The previous full elections were to Cardiff Town Council in November 1888.
Cardiff had become a county borough on 1 April 1889 as a result of the Local Government Act 1888.
[2] There were contrasting results in these wards, which the South Wales Daily News put down largely to the winning side being better organised, generally with more vehicles available to carry voters to the polling stations.
Smith was president of the local Lincensed Victuallers Association, so secured the support of every publican.
[2] The correspondent in the South Wales Daily News points to the recent South ward by-election, which had happened only five weeks beforehand and should have been a warning to the Liberals in the November election.