1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

The 1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held in January 1883. Incumbent Republican Senator George Frisbie Hoar was re-elected to a second term in office despite a serious challenge from Democrats and members of his own party.

1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1877 January 16–18, 1883 1889 →
Majority of legislature needed to win
Nominee George Frisbie Hoar Samuel W. Bowerman John Davis Long Party Republican Democratic Republican Electoral vote 148 88 38 Percentage 54.61% 32.47% 14.02%
Senator before election George Frisbie Hoar Republican Elected Senator George Frisbie Hoar Republican

At the time, Massachusetts elected United States Senators by a resolution of the Massachusetts General Court.

Background

State legislature

At the time, the Massachusetts legislature was controlled by the Republican Party, as it had been since that party's founding. However, 1883 was the high point of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in the latter half of the 19th century. The upcoming Senate election was a dominant issue in the 1882 legislature elections.

The Senate was composed of 22 Republicans and 18 Democrats, and the House had 151 Republicans, 84 Democrats, and 5 independents. Unless the Republicans could emerge unanimously in favor of one candidate, it was possible for the Democratic Party to choose the winner from among the Republican candidates.

Anti-Hoar sentiment

Incumbent George F. Hoar, who was elected in 1877 after a protracted four-day struggle, faced strong opposition from within the Republican Party. The anti-Hoar faction cited his icy and aloof demeanor, which had allegedly cost him any chance at influence in the Senate.

Harvard President Charles William Eliot was among those who called for Hoar's defeat.

Newly elected Democratic Governor Benjamin F. Butler, a former Republican, was also a bitter rival of Hoar, decreasing the chances that he could rely on Democratic votes. The Democratic party, now at its apex, also may have looked to defeat Hoar to weaken the unity of the Republicans in the long term. However, Governor Butler's inaugural address may have inflamed partisan tensions, leading many Republicans to return to Hoar's side.

Edmunds speech

Before the election, Hoar made a speech in which he excoriated his Republican Senate colleague George F. Edmunds for missing a minor vote; Edmunds had been at the deathbed of his teenage daughter and just returned from her funeral. Edmunds rose in response and choking back tears said, "The Senator knows I was not present at the session." Hoar attempted to apologize, but his speech was widely criticized in the Democratic press.

Candidates

Declared

• William W. Crapo, U.S. Representative from New Bedford
• George F. Hoar, incumbent Senator
• John Davis Long, outgoing Governor of Massachusetts

The chief names offered by anti-Hoar faction were William W. Crapo and outgoing Governor John Davis Long, a candidate more friendly to the Butler Democrats and the younger "progressive" element in the Republican Party, including Henry Cabot Lodge and Oliver Ames. Any candidate faced the difficult task of uniting the disparate elements of the anti-Hoar faction, which included Democrats, Butler Republicans, and anti-reform Stalwarts.

Potential

The following candidates were mentioned as potential candidates or received votes, but did not openly declare their willingness or desire to be elected.

• Charles Francis Adams, Jr., author, business magnate, and reformer
• Theodore Lyman, U.S. Representative-elect from Brookline

Declined

• Benjamin F. Butler, Governor of Massachusetts

Election

Republican conference (January 10)

There was some effort made by Long supporters to call for a binding caucus of the Republican legislators, but this effort was defeated at an informal conference. Speeches at the conference expressed favor for Senator Hoar.

January 16

On the first day, balloting in the Senate dominated.

First, second, and third State Senate ballots

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	16	41.02%
	Democratic	Samuel W. Bowerman	15	38.46%
	Republican	John Davis Long	6	15.38%
	Republican	William W. Crapo	2	5.13%
Total votes			39	100.00%

Fourth State Senate ballot

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	16	41.02%
	Democratic	Samuel W. Bowerman	12	30.77%	3
	Republican	John Davis Long	9	23.08%	3
	Republican	William W. Crapo	2	5.13%
Total votes			39	100.00%

On the fifth ballot, Democrats abandoned Bowerman in favor of Long, giving him victory in the Senate.

