Pennsylvania Political Buttons of Candidates for Governor, U.S. Senator and President
Political Buttons of Candidates for Governor, U.S. Senator and President, 1896-1930
Description of Political buttons as written by James Jolly:
Matthew Stanley Quay from western Pennsylvania, leader from around 1885 until his death in 1904, and Quay's heir Boies Penrose from Phildelphia.
William A. Stone, a Quay man, was elected Governor in 1898, and in office 1899-1903. W.W. Griest, the Lancaster county Republican leader) was Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Stone Administration.
In 1902, the Quay candidate for gubernatorial nomination was Samuel Pennypacker. His unsuccess rival for the nomination was John P. Elkin, the Pennsylvania Attorney General. In the general election, Pennypacker defeated the Democratic candidate Robert E. Pattison, was had served two non-consecutive ternas as Governor (1883-1887, 1891-1895).
In 1906, Edwin S. Stuart was the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Though he had Penrose's blessing, Stuart's campaign buttons included Theodore Roosevelt, then the popular reform President.
Irish born John K. Tener, a Penrose man, won election as Governor in 1910.
In 1914, educator Martin G. Brumbaugh, supported by the Vare faction, not Penrose, defeated the Democrat Vance McCormick. Brumbaugh was Governor during World War I.
A Penrose candidate, William C. Sproul was elected Governor in 1918, serving 1919-1923.
Gifford Pinchot, with the support of Joseph Grundy, was a contender for the gubernatorial nomination in 1922. He defeated George E. Alter, the state's Attorney General, supported by Vare. In the general election, Pinchot beat Democrat John A. McSparran, and served his first non-consecutive term. In 1926, Pinchot (a dry) competed for the senatorial nomination against William Vare (a wet), and the incumbent George Wharton Pepper. Vare won.
That year the main contenders for the Republican gubernatorial nomination was John S. Fisher, a state Senator, supported by Mellon and Grudy, and Edward E. Beidleman, the former Lt. Governor, supported by William Vare. Fisher beat Beidleman, and defeated Bonniwell, the Democratic candidate, in the general election. Fisher was Governor from 1927 to 1931.
In 1930, James Davis defeated Joseph Grundy (incumbent) for the Republican senatorial nomination. Davis was elected Senator and Pinchot was elected Governor.
