Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 2, 1888.
Edward Frederick Clarke, a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, defeated Alderman Elias Rogers, owner of a prominent coal and home heating company,[1][2] and Daniel Defoe, a barrister and former alderman.
[3] Rogers, a Quaker, was viewed as the "temperance candidate for mayor" while Clarke was favoured by tavern and liquor store owners and anti-temperance voters.
[4] Clarke's victory, along with the defeat of two liquor bylaws being proposed by referendum, being seen as a victory for anti-temperance sentiment.
[5] References:[6] Referenda were held on three proposed by-laws, one to approve financing for a "trunk sewer", a second by-law to reduce the number of taverns licensed to serve liquor from 150 to 100, and a third to reduce the number of shops licensed to sell liquor from 50 to 20.