncing big party bosses and "crooks." The delegates then had dinner and returned to finish the rest of the nomination process.

## Socialist Nomination

The Socialist Party of America nominated Homer P. Burt, member of the Stationary Engineers Union and the SPA's state party chair, for governor on July 24. According to delegates, the convention was "by far the most successful Utah socialists have ever held." It was reported that the SPA's organization in the state was in "far better shape" than ever before as well. Most delegates came from socialist dominated towns, such as "Murray, Eureka, Mammoth, Tintic, and other towns..."

## The Campaign

Republicans had so far won every gubernatorial election since Utah became a state in 1895, and had voted for the Republican presidential candidate every time except for the 1896 election, when federal Republicans were once seen as anti-Mormon and hostile to the popular idea of free silver. However, with the election of LDS apostle Reed Smoot as a senator in 1902, a powerful Republican political machine spawned under him, with and other federal-level Republican's being named the "Federal Bunch" for their powerful positions and their influence in the state's party. Combined with creation of the anti-Mormon party in 1904, the American Party, Republicans quickly became the favorite for LDS members, and Democrats gradually lost power after 1900, and never regained state control going into 1912. Republican's also enjoyed relative popularity in the state in 1912 due to a strong economy in farming and mining, and their position on protectionist tariffs
Alongside the focus on national politics and the Republican split between the Progressives and the Conservatives in the party, the race centered on tariffs, progressive policies, LDS influence in state politics, and the candidate's personalities and background.
State Republicans praised Taft as the only logical candidate for Utah for his handling of tariffs and the prospering economy. Spry repeated those claims and road the party's popularity. Like in 1908, Spry was presented as a level headed businessman and politically astute. Spry was criticized from Democrats and Progressives for allegations of misusing state funds, as well as colluding with railway companies, and using illegal voting procedures. Democrats ran stories in pro-democrat newspapers claiming that Republicans were committing voting fraud and using church influence to win the election. Republican's pushed back against the claims, while claiming Tolton and Morris were not fit for office.
Tolton and state Democrats ran on the "inefficiency" of Taft, berated the state Republicans for their machine politics, pointed to the allegations of misused state funds, and advocated for better health, safety, and labor laws, as well as moving tariffs down.

## General Election
### Candidates

Major party candidates
* William Spry, Republican
* John Franklin Tolton, Democratic
Other candidates
* Nephi L. Morris, Progressive
* Homer P. Burt, Socialist
* E. A. Battell, Socialist Labor

### Results

1912 Utah gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William Spry (incumbent) | 42,552 | 38.17% |
| | Democratic | John Franklin Tolton | 36,076 | 32.36% |
| | Progressive | Nephi L. Morris | 23,591 | 21.16% |
| | Socialist | Homer P. Burt | 8,797 | 7.89% |
| | Socialist Labor | E. A. Battell | 479 | 0.43% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,476 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |