The 1903 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1903, by the New York State Legislature to elect a

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

(Class 3) to represent the State of

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in the United States Senate.

Background

Republican

Thomas C. Platt Thomas Collier Platt (July 15, 1833 – March 6, 1910), also known as Tom Platt

had been re-elected to this seat in

1897 Events January–March * January 2 – The International Alpha Omicron Pi sorority is founded, in New York City. * January 4 – A British force is ambushed by Chief Ologbosere, son-in-law of the ruler. This leads to a puniti ...

, and his term would expire on March 3, 1903. At the State election in November 1902, 28 Republicans and 22 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1903-1904) in the State Senate; and 89 Republicans and 61 Democrats were elected for the session of 1903 to the Assembly. State Senator Patrick F. Trainor who had been re-elected, died on December 25, 1902, and his successor

Peter J. Dooling Peter Joseph Dooling (February 15, 1857 – October 18, 1931) was an American businessman and politician who served four terms as a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from New York (state), New York from 1913 to 1921. ...

was elected only after the senatorial election, on January 27.''DOOLING ELECTED SENATOR''
in NYT on January 28, 1903 The

126th New York State Legislature The 126th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to April 23, 1903, during the third year of Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.'s governorship, in Albany. Background Under th ...

met from January 6 to April 23, 1903, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

Republican caucus

The Republican caucus met on January 19. 25 State senators and 84 assemblymen attended, and State Senator William W. Armstrong presided. The caucus re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator

Thomas C. Platt Thomas Collier Platt (July 15, 1833 – March 6, 1910), also known as Tom Platt

almost unanimously. A single vote was cast for U.S. Secretary of War

Elihu Root Elihu Root (; February 15, 1845February 7, 1937) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and statesman who served as Secretary of State and Secretary of War in the early twentieth century. He also served as United States Senator from N ...

by Assemblyman William A. Denison of Jefferson County. Besides Denison voting against Platt, a small number of anti-Platt men did not attend the caucus. Boss Platt had forced the nomination of Attorney General John C. Davies to the

New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in the New York State Unified Court System. (Its Appellate Division is also the highest intermediate appellate court.) It is vested with unlimited civ ...

in the 5th District, against the local Republican organization's wishes who accused Davies of incompetence. Davies was defeated in a landslide by Democrat Watson M. Rogers although the 5th District was heavily Republican. Thus boss Platt's power began to wane.

Democratic caucus

The Democratic caucus met also on January 19. All 62 State legislators attended, and Assemblyman Charles W. Hinson, of Erie County, presided. They nominated

John B. Stanchfield John Barry Stanchfield (March 13, 1855 – June 25, 1921) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a prominent litigator and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 1900. Life John B. Stanchfield was born in Elmira, N ...

unanimously. Stanchfield had been Mayor of

Elmira Elmira may refer to: Places Canada * Elmira, Ontario * Elmira, Prince Edward Island United States * Elmira, California * Elmira, Idaho * Elmira, Indiana * Elmira, Michigan * Elmira, Missouri * Elmira, New York ** Elmira Correctional Facility ...

, and was defeated when running for

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1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15), 2 ...

by Republican Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.

Result

Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. Three Republican anti-Platt men, State Senators Edgar T. Brackett (28th D.),

Elon R. Brown Elon Rouse Brown (October 7, 1857, Orleans, Jefferson County, New York – September 24, 1922, Fox Island, Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was President pro tempore of the N ...

and Nathaniel A. Elsberg (15th D.), voted for Elihu Root. Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

Aftermath

Platt remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1909 when he retired. In January 1909,

was chosen by the Republicans to succeed Platt.

Notes

Sources

Members of the 58th United States Congress''PLATT IS RENOMINATED, ONE VOTE AGAINST HIM; ...Devery Protest Against an Utterance of Mr. Stanchfield in Democratic Caucus''
in NYT on January 20, 1903
''MR. PLATT ELECTED AFTER DENUNCIATION''
in NYT on January 21, 1903 {{New York elections

1903 Events January * January 1 – Edward VII is proclaimed Emperor of India. * January 19 – The first west–east transatlantic radio broadcast is made from the United States to England (the first east–west broadcast having been ...

United States Senate