The Huron Expositor, 1978-05-25, Page 12New while *Sir Gilbert Parker may have been' the, most
celebrated journalist-author, to emerge from the of County
area, he wasn't the only "knight" from this neck of the woods to
team his 'title by the pen. •
' John Stephen Whitson, later Sir John Willison, editor of The
-Globe and Mail, was born in Stanley Township, outsidethe Own
of Hills Green ,the Rila,of ,a4armer, in 1656.
From an • early- age the boy was an omnivorous reader, a
student Of politics and .a budding writer. The one thing John
Willison never wanted to be was a firmer, deciding at an early
age he wasn't cut out to follow in his father's footsteps.,
In his autobiography, published in 1919, John Willison wrote.
"The house in which I was born in thewtownShip of Stanley in
Huron County, stood in a clearing of a few acres ,'and all around
was bush, in which no axe had ever swung. As a child, I often
wanderecfamong thick underbrush and picked wild flowers along
streams that ceased to murmur long ago."
Then he added, "but one may love the woods andlields and
not like farming. I got away from the farm as soon as I could, and
I have not wanted to return."
• Polities Did
-If farming couldn't-fir§rive the••bompolities could and did for
the remainder of his life. In ,1872,. he walked four mills from his
.home into the,town of Vaina to see firsthand just, what apolitical
meeting was all about., The public debate, between Thomas
Greenway, a Conservative (Tory in those day) and NI. Cr,
Cameron, the Grit ; fascinated the young man.
Although the political debates of the past century were
to than our own, it's hard to imagine a boy being inspired to .decide
on a career reporting the political -events whiCh shaped Canada.
But inspired John Willison' was, and he wasted little time
.pursuing.his_arnhition-
' • Although the future journalist's father was trying to scratch"
• out a living as a farmer, the boy came from "a family whiCh laid
claim •to a number of writers and ministers. . •
Willison's first published work was a very high 'Sounding
poem, accepted for publication in The Whitby Chronicle. After
this initial success, the young poet sent another verse off to The
'Landon Daily Herald, a step which he later wrote, "May ,have
added to that paper's demise." •
. • After Willison finished university and. could prove he'd - had
• editorials accepted and published in' both. The Tiverton
Watchman and The Kincardine Reporter, he decided the place to
learn the job bf political reporting was at the bastion' •of
• Liberalism, The Toronto Globe and Mail.
Like scores of aspiring young journalists, he 'was rudely
bushed aside by a veteran editor, so Willison decided if he
couldn't work for a Toronto daily, he'd settle for a\ London one
instead. Ironically, the young' man who was given' such an
unsympathetic hearing at the Globe would become the paper's
' editer 10 years later-,---and a superior of the man who gave him
such an unsympathetic 'hearing. .
. Willison's• decision to .apply John 'Cameron of the Grit
newspaper, The London Advertiser, met with more success:
Cameron himself had started his newspaper career as a
teenage printer's devil at the Huron Expositor, and later moved
on to work at, the daily newspaper, The Sarnia Canadian..
When Carripronagreed to hire the young man from his home
district, tor the sum of $3. per week, he told Willison he would
have to learn how to proofread andtypeset as well as handle the
newsbeat. • •
'25 Years Old
Although Willison was 25 years of age at the time, and felt he
deServed.a. little more financial return for \ his efforts, especially
since his roon-oand board came to $2.75 a week: he couldn't let
the opportunity lb become a newspaperman pass him by. Within
three weeks, his career as a printer was over, and he became
pmofreader for the evening edition of The Advertisci and
reporter for the morning edition of the paper.
At the end Of three months with The kdvertiser,feeling he'd
prcived.hiS worth, he approached L. D. Cameroit for a raise.
The editor listened to the young man's tale of woe of about his
$.3salary and $2.75 expenses and growled, "What the h... did
you do with theofher quarter?" But he was synrpathetie-enough
to double Willison's weekly salary and only two' months later,
raise the sum to a generOus $8 a week.,
John. Willison wasted little time in improving his position in
'Canadian newspaper circles. Years later he wrote, "For
thirty-six years.1 Was engaged in political journalism .in Canada.
During all that time my pen was my only, means of ipcome. All
my earnings were derived from reporting, editorial writing or the
editorial direction' of newspapers."
After two years with the London Advertiser, Willison-and J
---------7-Caincron-tmovod-to-thc-CtIobe.tuLdMail,and Willison was almost
immediately appointed parlianientary correspondent. It was his
ability as a political reporter which helped make the Globe the
....., Angst influential organ of Liberalism in Canada."
In his autobiography. &cr. 3c) years later, he wrote.'' No
greater distinction comes to a Canadian journalist than to be
chosen to represent an influential newspaper at Ottawa." And if.
• this diStinctiOn wasn't enough, the morning newspapers of the
day were considered the aristocrats of the profession, the creme
`lie la creme.
