Michigan was not a State when this town was settled, and for
the local elections in the first few years there was little or no division
politically. At the first town election in 1834, there were offices for
all the voters present, and for some of them two apiece. In those days
the local officers worked for the public good with small or no salary.
For a considerable number of years, and until the establishment of a local
Board of Supervisors, Rix Robinson as a representative of this region in
county councils, was wont to travel on foot to Kalamazoo, bearing his own
expenses, for the small pittance of $1.50 per day. At the time of the Presidential
election in 1836, Michigan had three electoral votes, though her admission
as a State was not then consummated. Grand Rapids had no newspaper, and
the fervor of local political patriotism was expanded principally in talk.
Yet in Kent county 54 votes were cast for Van Buren and 7 which in the
returns were classes as 'scattering.'
The Anti-Masonic party flurry had subsided, and voters at this time
were aligned in two parties, Democratic. and Whig. This town was almost
wholly Democratic, and town and county voted nearly unanimously for Stevens
T. Mason for first Governor of the State.
Grand Rapids was the voting place for all the region west and north,
then attached to Kent county for judicial purposes, and in 1837 people
came here from Muskegon and Grand Haven to vote. They came up the river
by steamboat, and on landing formed in procession and marched to the polls
at the Bridge Street House (then called Kent Hotel). Samuel Baker ("Big
Baker," height 6 feet 7 inches) headed the line carrying a flag; followed
by Rix Robinson and his five brothers, and L.G. Baxter, all tall men. Alanson
Cramton officiated as bugler. In an address to the pioneers at Muskegon,
August 16, 1888, Thomas D. Gilbert said:
I well remember making the journey from Grand Haven to Grand Rapids
in 1837, to cast my first vote at the election that enrolled Michigan in
the sisterhood of States. I do not think Muskegon was re-presented in the
boatload of about fifty Democrats and three Whigs who attended that election.
Stevens T. Mason, the first Governor of Michigan, was elected by an over
whelming majority; but three years later we (that is the Whigs) had the
pleasure of burying the other side out of sight, with old Tippecanoe at
the head of the ticket.
At the first village election in 1838, the highest number of votes cast
was 141; in several subsequent years the vote was light at local elections,
and the records, therefore, do not indicate the full number of actual votes.
In 1843 the highest given any candidate for Trustee was forty-four. In
1844 the Democrats had a small majority in the county. The Whigs elected
Sheriff and Register, and the Democrats the rest of the county in that
year was 1,072. In 1845 the highest vote cast at the village election was
145; on the question of license for liquor selling, 141 votes were cast.
In the township the Democrats had an average majority of 40. In the spring
of 1845 the vote of Grand Rapids Township was 362, nearly evenly divided
between the Democrats and Whigs. In the county the Democrats elected the
majority of the Supervisors.
At the first and second village elections the Whigs had begun to show
some strength, but there was little of the excitement of party spirit until
the Presidential election of 1840, when as above intimated the tables were
nearly turned, the vote of the county being 319 Whig to 320 Democratic.
In that year, of the 'Tippecanoe and Tyler too' canvass against Van Buren,
party spirit ran high, and the local enthusiasm and excitement were about
as great here as in other parts of the country. Log cabins, hard cider
and coon skins on the one side, and roosters and hickory poles on the other,
were the favorite party emblems during the canvass. Delegations from all
the country round came in to village mass meetings, eating houses were
crowded tables in the open air were bounteously loaded, and johnny cake
and cider and whiskey were disbursed freely. A local Liberty Party organization
was formed in 1841, which nominated James Ballard as candidate for the
State Legislature, and gave him sixteen votes; while 661 votes were cast
for George W. Dexter, Democrat, and 428 for William B. Hawks, Whig, in
this Representative district, comprising the counties of Kent, Ionia and
Ottawa, and northward. This Liberty Party was a plant of rapid growth,
and from it sprang the Free Soil party of 1848 and 1852, and the Free Democratic
party, holding a distinct and fast growing organization until finally merged
in the Republican party in 1854.The canvass of 1844 was substantially a
repetition of that of 1840, with somewhat less of popular enthusiasm, though
quite as rabid in newspaper warfare. Among the Democratic political couplets
of the time was this:
"Those sheets what have the biggest lies in,
Go strong for Clay and Frelinghuysen."
