Times Advocate, 1992-11-04, Page 8Page 8 Times -Advocate, November 4, 1992
FAMILY
History of the Patrons of Industry, a Canadian political party In the late 1800's was outlined
at Thursday's annual meeting of the Huron Historical Society held at the Brucefield United
Church. From the left are vice president Paul Cairo!!, guest speaker Steve Thoming of McMas-
ter University, president Margaret McClure and executive member Ron Latham.
Historical Society speaker outlines
origin of an early political party
BRUCEFIELD - What goes
around, comes around.
That was the opinion of many of
those attending Thursday's annual
meeting of the Huron Historical So-
ciety at the Brucefield United
Church.
Steven Thoming. a professor at
the University of McMaster in
Hamilton spoke about the history
of a former Canadian political party
which very few present residents of
this area remember.
Thoming has had several books
published including Hayseed Capi-
talism and the Canadian Banking
System.
The Patrons of Industry party was
pan of the Ontario and Canadian
political scene for about 20 years
prior to 1900.
In referring to the first paragraph
Thoming said, "The problems of
that time are quite similar to those
of today. Their concerns included
the economy, Senate reform, finan-
cial farming problems, the need for
alternative crops, tax reform and
Free trade".
The hotbed of Patriots of Industry
interest occurred in the counties of
Huron, Bruce, Grey and Wellington
along with small pockets in the Sar-
nia area and north of Belleville.
Following the demise of the
Grange party which had more
strength in the United States than
Canada, because of economic prob-
lems organization of the Patriots of
Industry party was easy. The
Grange party trying to introduce
new crops following crop failures,
floods and imported American
wheat met with hostility. Farmers
were not willing to change meth-
ods.
In the 1870's joining organiza-
tions like the Grange had helped
make some farmers class con-
scious, but unpolitical. Now the
Grange was supplemented by the
militant Patrons of Industry, an
American based organization
which soon had thousands of mem-
bers in Ontario and Western Cana-
da. They denounced tariffs, monop-
olies and the corruptive traditional
politics.
At this time in the 1880's with
poor economic conditions and so-
cial discontent forced a large farm
drop-out with many running away
from mortgages and fleeing to
Manitoba.
Farm prices declined from 1870
to 1895 by about 50 percent and
with new equipment on the market
only efficient farm operators were
able to keep pace.
Many foreclosures took place in
the 1890's as changing conditions
affected farmers. In a couple of in-
stances the sheriff intending to
foreclose was held off by guns.
In the 1880's every hamlet with a
railway station became a market
and those without railway access
declined with the loss of merchants
and tradesmen.
In the 1896 election, the Patrons
of Industry, rustic pioneers for the
third parties of the future elected
only three members from Ontario
while Laurier's Liberals had 118
(
seats and the Conservatives headed
by Tupper claimed 88 seats.
The Patrons of Industry collapsed
after the 1896 election in a wreck-
age of mismanaged co-operators
and political sell-outs. Only the
grievances survived such as the tar-
iff, a weak bargaining position, ru-
ral depopulation amid jarring re-
minders of a disgraceful respect for
the nation's primary producers. Ca-
nadian farmers grew quite sensitive
to "Hey rube" jokes and taunts.
The current president of the Hu-
ron Historical Society is Margaret
McClure of RR 1 Crediton and the
vice president is Paul Carroll of
Seaforth.
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The draw will be made on the last business day of Nov,
October's winner of the $500 Shopping Spree is
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Exeter EMA Fri. Nov. 13.
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Studies have shown that most people who atempt to take
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First and foremost is a threat to commit suicide. This
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Emotional signs, such as a personality change, severe de-
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