The schoolboy from Hillis ~.Green had wasted little time in
landing one of the melt coveted "positions in Canadian
newspapers ,
•
•
tioi;rii .A.;101-'111141111.
'-•••
Garage & Bake
SALE
Sat., May 27
1:30 P.M. .
featuring a
NEARLY NEW BOOTH
NORTHSIDE UNITED
CHURCH
Seaforth
Sponsored by: Unit 2
United Church Women
BAKE
SALE
Auspices of the Ladies Aid
First Presbyterian. Church
Friday,June 2----
In the church school
ROLLER'SKATING
At Seaforth Community Centre
Begins.
TUESDAY, MAY 30
• - 10 p.m.
and every Thursday and Tuesday for the entire summer
ADMISSION .75
SKATE RENTAL .25
C. B. DANCE
BRUSSELS MOR)RIS & GREY, COMMUNITY CENTRE
Dancing 9:00 to 1:00
Saturday May 27th
THE COUNTRY COMPANIONS
$10.00 per couple Hot Buffet
Tickets good for a draw on
a 40 Channel Mobile Radio
Proceeds towards a Rescue Unit for the Brussels Fire
Department.
Everyone Welcome
Call - Lumber King 887.6983 for tiekets.
STREET DANCE
SatiJrclay Night
4 DRAWS
Proceeds to Street Signs
Sponsored by B.B.A.
• First Presbyterian Church
Also Articles Sold By Consignment, Lunch Booth
Smasoredity. Frieadship 27443-8- - - —
ENTER
'the ,
/gp HURON
& FESTIVAL
StepdanCing
' r square dancing '
competition
Over $1000 in Prizes
and,Trophies
Friday, Saiurday, June 2nd & 3rd
8 p.m.
Memorial Hall, Blyth
For tickets and entry forms call 523-9300
Anyone interested in •
p6rticipating in
JUNIOR .
TALENT
SHOW
at'
Hansa!! Spring
Fair
June 20
Please Contact
John Baker
• _ 262-3123-
.or
Gladys McGrecior
262-5839
before Jurie 1
and tickets may be obtained
phOning (519) 238-8387;
71_
by
Seaforth Optimists
'78
an•d
10th .inniVersary
Saturday', 'June 3
10 am - BREAKFAST Seaforth Optimists Park
, •
1, P m ANNIVERSARY PARADE
Entries required now - Call DAve DeVries 527-1440 or Alf Ross 345-2547
2' pm BONG SHOW and AFTERN000N MATINEE (Lincoln Green)
3 pm PRINCESS PAGEA-Ni- Mrs. Lloyd Eisler, 527-0691 527-0443
Arena
3 01 HORSE SHOW SEAFORTH SADDLE CLUB Agricultural Grounds
— Mrs. Norma Riley 527-1059
6 pm PORK BEEF BARBEQUE .-.Cardiff &'Campbell
9 pm MARD1GRAS BALL - Star Trek •
Optimist 10th Anniversary Party — 78 Mardigras
TIN LIZZIE p.m. COOtUme Preliminary
p.m,-Barheque
p.m.—Princess Finals'
p.m.- Mardloras Ball
'STAR TREK—
FREE TICKET
ONE
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1978
- with each
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY CENTRE Mardloriiii ticket n _purchase-
1 p.m—Annlyeraary Parade 5 2 p.m.—Bono Show p.m.,--PrIncess Contest 8 .4 p.mr-Dance Matinee 9
---LINC,OLN GREEN
See -the 1917 Tin Lizzie in the "FORGE" Window
0,0 each •
.. nnwin .. mom
Name.
Address.
Age
BONG SHOW ENTRY
0
Type of Act .
ALPE r TYNE
Detach and return to K. Cardno, cox 328, Seaforth
Tr•-•.,,•••77-79.7.7"
HAM su p pER.
.. •
12 — THE HURON EXPOSITOR', MAY 25, 1978
•
Serendipity
By Alice Cribb.
Anot h er
Huron County journalist Seaforth Legion .
Atkins. Last fall he was a regular
on the CBC show Custard Pie. He
is currently involved in the
Editor
In 1890, when John Cameron decided to resign from the Globe .
and return to the ,London Advertiser, ,John Willison was
promoted to editor in chief of the Globe, , He remained editor for
12 years, 12 years in which he said jokingly the constant lament
was, The Globe's net what it waS in Geroge Bro'wn's time."
• But like many newspapermen, Willison had a secret desire to
be his own boss, and so in 1902, he resigned from the Globe, and
started his own paper--The Toronto Dail' News, which although
certainly Liberal in philosophy, billed itself as an independent
rag.
While John Willison was editing the News, •Wilfred Laurier,
the man the editor had supported faithfully in editorial columns
in both The Globe and The News, proposed the creationof
separate schools in the new provinces of Alberta and
Saskatchewan.
