Battle of Backbone Mountain

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In the 1852 Chicago mayoral election, incumbent Democrat Walter S. Gurnee defeated former mayor James Curtiss (running as an independent) as well as Temperance candidate Amos G. Throop and Mechanics candidate Peter Page by a ten-point margin.

Campaign

B.W. Raymond was the initial nominee of the Temperance (Prohibition) Party. However, for unspecified reasons, his candidacy was withdrawn in late February in favor of Throop.[1]

The election was an energetic one, particularly due to the debate over liquor.[1]

Other issues that were debated in the election were the reduction of taxes, avoiding an increase in city debt, preventing lawyers from obtaining gratuities, eliminating connection between the city government and private corporations, and suffrage.[1]

It was alleged during the campaign that a candidate in the previous election had spent $3,000 in buying voters liquor.[1]

Results

1852 Chicago mayoral election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter S. Gurnee (incumbent) 1,741 39.04
Independent politician James Curtiss 1,295 29.05
Temperance Party Amos G. Throop 1,153 25.85
Mechanics Peter Page 271 6.08
Turnout 4,460

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Goodspeed, Weston A. (February 6, 2017). The History of Cook County, Illinois. Jazzybee Verlag.