Wednesday, June 5, 2019

David Herron Martin

David Herron Martin, Mar. 28, 1849 (Pittsburgh, Penn.) - 1933 (Pennsylvania?)

VP candidate for United Christian Party (1900)

Running mate with nominee: Jonah Fitz Randolph Leonard (1832-1905)
Popular vote: 518 (0.00%)            
Electoral vote: 0/447

The campaign:

The United Christian Party platform called for the US to be officially declared a "Christian nation," they opposed the legalization of divorce and alcohol, supported the initiative and referendum system, supported equal rights and wages for women, advocated the required daily reading of the Bible in public school, and supported the abolition of the Electoral College among other things. 

At their convention with 25 delegates, prohibitionists Silas Swallow and John Woolley were nominated, but both declined. After a few others declined, Leonard and Martin were tapped as the final replacements.

The Leonard/Martin ticket was apparently on the ballot in two states, where they had 352 votes in Illinois and 166 votes in Iowa, and no doubt probably scored a scattering of write-ins in other states.

Election history:
<1900> - Bellevue, Penn. City Council
19-- - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Prohibition) - defeated
1908 - Pennsylvania State Legislature (Prohibition) - defeated

Other occupations: publisher of temperance material

Buried: English Lutheran Church Cemetery (Zelienople, Penn.)

Notes:
Attended school in Allegheny, Penn.
Was a Republican prior to his third party activism.
Since Leonard died on Jan. 15, 1905, Martin would have become President in the last couple months of the term.
Both parents were Irish immigrants.