John Willison disagreed with hi's old friends's decision and in
the' 1911 election, the Toronto Daily News threw its editorial
support to the Conservative party. Willison's break with his
party not only shocked his newspaper readers; •but himself -as
well, and years later he wrote. "When I left the Globe in 1902 I
had no thought of a political separation from Sir Wilfred
Wirier." But. he also wrote. -"party journalism meant for Me
simply rtircees-sliffi of go' aretlg and at last'T withdrew."
Final
The final withdrawal, after nine years of acting as the
Canadian political correspondent for The London (England)
Times, came in 1917 when The'Daily News died, partly a victim
of the never ending Toronto newspaper war, and partly politics
of Willison's switch in politics front staunch Liberal to
independent.
Willison, who had been knighted by King George in 1913,
didn't completely retire form his writing career. Over the years
he had published a number of books including The Railway
Question in Canada; a biased .history book titled Sir Wilfrid
Laurier and the Liberal Party--A Political 'History and
Atiglo-Saxon Amity.
In 1919,:, he completed his very impersonal autobiography.
recording a number of humorous incidents of his newspaper
career, but °Miffing any pertinent details of his feud with Laurier
or of the patronage he felt Was one of the party politics -evils.
In 1925, after finding his membership in such prestigious
organizations as the York Club, Toronto Hunt Club and the
British Empire arid Royal Colonial institute didn't fill his empty
hours, John Willison re-entered the world of reporting with a
magazine 'called Willison's 1k/tenthly, a national magazine
devoted to a discussion of public affairs affecting Canada and the
British Empire.
Four Years
The magazine survived for four years--two more years than-its'
founder who died in 1927 after completing a sympathetic
biography of his old'crony, Laurier, for the Makers of Canada
series.
IN 1935. another writer -named Colquhoun, published the
letters and biography of one of the de n4 of Canadian journalism
under the title. Press, Politics and People; the life and letters of
Sir John Willison, journalist and correspondent of The Times.
Today, Willison's Huron County roots are commemorated with
a historical plaque on the grounds of tho. Zurich Community
Centre.
But while John WillisOn didn't reveal the intrigues of party
journalism which existed in the days when a reporter could be as
biased as the political ideology of his editor, Sir John did record
some of the more humorous typographical errors Of his
newspaper carerr.
James • Murphy, Artistic
Director -for the Huron Country.
Playhouse 'has announced that
Television performer Jack• Duffy,
has been signed to star as-Felix in
„, the Playhouse production of The
Odd Couple. Opposite Mr. Duffy
will be ACTRA award winner, Les
Carlson, in the role of Oscar, The
two Canadian actors team Op in
Neil Simon's comedy which opens
July 4 for a two week engage-
ment. Both actors are being
,btought in through the courtesy
of a special grant from Conklin
'Lumber Ltd.
Les Carlson won "his ACTRA
award for Be t Supporting-Actor
in the television Show -RAKU
FIRE as Steve, opposite Eileen
\--STAG
for
CASEY
VAN BAKEL
Fri., May 2IS
Arts' House
The Family of
Ernte & Rena Ross
wish to invite you
to their parents
40th-WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY
June 3
Exeter Legion Hall
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Music By Bob Heywood
LUNCH PROVIDED
NO GIFTS PLEASE •
The errors, it should be noted, came trom the country's weekly
newspapers he reanv-hile editor, rather than from the pages of
the Globe or the News, which one can only'Assume were
error-free. wnn -freie.
ipegc§ir John recalls,' a report of a ladies' church
meeting, which should have read, "the women were clothed With
sanctity" instead was published, "the women were clothed with
scantily." •
If the Winnipeg report didn't raise eyebrows, the Kingston
Review might have with their comment on someone who had
been Overlooked for a military promotion. The reporter. noted,
"the colonel could not join the Strathcona Horse because he was
an ass", a bit of editorializing which may or may not have been a,
typographical error.,•
But the editor's favourite story comes from his own collection
of -anonymous letters, the letters that soon pile up ,on any
newspaperinan's desk after a few years in the business.
One of Sir John's less devoted fans wrote, "You are the
biggest liar in Canada. It is a wonder you were not shot long
ago!"
The only consolation the letter gave him, said Sir John,/was
the fact, at least he wasn't an amateur!
through JUTS? 15Tn the evenings at
8:30 -p.m. and with Wednesday
Matinees at 2;30 p.m. Information
Stag
for
KEVIN
KALE
Saturday,
May 27
Admission: $2.00•
Canadian'starjs coming to Grand Bend
The Playhouse performance
schedule is Tuesday. July 4
through July 8 and July 1.1._
.filming-ofa-new movie called Lost
and Found starring George Segal
and Glenda Jackson.
`Rides, Sidewalk Sales, Games, Booth
Enjoy the fun of the
for
CARNIVAL DAYS
May 25, 26, 27
Bring the VVhote Family
to BrUt-SeiS
Sponsored by Ladies Auxiliary
Ticket S4.00
and
Bake Sale 41.
Wed., June 7th 5 P.M. - 9 P.M.
BUY,YOUR TICKETS NOW