# 1930 Hamilton, Ontario, municipal election

The 1930 Hamilton municipal election was held on December 1, 1930 to select one Mayor, four Controllers, and sixteen members of the Hamilton, Ontario, City Council, two from each of the city's eight wards. Voters also cast ballots for trustees for the public school board.

## Campaign

The 1930 campaign was marked by two major occurrences. The first was the absence of a vote on the city's Hydro Commissioner. Unlike in past elections, voters in Hamilton would not have the option to elect their representative to the publicly owned hydro-electric company for the city due to changes in provincial legislation that created an appointed board of three individuals to replace the single elected office of Commissioner. Attempting to de-politicize the office, Ontario's provincial government abolished the elected position and created a three-person board with appointees to be chosen by Queen's Park, city council, and the mayor.
The second event was the surprise nomination of local athlete Sam Manson for a seat on the Board of Control. Unbeknownst to any more than a dozen of Manson's closest friends, his nomination caught the city's local political establishment by surprise. When rumours of a last-minute entry began circulating city hall at 10:00 the morning of Friday, November 21, the city's sitting aldermen and controllers began questioning the city clerk. Refusing to reveal who the candidate was until five minutes before the close of nominations, the city clerk reportedly faced a "barrage of questioning" from local politicians.
Overall, interest in the election of 1930 was low, in part because of the worsening economic situation faced by Hamiltonians due to the Great Depression. The Hamilton Spectator reported that less than 30 people attended the traditional post-nomination speeches by candidates at city hall.

## Mayor

   "Last, but not least, we must congratulate Mayor Peebles on the signal honour accorded him. Of course, it was never expected that any one would contest the mayoralty this year. Not only is it an unwritten law that a mayor must have a second term unopposed, but his worship has displayed so much acumen and foresight in his conduct of civic affairs during one of the worst periods of the city's history, that there is a general feeling that no other hand but his could as successfully pilot the civic ship out of the shoals of depression."
Mayor John Peebles, who had been acclaimed to his first term in 1929, was returned to a second-term by acclamation once more in 1930. In his nomination speech, Peebles spoke at length about the successes of his administration over the previous year, including the opening of McMaster University in Hamilton, improvements to the city's waterworks, and new facilities for the Canadian National Railway. In their summary of the city's nominations, the Spectator noted that "no other hand but [Peebles'] could as successfully pilot the civic ship out of the shoals of depression."
Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Mayoral Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | John Peebles (incumbent) | Independent | Acclaimed | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "Sam R. Manson is real dark horse", Hamilton Spectator, Friday, November 21, 1930, pg. 7. ||||||

## Board of Control

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Control Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Sam Manson | Independent | 15,413 | n/a | n/a |
| | Donald MacFarlane (incumbent) | Independent Conservative | 14,866 | n/a | n/a |
| | Cranmer Riselay | Independent | 13,033 | n/a | n/a |
| | Sam Lawrence (incumbent) | Independent Labour Party | 12,639 | n/a | n/a |
| | John Henry Ball | Independent | 12,302 | n/a | n/a |
| | Thomas O'Heir | Independent | 7,235 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "Board of Control Summary", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

## Aldermen
### Ward One

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward One Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | William MacFarland (incumbent) | Independent | 3,601 | n/a | n/a |
| | Herbert Wilton | Independent | 2,055 | n/a | n/a |
| | Fred Brooks | Independent | 1,903 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Two

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Two Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Thomas Wright (incumbent) | Independent | 1,834 | n/a | n/a |
| | Gordon Flett (incumbent) | Independent | 1,719 | n/a | n/a |
| | William Ainsley | Independent Liberal | 1,508 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Three

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Three Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | William Hutton (incumbent) | Independent | 2,369 | n/a | n/a |
| | D'Arcy Argue Martin (incumbent) | Independent | 2,313 | n/a | n/a |
| | Austin Macaulay | Independent | 1,264 | n/a | n/a |
| | Henry Bush | Independent | 604 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Four

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Four Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | William Thompson (incumbent) | Independent | 1,284 | n/a | n/a |
| | Arthur Davidson | Independent | 1,194 | n/a | n/a |
| | George Hancock | Independent | 1,191 | n/a | n/a |
| | Peter Cheeseman | Independent | 822 | n/a | n/a |
| | Percy Wright | Independent | 448 | n/a | n/a |
| | Harry Penton | Independent Labour Party | 393 | n/a | n/a |
| | Frederick Flatman | Independent | 153 | n/a | n/a |
| | Henry Roberts | Independent | 141 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Five

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Five Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | John Sherring (incumbent) | Independent | 1,500 | n/a | n/a |
| | Charles Aitchison (incumbent) | Independent Labour Party | 1,482 | n/a | n/a |
| | Albert Marck | Independent | 993 | n/a | n/a |
| | Michael Cummings | Independent | 490 | n/a | n/a |
| | Fred Amos | Independent | 293 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Six

Summary of the December 2, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Six Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Archie Pollock (incumbent) | Independent Labour Party | 2,030 | n/a | n/a |
| | John Hodgson (incumbent) | Independent | 1,669 | n/a | n/a |
| | Vernon Barker | Independent | 1,035 | n/a | n/a |
| | Charles Avery | Independent | 339 | n/a | n/a |
| | William Wardley | Independent | 294 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Seven

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Seven Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Samuel Clarke (incumbent) | Independent Labour Party | 2,091 | n/a | n/a |
| | Archie Burton (incumbent) | Independent | 1,694 | n/a | n/a |
| | Paul Oliveri | Independent | 600 | n/a | n/a |
| | William Patterson | Independent | 365 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pp. 10. ||||||

### Ward Eight

Summary of the December 5, 1932 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Eight Aldermanic Election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | John Mitchell (incumbent) | Independent Labour Party | 3,331 | n/a | n/a |
| | James Reed | Independent Labour Party | 2,203 | n/a | n/a |
| | Archie Burton (incumbent) | Policy for 1933 | 2,089 | n/a | n/a |
| | James Walker | Communist Party | 1,288 | n/a | n/a |
| | Nathaniel Moore | Independent | 853 | n/a | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "How Aldermanic Candidates Ran", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 6, 1932, pp. 16. ||||||

## Board of education
### Ward One

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward One Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | George Cameron Gage (incumbent) | Independent | 3,595 | 80.2% | n/a |
| | George Thornewell | Independent Labour Party | 887 | 19.8% | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,482 | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Two

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Two Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Dr. J. W. Bell | Independent | Acclaimed | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Three

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Three Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | George Ballard | Independent | Acclaimed | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Four

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Four Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Emerson Mealley | Independent | Acclaimed | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Five

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Five Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Thomas Binkley (incumbent) | Independent | 1,418 | 61.76% | n/a |
| | Charles Levinson | Independent | 878 | 38.24% | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,296 | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Six

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Six Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Frank Robbins | Independent | Acclaimed | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | n/a | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Seven

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Seven Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Orville Walsh | Independent | 1,483 | 58.36% | n/a |
| | James Reed | Independent Labour Party | 1,058 | 41.64% | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,541 | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||

### Ward Eight

Summary of the December 1, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario Board of Education Ward Eight Trustee election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Candidate | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Agnes Sharpe | Independent Labour Party | 2,375 | 70.12% | n/a |
| | Emmett Scarlett | Independent | 1,012 | 29.88% | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,387 | n/a | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Note: Candidate campaign colours are used as a visual differentiation between candidates and to indicate affiliation. ||||||
| Sources: "School Trustees", Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday, December 2, 1930, pg. 10. ||||||