The canvass of 1848, coming just after the close of the Mexican war,
was also a lively one, in which at the election the Whigs had a plurality
in Grand Rapids of 24 votes. The
Whigs held a mass meeting on the public square, which was addressed
in behalf of their national ticket by Zachariah Chandler, of Detroit. October
24 a similar Democratic mass meeting was held in the same place, and addresses
by Charles E. Stuart, of Kalamazoo, and a free dinner was given at the
National and the Rathbun House to attendants from out of town. Those were
very enthusiastic gatherings, and much larger than had ever before been
assembled here. The Free Democrats held a convention at the Court House,
October 28, and nominated candidates for county officers. The first city
election ran rather strongly upon party lines, as had also the village
election of the previous month, April 1, 1850, in both of which the Whigs
were victorious, and about which the Enquirer (Democratic) indulged in
the following comments, April 3, 1850: Monday, being the first of April,
the Whigs in this town were served a regular trick, were fooled by a victory,
in the election of their whole ticket by an average majority of 15, excepting
two constables. We shall soon be organized in and about these precincts
under a city charter, and thus shall oust these Whig officers, :just as
easy."
Again, May 15, after the City election, the Enquirer remarked: We have
got a City Charter; the Whigs have had an election under it; now let us
see the use of it; its benefit; now let's see the exercise of the more
efficient authority it has been represented as possessing, and has been
promised to wield. The Democracy, ever and instinctively jealous of incorporated
and largely aggregated powers, have in a sincere desire for the public
good opposed no hindrance to the Incorporation, nor any to the organization
under it; quietly letting the Whigs get their charter and elect their chosen
men under it; and now will await with patience and hope the vast improvement
and increase of municipal prosperity, health and happiness, these gentlemen
have undertaken to produce by this particular political machinery. Tune:---"Paddle
your swift canoe."
The canvass of 1852 was a warm one locally as well as generally. The
Whigs held a mass meeting October 2, on the public square, addressed by
Z. Chandler and other speakers. October 14, a Democratic mass meeting was
held at the same place. During the speech the platform broke down under
the weight of the people upon it, which raised a shout from the Whigs in
the outskirts of the crowd. A lumber wagon with a tall hickory in it was
drawn upon the ground, in which General Cass took his stand and finished
his address. Both of these were large meetings for those days, above five
thousand people being present upon each occasion. Early in this year, the
Free Democrats, at a meeting held in the Public Hall, perfected a local
organization, and issued a declaration indorsing the Pittsburg Free Democratic
platform, and declaring in favor of: 1. Freedom of the public lands to
actual setters, except the cost of survey and transfer. 2. Limitation of
the quantity of land to be acquired by one person or family. 3. Natural
and equal rights to all, regardless of color or clime. 4. A free elective
franchise. 5. The enactment of no laws, either by Congress or State Legislature
granting special privileges. 6. Free schools. 7. The Maine Law. The election
of 1852 having resulted disastrously to the Whigs, the Democrats were correspondingly
elated, and the Eagle newspaper (Whigs), which had grudgingly supported
the ticket of its party, while "spitting on the platform," retired in disgust
and suspended publication for a time. In the following spring, it surprised
its patrons by reappearing with the legend at it head: "A Independent Democratic
Journal."