Fifth State Senate ballot

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Davis Long	21	53.85%	12
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	16	41.02%
	Republican	William W. Crapo	2	5.13%
Total votes			39	100.00%

In the House, a single ballot was taken, showing Hoar with a lead but 11 votes short of a majority.

First State House ballot

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	108	45.57%
	Democratic	Samuel W. Bowerman	82	34.60%
	Republican	John Davis Long	29	12.24%
	Republican	William W. Crapo	10	4.22%
	Democratic	Benjamin F. Butler	2	0.84%
	Republican	Ambrose Ranney	2	0.84%
	Republican	George D. Robinson	2	0.84%
	Republican	Charles Francis Adams, Jr.	1	0.42%
	Democratic	Edward Atkinson	1	0.42%
Total votes			237	100.00%

January 17

On the second day, the two houses met in a joint convention. No candidates achieved a majority, but Hoar and Long each gained.

First joint ballot

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	129	46.74%	5
	Democratic	Samuel W. Bowerman	90	32.61%	8
	Republican	John Davis Long	41	14.86%	9
	Republican	William W. Crapo	11	3.99%	1
	Scattering	Others	5	1.81%	5
Total votes			276	100.00%

Second joint ballot

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	131	46.74%	2
	Democratic	Samuel W. Bowerman	81	29.35%	9
	Republican	John Davis Long	49	17.75%	8
	Republican	William W. Crapo	12	4.35%	1
	Scattering	Others	3	1.09%	2
Total votes			276	100.00%

After the second ballot, a motion for a third ballot was defeated by the Hoar faction 128–119. The Long supporters claimed that a third ballot would have given their man the victory.

January 18

Third joint ballot

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Frisbie Hoar (inc.)	148	54.61%	17
	Democratic	Samuel W. Bowerman	88	32.47%	7
	Republican	John Davis Long	38	14.02%	11
	Republican	William W. Crapo	3	1.11%	9
Total votes			271	100.00%

References

1. "Aspirants in Massachusetts: Hoar Leading, Long Second, and Crapo Held in Reserve". New York Times. January 11, 1883. p. 3.
2. "Composition of the Massachusetts State Senate", Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library, Mass.gov, archived from the original on June 6, 2020
3. "Composition of the State of Massachusetts House of Representatives", Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library, Mass.gov, archived from the original on June 6, 2020
4. "Congressman Crapo". The Baltimore Sun. January 2, 1883. p. 2.
5. "The Trouble With Senator Hoar". Boston Daily Globe. January 4, 1883. p. 2.
6. "The Butler-Democratic Plot". The New York Tribune. January 5, 1883. p. 5.
7. "Political News". New York Tribune. January 9, 1883. p. 4.
8. "A Rancorous Senator". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 9, 1883. p. 4.
9. "Mr. Hoar's Smartness". Boston Daily Globe. January 10, 1883. p. 2.
10. "Hoar's Brutality". The Atlanta Constitution. January 10, 1883. p. 1.
11. "Notes and Comments". Detroit Free Press. January 3, 1883. p. 4.
12. "Gath: The Eastern Nag Said to Be Slightly Ahead". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 8, 1883. p. 1.
13. "Seeking Senate Honors: Aspirants for the Office in Ten States". New York Times. January 11, 1883. p. 3.
14. "A Lie to Help Hoar". Boston Daily Globe. January 12, 1883. p. 2.
15. "Informal Senatorial Conference in Massachusetts". Chicago Daily Tribune. January 11, 1883. p. 2.
16. "The Massachusetts Senatorship". Hartford Daily Courant. January 12, 1883. p. 2.
17. "The Senatorial Strife: Hoar and Long Still Struggling for Victory".
18. "For Senatorial Honors". New York Times. January 18, 1883. p. 1.
19. "Hoar the Choice". Boston Daily Globe. January 19, 1883. p. 1.