An Earlier Electorial Mandate
In Muskogee, Central High School students voted on Monday. The next day, November 2nd, 1920, the candidates rested after a hectic campaign while adults voted. The students' voting results were to be kept a secret. There was concern that their balloting might "influence" the real election. On election day, the Phoenix scooped the news that Republican Warren Harding won the student election.
Democrats in Muskogee County bucked the national trend in the 1920 election. The national Republican landslide notwithstanding, they voted five to four for James M. Cox in the presidential race. In the Congressional race, incumbent W. W. Hastings led Miss Alice Robertson by the same margin.
Election day activities, however, seemed subdued. Miss Alice maintained her composure throughout the day. Muskogee County had forty-eight precincts, many in rural areas. Getting the ballots counted and delivered to the county seat slowed the tallying of votes.
The big question hanging over all voters in Oklahoma was whether ballots cast by women would alter the political landscape that year. The previous statewide election in November 1918, finally granted suffrage to adult mothers, daughters, aunts and grandmothers. This election was their first test of electoral influence in Oklahoma.
It was clear the next day that America would have a Republican president. Republicans would also be controlling both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The voting results in Oklahoma showed that it was Oklahoma's first time for solidly supporting the elephant party.
Two days later, Miss Robertson continued to trail her Democrat opponent. However, Hastings' lead was narrowing. Miss Alice claimed a win. She vowed to contest the results if told she lost the election.
For days after the election, political news dominated local discussions. Telegraph wires relayed tantalizing tidbits such as the fight at a polling precinct that left one combatant dead in San Antonio, Texas. Another paragraph reported the news that a New York Democrat Party was overdue on the party's office rent.
Local tidbits included the local high school balloting results. Despite earlier prognostications reported in the newspaper, the students mirrored their parents voting for president. Cox's plurality of 272 votes surprised many observant teachers because the students voiced loud support for Warren Harding.
Democrats with long faces finally accepted defeat in the local congressional race, too. Muskogee County voters voted for Hastings 6,508 to 5,088. McIntosh and Cherokee Counties also favored the Democrat. Balloting in the remaining counties, however, carried the day for Miss Alice. She won 23,886 to 23,613. By just a margin of 267 votes, Oklahomans elected the second woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives.
The historic election of 1920, with women having the right to vote for the first time in Oklahoma, is largely considered "old history." This week's election will soon fall into the same category.
Democrats in Muskogee County bucked the national trend in the 1920 election. The national Republican landslide notwithstanding, they voted five to four for James M. Cox in the presidential race. In the Congressional race, incumbent W. W. Hastings led Miss Alice Robertson by the same margin.
Election day activities, however, seemed subdued. Miss Alice maintained her composure throughout the day. Muskogee County had forty-eight precincts, many in rural areas. Getting the ballots counted and delivered to the county seat slowed the tallying of votes.
The big question hanging over all voters in Oklahoma was whether ballots cast by women would alter the political landscape that year. The previous statewide election in November 1918, finally granted suffrage to adult mothers, daughters, aunts and grandmothers. This election was their first test of electoral influence in Oklahoma.
It was clear the next day that America would have a Republican president. Republicans would also be controlling both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The voting results in Oklahoma showed that it was Oklahoma's first time for solidly supporting the elephant party.
Two days later, Miss Robertson continued to trail her Democrat opponent. However, Hastings' lead was narrowing. Miss Alice claimed a win. She vowed to contest the results if told she lost the election.
For days after the election, political news dominated local discussions. Telegraph wires relayed tantalizing tidbits such as the fight at a polling precinct that left one combatant dead in San Antonio, Texas. Another paragraph reported the news that a New York Democrat Party was overdue on the party's office rent.
Local tidbits included the local high school balloting results. Despite earlier prognostications reported in the newspaper, the students mirrored their parents voting for president. Cox's plurality of 272 votes surprised many observant teachers because the students voiced loud support for Warren Harding.
Democrats with long faces finally accepted defeat in the local congressional race, too. Muskogee County voters voted for Hastings 6,508 to 5,088. McIntosh and Cherokee Counties also favored the Democrat. Balloting in the remaining counties, however, carried the day for Miss Alice. She won 23,886 to 23,613. By just a margin of 267 votes, Oklahomans elected the second woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives.
The historic election of 1920, with women having the right to vote for the first time in Oklahoma, is largely considered "old history." This week's election will soon fall into the same category.
Labels: Miss Alice Robertson, W. W. Hastings
posted by Wally Waits at
6:05 PM
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