There was a comparative lull in politics until 1854, when a large meeting
of Free Democrats was held in the Public Hall, at which Lovell Moore, Erie
Prince, Albert Baxter, William H. Stewart and Alanson St. Claie were appointed
delegates to the Free Democratic State Convention, held February 22, at
Jackson. This was the forerunner of the mass convention held "under the
oaks," at the same place, July 6, 1854, when and where the Republican party
was organized and named. In the spring of that year the Whigs and Free
Democrats in the city united, and won by majorities ranging from 47 to
115. The "Old Guard Whigs." deeming themselves "out in the cold," nominated
a city ticket and polled something over a hundred votes. In this its first
endeavor, the Republican party carried the State of Michigan, and has held
it from that time to the present (with the exception of the Governor for
one term--that of 1883 to 1885). It (1854) was also the first year in which
the Democrats had failed to carry Kent county. Over this result great was
the exultation of the Republicans, while the feeling of the Democrats may
be illustrated from the following expression of the Enquirer after the election:
"We recommend the Fusionists to make the most of their majority-rejoice,
hurrah, throw up your caps and when they come down stamp on them, laugh
at the Democrats, fire the cannon, shout, eat oysters, imbibe, pocket the
stakes, and do all other things that victors may of right do, and we will
not complain, for the day of your rejoicing will soon be at an end. So
go it while you're young, for very soon you can't." In the same issue was
the following wail: "Fanaticism has succeeded, and the black flag of
Abolitionism,
Proscription waves in triumph over the State."
The political struggle of 1856 was a very warm contest, and the canvass
one of unusual enthusiasm. The Republicans in that year introduced the
custom of organizing companies, with officers and regular drills, they
were uniformed in light-colored caps and capes, in which their young men
delighted to parade. They erected a "Fremont tent" for their meetings,
and the Democrats had their "wigwam." Both parties held large mass meetings,
and made excursions with long processions to meetings out of town. The
"old line Whigs" kept up the show of an organization with a "club" attachment.
At the fall election the Republicans carried the city by a bare majority
of four for Fremont, but they had a jubilee over their State and county
victory, letting loose their enthusiasum in the blowing of tin horns, and
parading with torches through nearly all the streets in the city. On Saturday
evening following, the Democrats had their turn, exulting over the Buchanan
victory in the Nation. Some excesses were indulged in, such as smashing
windows blinds and tearing down fences, but in general their jubilation
found vent in noise. About this period in our political history the badinage
of the newspapers, "illustrated with cuts" and occasional caricatures,
was often amusing, the rooster with head and plumage erect, the cannon
and the star spangled banner were popular pictures for display by both
parties.
In the spring of 1860 parties in the city were very nearly evenly balanced.
The Republicans elected the Mayor and the majority of the Council, and
the other officers were divided. The general canvass of that year, the
memorable Lincoln and Douglas contest, was here as everywhere in the country
conducted with a great deal of earnestness and popular enthusiasm. Mass
meetings and fervid speeches were frequent, and large political processions
in the city. The canvass of 1864 was much imbued with the war feeling,
and a sort of military ardor pervaded most of the political conventions
and public gatherings. A similar feeling prevailed in political circles
in 1868, though the war had passed, owing to the candidacy for President
of the General who had led the Union Army to victory, and to this was added
the excitement of a heated discussion of the policy of an unlimited issue
of United States Treasury notes, in liquidation of public indebtedness,
from which what is known as the Greenback or National party took its rise.
Following this, or nearly cotemporaneous with it, came the Prohibition
party, and then the Labor party, into the complications of political rivalries,
strifes and elections. In State and local politics, fusions or alliances
between the National, Labor Union, and Democratic parties, have several
times given to the combination a strength nearly equal to that of the Republican
party, and in some localities greater.
