Brantford Public Library

BITS AND PIECES OF BRANTFORD’S HISTORY THE WAR YEARS – BRANTFORD DURING WORLD WAR I BY GARY MUIR Index Introduction 3 The First Seven Months 4 Brantford and the Military 10 The Foreign Element 22 Brantford’s Monetary Contribution 25 Brantford Industry & Labour 28 Women and the War 33 Food ‘n Stuff 36 Non Military Matters 43 The Election of 1917 46 The Coal Crisis 49 The Spanish Influenza Epidemic 53 After the War was over 56 Conclusion 59 2 INTRODUCTION BRANTFORD AND WORLD WAR I During the early months of 1914, Brantford newspapers were very much lacking in news on the mounting crisis in Europe. Even after Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated, the newspapers gave little indication of the potential seriousness of the situation. Little wonder then those Brantfordites went about their daily lives with little or no interest in the events that were occurring in Europe. Brantford citizens concerned themselves with a variety of problems and issues during those pre-war months in 1914. At the municipal level, the taking over of the Brantford Municipal Railway, and the use of hydro-electric power in the street-lighting system, were two events that occupied the city fathers. The activities of the Trades and Labour Council, and The Equal Franchise Club made the news frequently; and economically, Brantford industry was fighting a slump that was Dominion-wide. When the declaration of war came in August, Brantford men rushed to join the colours, and few of them realized that the war was going to last for four long years. There is no doubt that the war brought about a significant change in the life-style of the citizens of Brantford, and those at home had to respond to several emergencies just as those at the front had to react to the enemy guns. Shortages in food, coal, and manpower, had to be faced, and overcome. The issues of recruiting and conscription, and the 1917 election could not be avoided, and in many cases the city found itself split on these issues. The Spanish flu' crisis forced the citizens to work together to solve a common problem, and the end of the war also brought its special brand of question that had to be answered. The result was, that when Johnny came marching home, he doubtless found Brantford a different city from the one he had left. 3 BRANTFORD - 1914-THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS During the first seven months of 1914, Brantford moved along at its regular pace, seemingly oblivious to the crisis and developments that were taking place in Europe which would involve and direct the energies of the city for the next four years. As 1914 began, Brantford found itself the victim of a depression that was almost world-wide, and her industry suffered accordingly. An Expositor editorial on December 31, 1913 had stated: “Brantford has made very material progress during 1913, despite the fact that some of her manufacturing industries have not been quite so active as they were during 1912.” But the relief and unemployment situation in the city during the early part of 1914 was nevertheless serious. On January 19, over 400 men were reported registered at the city employment office and by February 6, this had grown to 615. To help the situation, early in February a by-law to provide work for many of the unemployed on the building of new sanitary sewers was passed by the City Council. At the same time, the local charitable organizations had set up a central store in the basement of the Y.M.C.A. Citizens were asked to donate clothing and money, and those “thought worthy of help” were given assistance. In spite of generous donations, by the end of February, the relief committee had to report its funds almost exhausted. As spring came on, the situation abated somewhat, but as late as April 25, over 300 were still out of work - most of them “foreigners.” This led one man to write to The Expositor and complain: “We Turkish people complain that city overseers never give any work to us in the same way they give work to others. We cannot see why they do not want to give work to us. We do not make any trouble or break the laws, and we have been here for 50 years, as good citizens as other nationalities.” There was grounds for the above complaint as many in Brantford felt the “foreigner” should be kept in his place. On February 21, 1914, The Expositor in an editorial entitled “Foreign Segregation,” made the following suggestions: “The time has come in Brantford when some action must be taken to deal with housing the foreigners who have come in our midst in such numbers... ...Large houses have been purchased by foreigners in the midst of a good residential district, with the result that surrounding property has greatly depreciated in value... The objection to the foreigners is that most of them do not adapt themselves to the conditions of this country... If the foreigners are to maintain eastern habits... it is as much in their interest as those of the citizens of this city, that they be segregated...it might be advisable to designate certain blocks in each section of the city to be used by foreigners...” This anti-foreign feeling would intensify against some of them with the outbreak of hostilities. 4 In spite of economic conditions, city business had to go on. In his inaugural address Mayor Spence outlined what he saw as the city's priorities. The mayor wanted the long-standing question of the city-hall-market area answered, and wanted additional bridge accommodation across the Grand River, and more subways. As well, he wanted to establish a purchasing department to increase efficiency in the transaction of city business. In March, a proposal was put forward to build a “fireproof, sanitary, public market, entirely enclosed, lighted, and heated,” but nothing came of the proposal. In a more positive vein, at 7:51 p.m. on Saturday January 17, the hydro-electric power was turned on into the new ornamental street-lighting system in Brantford, and The Expositor boasted: “With this new system in vogue on the business streets of Brantford, this city has now, the finest lighted streets in Ontario, with no exception, according to travelled men...” Two days later The Expositor had to report that the lights were not working. Late in 1913, the city had been given the power to seize “sufficient of the goods and chattels” of the Brantford Street Railway to make up $7,000 of unpaid taxes. This was the first step in the gradual takeover of the system by the city. In February, the City of Brantford put in a bid for control of the Grand Valley and Brantford Street Railway, and was successful. On a technicality, the Dominion Railway Commission ruled that Brantford did not have the power to operate the railway, except by leave of the minister of railways, until they could secure an act that would allow them to operate it. Permission was received; on March 24, a referendum brought overwhelming approval of the municipal purchase, and in August the line was officially taken over. On January 23, 1914, James Taylor, a half-breed Indian, was the fifth man to be executed in Brant County for murder. There was some question as to Taylor's sanity, and the local medical association passed two resolutions asking that Taylor be examined. This was acceded to, and Taylor was examined by the inspector of hospitals and charities for Ontario. The inspector's findings were that Taylor was sane, and when a petition for clemency was denied, Taylor “walked to the gallows with firm step and bowed head.” In April of 1914, the police broke up the notorious “Black Elephants,” not a gang of vicious cut-throats, but a group of young boys, “sworn over a black elephant and never to 'squeal'.” Their total haul of stolen goods was quite impressive, and included revolvers, a rifle, 4000 rounds of ammunition, fishing rods, and opera glasses. The Trades and Labour Council was quite active during this period. This organization very actively opposed the candidature of J.H. Spence for mayor because he refused to allow union labour in his cigar shop. Their efforts were in vain as Spence was elected. In February, the Council called for free text books in schools to replace the fee that was being charged. This request was also unheeded at the time. On the labour scene, in spite of hard times, the Brantford workingman was ready to strike if he thought the cause was right. In January, 50 employees of the Civic Hydro 5 Department went on strike as they objected to being laid off when weather would not allow outside work. They also wanted straight time, or a readjustment of their wages. In February, core makers at Massey-Harris walked out protesting a cut in wages. Both strikes were short-lived and were settled amicably. “Despite the adverse attitude of the present Ontario Legislature, woman’s suffrage, in some form at least, will come at no distant date, and it will come all the quicker if the women show that they take an interest in public affairs.” As the above Expositor editorial pointed out, the vote for women was on its way, and the agitation for women's suffrage was being felt in Brantford as in other cities in Canada. In March 1914, the Equal Franchise League (the woman's organization that was leading the way for women's rights held its annual meeting.

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