1919 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election
Convention
Convention
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### Voting Delegates

This was the first time the Liberal Party elected its leader through a formal delegated leadership convention. Those who were eligible to be voting delegates were Senators (39 at the time), MPs (80 elected as Laurier Liberals in the 1917 election, and approximately 20 who were elected as Unionists but were members of the Liberal Party), defeated candidates (131\), premiers and provincial party leaders, presidents of provincial Liberal associations, and three delegates from each of the 235 ridings.

### Nominations \& Support

Nominations were accepted in writing until the first ballot began at 3:45 pm. King lead Fielding on the first and second ballots. Graham and McKenzie withdrew in quick succession leading to the cancellation of the third and fourth ballots, respectively, which had already been underway when the successive withdrawals occurred. On the final ballot King defeated Fielding by 38 votes.

King was supported by labour elements, Quebec delegates, and the left\-wing of the party. Fielding, who openly opposed the radical platform adopted by the convention, threatened to seek support from the parliamentary caucus for rejection of the platform. He was opposed by many Quebec delegates as well as delegates from his home province of Nova Scotia due to his previous stance on conscription and was supported by the right wing of the party, many western Canadian delegates, and the business establishment in Montreal.


Who were eligible to be voting delegates at this convention?