The woman's rights movement, as it is familiarly called, took organized
form in this city April 1874. Upward of one hundred citizens, of both sexes,
united in a call for a meeting to form a Woman Suffrage Association. It
was held April 27, in Luce's Hall, and the "Grand Rapids Woman Suffrage
Association" was then organized--S. L. Withey, President; Richmond Fisk,
Jr., Recording Secretary; Harvey J. Hollister, Treasurer. Shortly afterwards
a county society was formed, of which E.L. Briggs was President. The association
has been kept up, and the advocacy of the policy of granting the right
to vote to woman, has been steadily pushed by it ever since. It cannot
properly be classed among the political parties in the sense of being composed
of voters. It was active in procuring the passage of the law giving suffrage
to women in school elections. It is now superseded or supplanted by the
Equal Suffrage Association, whose officers are: President, Mrs. C. B. Hodges;
Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Phobe Whitfield, Mrs. E. B. Ketcham; Recording Secretary,
Mrs. I.E. Stone; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. E. Bedell. In elections
of local officers, of town, city or county, it not infrequently happens
that personal preference and local questions at issue, rather than party
affiliations, determine the result. Hence the following statements of votes
given on State and National tickets will represent most nearly the numbers
of voters in, and the relative local strength of the political parties:
VOTES FOR PRESIDENT
| YEAR |
CANDIDATE
|
CITY |
COUNTY |
| 1836 |
Van Buren, Democrat |
|
54 |
|
Scattering |
|
7 |
| 1840 |
Harrison, Whig |
|
349 |
|
Van Buren, Democrat |
|
320 |
| 1844 |
Clay, Whig |
|
476 |
|
Polk, Democrat |
|
564 |
| 1848 |
Taylor, Whig |
*183 |
653 |
|
Cass, Democrat |
*159 |
768 |
|
Van Buren, Free Soil |
*70 |
337 |
| 1852 |
Scott, Whig |
285 |
1226 |
|
Pierce, Democrat |
341 |
1519 |
|
Hale, Free Soil |
48 |
166 |
| 1856 |
Fremont, Republican |
705 |
2931 |
|
Buchanan, Democrat |
701 |
2516 |
| 1860 |
Lincoln, Republican |
921 |
3647 |
|
Douglas, Democrat |
625 |
2540 |
| 1864 |
Lincoln, Republican |
813 |
3398 |
|
Douglas, Democrat |
823 |
2966 |
| 1868 |
Grant, Republican |
1447 |
5412 |
|
Seymour, Democrat |
1136 |
3839 |
| 1872 |
Grant, Republican |
2142 |
5917 |
|
Greenley, Dem. and Liberal |
1356 |
3089 |
|
O'Conor, Democrat |
|
98 |
|
Black, Prohibition |
|
14 |
| 1876 |
Hayes, Republican |
3840 |
7403 |
|
Tilden, Democrat |
2447 |
5678 |
|
Cooper, Greenback |
1101 |
2055 |
|
Smith, Prohibition |
|
3 |
| 1880 |
Garfield, Republican |
3840 |
8313 |
|
Hancock, Democrat |
2339 |
5115 |
|
Weaver, Greenback |
1507 |
3037 |
|
Dow, Prohibition |
|
58 |
| 1884 |
Blaine, Republican |
4378 |
9007 |
|
Cleveland, Democrat |
3605 |
6902 |
|
Butler, Greenback |
1591 |
2755 |
|
St. John, Prohibition |
273 |
1040 |
| 1888 |
Harrison, Republican |
6604 |
12810 |
|
Cleveland, Democrat |
7005 |
11865 |
|
Fisk, Prohibition |
385 |
1242 |
*Township of Grand Rapids
VOTE FOR GOVERNOR
CITY COUNTY
1841--John S. Barry, Democrat.............................. ........
338
--Philo C. Fuller, Whig.................................. ..........
209
--Jabez S. Fitch, Liberty................................ ..........
7
1843--John S. Barry, Democrat............................ ..........
405
--Zina Pitcher, Whig..................................... ..........
246
--James G. Birney, Liberty............................ ..........
16
1845--Alpheus Felch, Democrat......................... ......... 500
--Stephen Vickery, Whig............................. .........
433
--James G. Birney, Liberty........................... ........
