1904 Glamorgan County Council election

The 1904 Glamorgan County Council election was the sixth contest for seats on this authority in south Wales. It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election. Glamorgan was by far the largest county in Wales in terms of population. Glamorgan County Council had been established by the Local Government Act 1888, the first elections being held in early 1889.

Overview of the result

As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. In 1904 the majority of the seats were uncontested, in contrast to the position at previous elections.

Results are drawn from a number of sources. They include a number of newspapers.

Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Retiring aldermen

Eight of the eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals.

Contested elections

In the Rhondda district, the local paper stated that 'no truer manifestation of good faith and respect for the retiring County Councillors could have been shown than that eight of them were returned unopposed.' There were only two contested elections in the valley.

Results

Aberaman

Aberaman 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Luther Davies	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Aberavon

John Morgan Smith held on to the seat he had held since 1889 by a mere two votes. At previously elections he had described himself both as a Conservative and Independent and had been returned unopposed on several occasions.

Aberavon 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	John Morgan Smith*	538
	Liberal	Frank B. Smith	536
Majority			2
	Independent hold		Swing

Aberdare Town

Retiring alderman J.W. Evans was returned unopposed. Retiring councillor David Hughes did not stand.

Aberdare Town 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John William Evans**	Unopposed	N/A	N/A
	Liberal hold

Barry

J.C. Meggitt stood down after fifteen years.

Barry 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rev D.H. Williams	899
	Conservative	F.P. Jones-Lloyd	629
Majority			270
	Liberal hold		Swing

Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Howell*	610
	Liberal	Gwilym Alexander Treharne	539
Majority			71
	Liberal hold		Swing

Cadoxton

This was a contest in which the controversy over the education rate featured and the sitting member, a Roman Catholic, was defeated by the clerk of the former School Board.

Cadoxton 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Gwyn Morris	729
	Liberal	P.J. O' Donnell*	492
Majority			237
	Liberal hold		Swing

Bridgend

Bridgend 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Morgan Randall*	558
	Liberal	W. House	479
Majority			99
	Conservative hold		Swing

Briton Ferry

Jenkin Hill recaptured the seat he lost three years previously.

Briton Ferry 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jenkin Hill*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Caeharris

After fifteen years, Edward P. Martin, managing director of Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds decided not to seek re-election but was replaced as candidate by Henry W. Martin, general manager of the company. A 'large deputation of tradespeople and workmen' was reported to have pressed him to stand.

Caeharris 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Henry W. Martin	unopposed

Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Edward Evans	1,391
	Conservative	H.E. Morgan Lindsay*	982
Majority			409
	Liberal hold		Swing

Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	W.R. Davies*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Howell	unopposed
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing

Coity

Coity 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Howell*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	T.W. David	639
	Conservative	Colonel Homfray	446
Majority			93
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing

Cwmavon

Two Liberals, a sitting alderman and sitting councillor, opposed each other.

Cwmavon

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Herbert Evans*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Cyfarthfa

Thomas Thomas recaptured the seat he lost three years previously.

Cyfarthfa 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Lib-Lab	Thomas Thomas*	515
	Liberal	Thomas Davies	266
Majority
	Lib-Lab gain from Liberal		Swing

Cymmer

Cymmer 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Morgan Williams*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Oliver Henry Jones*	unopposed
	Conservative hold		Swing

Dowlais

Dowlais 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Lib-Lab	John Davies*	410
	Liberal	D. Jenkins	397
Majority			13
	Lib-Lab hold		Swing

Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Evan Evans Bevan*	unopposed
	Conservative hold		Swing

Ferndale

Ferndale 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Samuel*	1,224
	Conservative	E. Nelmes	546
Majority			678
	Liberal hold		Swing

Gadlys

Griffith George, who had previously served on the Aberdare School Board and Aberdare Urban District Council had been invited to contest the seat three years previously but had declined. Parker then stood and came within 41 votes of victory. There was some criticism of George for opposing Parker at this election but he held on to win by 96 votes.

Gadlys 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Griffith George	497
	Labour	Evan Parker	401
Majority			96
	Liberal hold		Swing

Garw Valley

Garw Valley

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Thomas*	unopposed

Gellifaelog

Gellifaelog

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Evan Lewis*	unopposed

Gelligaer

Gelligaer 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Evan Thomas	739
	Conservative	D.S. Jones*	494
Majority			245
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing

Gower

Gower 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		George E. Gordon*	unopposed

Kibbor

Kibbor 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Lewis*	757
	Liberal	Eli Rees	517
Majority			240
	Conservative hold		Swing

Llandaff

Llandaff

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Robert Forrest*	unopposed

Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rees Harries*	unopposed

Llansamlet

Llansamlet 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Jordan*	unopposed

Llantrisant

Llantrisant

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	J. Blandy Jenkins*	unopposed

Llwydcoed

Rees Llewellyn was again returned unopposed.

Llwydcoed 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rees Llewellyn*	unopposed

Llwynypia and Clydach

James Evans, grocer, elected following Richard Lewis's election as alderman in 1901, was returned unopposed.

