More on the 1906 Village of North Pelham Elections in Which the Village Blacksmith Surprised Republicans and Democrats Alike and Won

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The Village of North Pelham election in 1906 was remarkable. Village blacksmith James Reilly ran for Village President (i.e., Mayor) on the "Municipal Ownership" ticket and the "Independent Democratic" ticket and defeated his Republican and Democratic opponents in part by hiring up all the snow sleighs in the area during a major snowstorm on election day to ensure that only his supporters could get to the polls. See:

Friday, July 8, 2005: How Did a Village Blacksmith Win the 1906 North Pelham Election by Cornering the Market on Sleighs?

Wednesday, August 17, 2005: More on the Village Blacksmith Who Won the 1906 North Pelham Election by Cornering the Market on Sleighs.

As I continue to document elements of the campaign and the election that led to this interesting result, I am transcribing below portions of a couple of newspaper articles that addressed the topic.

"VILLAGE BLACKSMITH WINS AT THE POLLS.

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MOUNT VERNON, N. Y., March 20. -- Village elections were held to-day in various places in Westchester County. In North Pelham James Reilley [sic], the village blacksmith was elected President on the Independent Democratic ticket after a lively campaign. Reilley, who is a Fire Commissioner, made a canvass, speaking nightly and bringing to his support many followers of the old parties. He made the race on a Municipal Ownership ticket and surprised his opponents by winning out."

Source: Village Blacksmith Wins at the Polls, The Evening World, Final Results Edition, Mar. 20, 1906, p. 1, col. 4.

"LOCAL WESTCHESTER POLITICS.

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Village Blacksmith Running in North Pelham - Other Features.

MOUNT VERNON, N. Y., March 18. -- Several village elections are to be held in Westchester county on Tuesday. . . .

In North Pelham, which is one of the smallest villages in the State, James Reilly, who is known as the village blacksmith, is running for president. The two older parties overlooked Reilly at their convention and he is making the race on the Municipal Ownership ticket. His emblem is the anvil and he is making speeches nightly, urging the people of the town to rally to his support. . . .

In Pelham T. L. Jaques, manager of the Murray Hill Hotel in New York is sure to be elected president, because there is no other candidate in the field. . . . "

Source: Local Westchester Politics, The Sun, Mar. 19, 1906, p. 2, col. 4.

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Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
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