42
1849--F.J. Littlejohn, Whig................................. *162 646
--John S. Barry, Democrat.......................... *151 744
1851--Townsend D, Gidley, Whig.................... 149 613
--Robert McClelland, Democrat................ 180 748
1852--Zach. Chandler, Whig............................. 291 1,240
--Robert McClelland, Democrat................ 344
1,543
--I.P. Christiancy, Free Soil....................... 35
128
1854--Kinsley S. Bingham,Republican........... 375 1,540
--John S. Barry, Democrat........................ 374
1,493
1856--Kinsley S. Bingham,Republican........... 704 2,946
--Alpheus Felch, Democrat..................... 738
2,596
1858--Moses Wisner, Republican................. 874 3,112
--Charles E. Stuart, Democrat.................. 927
2,813
1860--Austin Blair. Republican....................... 910
3,721
--John S. Barry, Democrat........................ 693
2,643
1862--Austin Blair, Republican........................ 661 3,090
--Byron G. Stout, Democrat...................... 758 2,625
1864--Henry H. Crapo. Republican.................. 814 3,046
--William M. Fenton, Democrat................ 830 2,976
1866--Henry H. Crapo, Republican.................. 1,017 4,067
--A.S. Williams, Democrat......................... 824
2,698
1868--Henry P. Baldwin, Republicam............... 1,432 5,392
--John Moore, Democrat........................... 1,140 3,834
1870--Henry P. Baldwin, Republican............... 1,270 3,841
--C.C. Comstock,Democrat........................ 1,520 3,616
1872--John J. Bagley, Republican.................... 2,147 5,893
--Austin Blair, Dem.and Liberal............... 1,389 3,236
--William M. Ferry, Democrat.................. 25 100
1874--John J. Bagley, Republican................... 1,921
4,608
--Henry Chamberlain,Democrat.............. 1,880 4,494
1876--Charles M. Croswell, Republican........ 2,140 7,402
--William L. Webber,Democrat............... 2,240 5,764
--Levi Sparks,Greenback......................... 1,112
2,062
1878--Charles M. Croswell,Republican......... 2,140 5,691
--O.M. Barnes, Democrat........................ 809 1,633
--Henry S. Smith, Greenback.................. 2,626
6,076
1880--David H.Jerome,Repuiblican............... 2,312 7,877
--F.M. Holloway, Democrat.................... 2,769 5,624
--David Woodman, Greenback............. 1,369 2,933
--I.W.McKeever, Prohibition................ 13 68
1882--David H. Jerome, Republican............. 2,657 6,320
--Josiah W. Begole, Fusion.................. 4,036 8,181
--D.P. Sagendorph, Prohibition............ 74 371
1884--Russell A. Alger, Republican............ 4,265 8,843
--Josiah W. Begole, Fusion.................. 5,212 9,684
--David Preston, Prohibition................ 307 1,166
1885--Cyrus G. Luce,Republican................. 3,759 7,763
--George L. Yaple, Fusion..................... 4,776 8,670
--Samuel Dickie, Prohibition................. 423
1,531
1888--Cyrus G. Luce, Republican................ 6,631 12,798
--W.R. Burt, Democrat.......................... 6,967 11,816
--A.B. Cheney, Prohibition.................. 385
1,283
*Town of Grand Rapids
CITY AND COUNTY TOTAL VOTE
The following statement of votes cast, in the city and county, in the
various years mentioned, furnishes an indication of the comparative increase
in voting population: Total vote in 1852-city, 674; county, 2,911. In 1868-city,
2,583; county, 9,251. In 1876-city, 7,388; county, 15,139. In 1884-city,
9,847; county, 19,704. In 1888-city, 13,994; county, 25,917.
VOTES IN THE STATE-THIRTEEN YEARS
YEAR OFFICE REP. DEM. GRE'CK PRO
1876 President 166,901 141,695 9,060 --------
1876 Governor 165,926 142,492 8,297 --------
1877 Supreme Court 112,653 85,748 ------ --------
1878 Governor 126,280 78,503 74,355 --------
1879 Supreme Court 132,213 126,270 ------ --------
1880 Governor 178,941 137,671 35,122 --------
1880 President 185,190 131,301 34,895 --------
1881 Supreme Court 127,436 72,730 33,256 12,774
Fusion
1882 Governor 149,697 154,268 ------ 5,854
1883 Supreme Court 119,870 127,376 ------ 13,467
1884 Governor 190,840 186,887 ------ 26,207
Dem.
1884 President 192,669 149,835 41,490 18,403
Fusion
1885 Supreme Court 138,694 168,615 ----- -----
1885 Regents 138,350 155,743 ----- 14,708
1886 Governor 181,474 174,042 ---- 25,184
Dem.
1887 Supreme Court 170,749 139,940 32,396 18,568
1887 Regents 172,354 142,104 27,651 18,773
Labor
1888 Governor 233,595 216,450 4,388 20,342
1888 President 236,370 213,404 4,542 20,942