Llwynypia and Clydach 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	James Evans*	unopposed

Lougher and Penderry

Loughor and Penderry 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Sir J.T.D. Llewellyn**	unopposed

Maesteg

The same two candidates had faced each other in 1895. On that occasion, Barrow had won and was elected as alderman for a three-year period. Jenkin Jones was then returned at a by-election.

Maesteg

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jenkin Jones*	972
	Liberal	James Barrow**	842

Margam

Margam 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Edward T. Evans	770
	Conservative	D.R. David*	716
Majority			54
	Liberal hold		Swing

Merthyr Town

Merthyr Town 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	D.D. Jones	663
	Conservative	Dan Thomas	297
Majority			366
	Liberal hold		Swing

Merthyr Vale

Merthyr Vale 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	David Prosser*	880
	Liberal	Rowland Evans	729
Majority			151
	Liberal hold		Swing

Morriston

Morriston 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William John Percy Player	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Morris	549
	Liberal	Samuel Evans	459
	Liberal	John Lewis	316
Majority			90
	Liberal hold		Swing

Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Hopkin Morgan	unopposed
	Unionist hold		Swing

Neath (South)

At the previous election, Trick had stood as a Conservative.

Neath (South) 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	W.B. Trick	unopposed
	Independent gain from Liberal		Swing

Newcastle

T.J. Hughes, first elected in 1889, had served as an alderman since 1898.

Newcastle 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas J. Hughes**	841
	Conservative	Lynch Blosse	371
Majority			470
	Liberal hold		Swing

Ogmore

Ogmore 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	G. Sibbering Jones	521
	Conservative	J.D.I Nicholl	384
Majority			137
	Liberal hold		Swing

Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Llewellyn*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Oystermouth

Oystermouth 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		T.W. James	unopposed
			Swing

Penarth North

Penarth North 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Rev E.S. Roberts	387
	Liberal	Jenkin Llewellyn	385
Majority			2
	Conservative hold		Swing

Penarth South

Penarth South

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Frederick Henry Jotham	unopposed

Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Dr. R. W. Jones	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Pentre

E.T. Davies, auctioneer, had been elected at a by-election following Elias Henry Davies's appointment as alderman in 1902. He was now returned unopposed.

Pentre 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	E.T. Davies	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Penydarren

Penydarren

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	David Davies*	516
	Conservative	T.E. Morgan	270
Majority			146

Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Frank W. Gilbertson*	658
	Liberal	Rev B.D. Davies	657
Majority			1
	Conservative hold		Swing

Plymouth

Plymouth

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Henry W. Lewis*	603
	Conservative	A. Daniel	440

Pontlottyn

Pontlottyn 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	D.B. Owen	572
	Liberal	John Griffiths	372
Majority			200
	Liberal hold		Swing

Pontypridd

The seat was now known as Pontypridd and Rhondda

Pontypridd 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Fleming	602
	Liberal	James Roberts*	398
	Conservative	H.M. Gregory	383
Majority			204
	Labour gain from Liberal		Swing

Penygraig

Penygraig appears to be a new ward.

Penygraig 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rees Lloyd	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Porth

Porth and Penygraig 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Lib-Lab	D. Watts Morgan	967
	Liberal	W.T. Davies	862
Majority			105
	Liberal hold		Swing

Resolven

Resolven 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Daniel Evans**	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Sketty

John Davies had been defeated in the two previous elections but was now returned unopposed.

Sketty 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rev John Davies	unopposed
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing

Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	E. Lewis*	825
	Liberal	Dr J. Jones	364
Majority			461
	Liberal hold		Swing

Treforest

James Roberts had won the seat at a by-election following the death of the previous member, David Leyshon

Treforest 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Samuel Evans	671
	Liberal	James Roberts*	614
Majority			57

Treherbert

Enoch Davies, returned in 1901 following William Morgan's re-election as alderman, was elected unopposed.

Treherbert 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Enoch Davies*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Treorchy

Thomas Jones, Co-operative stores manager, was returned unopposed.

Treorchy 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Jones*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Trealaw and Tonypandy

D.W. Davies, the member since 1898, was returned unopposed for the second successive election.

Tonypandy 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	D.W. Davies*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Tylorstown and Ynyshir

Sitting councillor Dr T.H. Morris stood down to allow Alderman W.H. Mathias to be returned unopposed.

Tylorstown and Ynyshir 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	W.H. Mathias**	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	James Williams	303
	Liberal	John Williams	298
	Labour	David John Rees	172
Majority			5
	Liberal hold		Swing

Ystrad

Clifford Cory, the member since 1892, was once again returned unopposed.

Ystrad 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Clifford John Cory*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1904 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies.

The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.

elected for six years

Bibliography

• Parry, Jon (1989). "Labour Leaders and Local Politics 1888-1902: The Example of Aberdare". Welsh History Review. 14 (3): 399–416. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
• Williams, Chris (1996). Democratic Rhondda: Politics and society 1885-1951. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.