Our Campaigns Blog - Chronicler's Minutiae

The Candidates' Election Day - 1908
Posted September 10, 2020 at 12:00pm by Chronicler

=== Election of 11/3/1908 ===

The presidential election of 1908 was waged primarily between the Republican William Howard Taft and the Democrat William Jennings Bryan. Taft defeated Bryan 51-43% in the popular vote, which was remarkably similar to Bryan's two losing campaigns against William McKinley.

William Jennings Bryan (Democratic Party)

Unlike his two earlier presidential campaigns, Bryan held his final rally in Lincoln. He was one of the earliest people to show up at his polling place (9:15 am). He was encouraged that good weather prompted a record turnout in Nebraska. He met a reporter outside his polling place and said "Our fight is already won. Reports to me indicate that we will carry New York, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, and several other States claimed by the Republicans." During a lull in voting at noon, the poll workers in Bryan's home precinct counted the ballots cast up to that point and showed Bryan leading Taft by a 51-23 margin. Local supporters began to send flowers to his house, and distant supporters flooded him with telegrams. The Bryans held a supper for the reporters who had covered him through the campaign, and the discussions at the table moved away from the election to other topics. Bryan then took an hour-long nap.

As in his two earlier presidential campaigns, Bryan allowed the lower floor of his house to be used for receiving election returns. Reporters were allowed to gather in his sun parlor, which had been converted into a temporary telegraph office. A separate telegraph line ran to his upstairs library, and this line brought private reports from Democratic officials in other states. Early returns were received from various points in New York State, and Bryan carefully monitored the change from Parker's performance in 1904. Bryan's wife and daughters occasionally visited the sun parlor to inquire as to the status of the race. At 6:15 pm, the Democratic leaders in Chicago inquired what information Bryan had at hand. He reported that his vote was surpassing Parker in most states but that the result in Brooklyn suggested that he was unlikely to carry New York. As further returns arrived, Bryan went into his upstairs office. He came downstairs at 9:25 to let the reporters know that he would not have a statement until the following day.

The day after the election, Bryan sent a telegram to Taft congratulating him on his victory. He spoke to reporters, admitted that Taft had won a decisive victory, and said that Democratic gains in Nebraska provided an opportunity to enact many of the items that had been included in the Democratic national platform.

William Howard Taft (Republican)

Secretary Taft (who was called Judge Taft in newspapers) held his final campaign event in eastern Ohio the day before the election. He and his party, which included his wife and an 86-year old aunt, then took an overnight train to Cincinnati. Taft shook hands with people at the station while waiting for his ride, and he told a reporter "I am hopeful of the result." Taft's brother met them at the station and took them in a carriage to Secretary Taft's residence. A former neighbor stopped by to see the Tafts and reminded the Secretary that he "was a holy terror" as a child. Taft spent part of election morning assisting with the laying of the cornerstone for a new schoolhouse for Woodward High School. Taft had graduated from the old building. Taft cast his vote in the afternoon.

Like earlier nominees, Taft set aside rooms in his residence on Pike Street for Republican staff and for the press. Four telegraph lines were run into the house. Reporters were surprised that Taft took a stoic approach to receiving incoming news. He had a hearty laugh that acquaintances recognized from time to time. By 7:30 pm, it appeared clear that Taft had an electoral vote majority. Because returns from the Middle West and Northwest were meagre at that point, Taft only gave a short statement to the press, saying "I'm contented, perfectly contented." Once, when a telegram from Maryland came in, Taft read it aloud; his wife said "Read that again, Will, or let somebody else read it - your voice is too husky." Later, when news arrived that Democratic VP nominee Kern had given up hope, those gathered at the Taft residence cheered with the exception of the Secretary, who believed they could have exercised more compassion for him. Taft was particularly interested in Republican gains in the South, including Pickins County, Georgia, where he was the first Republican nominee to win. Taft issued a more formal statement at 9:50 pm saying that he was pleased with the results received thus far. At 10pm, Taft began to reply to the mountain of congratulatory telegrams. He stayed up until 3am the following morning to monitor reports from the Western states. The following morning, Taft held a brief press conference. He asked reporters to refer to him as "Mr. Taft" rather than "president-elect" until the electoral votes had been cast. He reported that he had received over 3,000 telegrams of congratulations.

Third Party Nominees

Thomas L. Hisgen, the Independence Party presidential nominee, cast his vote at 8:55 am in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He was the 171st voter in his precinct. Although he said that he was pleased with how well he did in the race, his supporters were demoralized. His hopes that the Independence Party would continue were dashed, and later in the month he told a reporter that he was leaving politics.

Newspapers were remarkably silent about Debs and Chafin, who together won nearly 5% of the popular vote.

Sources: Elmira Star-Gazette, 11/3/1908; New York Times, 11/4/1908; Buffalo Enquirer, 11/21/1908; Brooklyn Standard Union, 11/3/1908; Lincoln Star, 11/3-5/1908.

DISCUSSION