The 31st Utah Territorial Legislature met in 1894. The regular election for the Territorial Council and the House of Representatives was held November 7, 1893.
Session The legislative session convened on January 8, 1894, in Salt Lake City, and ended on March 12, 1894. Unlike previous legislatures that typically met at City Hall, this body convened in the Wasatch building, using remodeled space that had previously served as the federal courthouse.
Territorial Council President: M.A. Breeden Republican Party: 7 Democratic Party: 5
Members
Name Party District County Charles Adams Democratic 10 Iron Hiram E. Booth RepublicanIn its final election, the Liberal Party had a separate slate of candidates only in Salt Lake City (Council district 4 and House district 5), and did not contest the races elsewhere in Utah. Nevertheless, with the exception of Patrick J. Moran's loss to Democrat Parley L. Williams, the Liberal ticket prevailed in a three-way race for each of the Salt Lake seats. Despite this, the Liberal Party chose to dissolve on December 18, 1893, completing Utah's political reorientation along national party lines. Those elected as Liberals are therefore listed here under the national party they would identify with when the legislature convened. 4 Salt Lake John E. Booth Republican 6 Utah M. A. Breeden Republican 2 Weber Alma Eldredge Republican 7 Summit Alma T. Hague Republican 5 Juab Charles H. Hart Democratic 1 Cache Christian N. Lund Democratic 8 Sanpete John Seaman Democratic 3 Weber Orange Seely Republican 9 Emery Edward W. Taylor Republican 4 Salt Lake Parley L. Williams Democratic 4 Salt Lake
House of Representatives Speaker: Albion B. Emery Republican Party: 16 Democratic Party: 8
Members
Name Party District County Notes Clarence E. Allen Republican 5 Salt Lake William H. Clark Republican 15 Sevier Hugh M. Dougall Republican 11 Utah Seated January 18, 1894 Albion B. Emery Republican 10 Summit Clarence W. Hall Democratic 5 Salt Lake Died December 2, 1893 Abram C. Hatch Republican 14 Wasatch D. Clark Hubbard Democratic 2 Box Elder Anthony W. Ivins Democratic 17 Washington Jacob Johnson Republican 13 Sanpete Curtis P. Mason Republican 5 Salt Lake Charles R. McBride Republican 9 Tooele David McKay Republican 4 Weber Joseph Monson Democratic 1 Cache John Moore Democratic 12 Utah Aquila Nebeker Democratic 1 Rich Maurice K. Parsons Republican 5 Salt Lake Simeon G. Pigman Republican 5 Salt Lake Orlando W. Powers Democratic 5 Salt Lake Alexander G. Robertson Democratic 11 Utah Unseated January 18, 1894 Septimus W. Sears Republican 8 Salt Lake Joseph Stanford Republican 3 Weber David Stoker Democratic 6 Davis John F. Tolton Democratic 16 Beaver Charles S. Varian Republican 5 Salt Lake Elected January 4, 1894 Andrew J. Warner Republican 3 Weber Ira D. Wines Republican 7 Utah
Based on the initial election results, the Republican majority in the House would only have been 14-10. However, the Republicans were able to increase their advantage when Clarence W. Hall, a Liberal who identified with the Democratic Party in national politics, died and was replaced in a special election by Charles S. Varian, a Liberal who identified as a Republican.
Meanwhile, the closest ballot involved two candidates from Springville in the 11th district. As initially certified by the Utah Commission overseeing the election, the result favored Democrat Alexander G. Robertson with 858 votes over Republican Hugh M. Dougall with 856 votes. Dougall protested the outcome because the county court had created a new precinct in Mapleton, which consisted of areas previously in the Springville precinct (in the 11th district) as well as Spanish Fork (in the 12th district). As Mapleton had voted heavily for Robertson (42-15), Dougall sought to have those votes thrown out as being cast in the wrong district, arguing the court lacked authority to redistrict, which could only be done by Congress or the Commission itself. For the purpose of certifying the election, the Commission concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to go behind the results as counted.
When it convened, the House established a committee on elections to revisit the question. The committee sent a special commissioner to investigate, who determined that 25 of the Mapleton ballots had been cast by voters living in the 12th district. Rather than attempt to inquire how those residents had voted individually, the committee deducted votes from each candidate proportionally based on how the Mapleton precinct voted overall, thus deeming the final result to be Dougall 849, Robertson 840.
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