1910 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1910 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1906 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1906
Next Election:1914 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Next Year:1914
Image1:File:JohnKTener.jpg
Candidate1:John K. Tener
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:415,614
Percentage1:41.6%
Candidate2:William H. Berry
Party2:Keystone
Colour2:FFCC00
Popular Vote2:382,127
Percentage2:38.3%
Image4:File:Webster Grim LCCN2014685336.jpg
Candidate4:Webster Grim
Party4:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote4:129,395
Percentage4:13.0%
Image5:File:Slayton-John-W-1910.jpg
Candidate5:John W. Slayton
Party5:Socialist Party of America
Popular Vote5:53,055
Percentage5:5.3%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:Edwin Sydney Stuart
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John K. Tener
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1910 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1910. The main candidates were Republican John K. Tener, Democrat Webster Grim, Keystone Party leader William H. Berry, and Socialist John W. Slayton.

General election

Candidates

Campaign

The election was mired in scandal. The main focus was on the Pennsylvania state capitol building, which cost $13 million to build, of which $9 million went for furnishings. Although the state Republican machine remained powerful, its reputation was in shambles, as five insiders were arrested in connection with the capitol cost overruns. Boies Penrose, the U.S. Senator and Republican boss searched for a candidate with high name recognition but little political experience to improve the standing of his organization. Penrose chose Tener, a famous 19th century baseball player who had kept a low profile as a banker until running for Congress in 1909.[1]

Democrats, meanwhile, tried to turn to Berry as their candidate, as they believed he had the perfect reform image due to being the catalyst in uncovering the scandal. Berry was initially opposed by attorney Cyrus Munson, a party boss, but after he withdrew due to health concerns, Penrose attempted to infiltrate the Democratic convention. His move resulted in the nomination of State Senator Grim from Doylestown, and reformers from both parties attempted to rally behind Berry, who ran under the banner of the "Keystone Party".[1] George W. Guthrie unsuccessfully ran for the party's nomination.

Although Penrose viewed Tener as a pawn, he was a viable campaigner in his own right. Tener took much more progressive stances than Penrose had envisioned, supporting education expansion, greater public finance for road construction, and women's suffrage. Tener also ran on his wholesome image as an old time ballplayer in an era when gambling concerns overran the sport. While Tener was unable to gain a majority of the vote, he was able to defeat Berry, as Grim, who had the support of the party machinery, split enough of the progressive vote to lead to a Republican win.[1]

Results

|-! style="background-color:#FFCC00; width: 3px" || style="width: 130px" | Keystone| William H. Berry| align="right" | 382,127| align="right" | 38.27

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John K. Tener [Politics] Historical Marker]. live. 2021-12-31. explorepahistory.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20111116210251/http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-3C5 . 2011-11-16 .