1914-12-27

“When Ald. Chester S. Walters was nominated as an aldermanic candidate in ward one a year ago, he promised that if he was elected, he would bring to bear his knowledge as an accountant to find what was wrong at the city hall; why taxes and assessment were soaring, and why there was so much talk about the civic stone pile being infested with grafters.”

Hamilton Herald.  December 28, 1914.

Rates of excessively high taxation and suspicions about the lack of integrity in the operations of the works department were huge concerns for Hamiltonians in 1914.

First off, rates of property taxes had risen precipitously in recent years,.

As briefly analyzed in the Hamilton Herald of December 27, 1914, the problems seemed to be as follows:

“In all the newer sections of the city local improvements have been going down rapidly, and it is not uncommon for a man to be paying for a permanent pavement, a sidewalk and a sewer at the same time as he is paying he is straining to meet general tax payments, water rates payments, and payments on his home.

“To such a man the taxes of the city are of great importance, and there are many in that situation. There are others upon whom the burden is not so heavy, but who still feel its weight seriously.”¹

¹ “Taxpayers Groaning Under Burden of Taxes : Judge Snider Says Head of Council  Must Not Rely Too Implicitly On Anyone, and See That Officers Are Discharging Their Duties Properly.”

Hamilton Herald.   December 27, 1914.

For many years previously, the City of Hamilton had been growing extremely quickly, particularly with the influx of huge new industries. As more and more workers were needed for these industries, new subdivisions were opening up almost daily.

For home owners in these new districts, their tax burden was not just for property taxes and water rates, but the payment for sewers, roads surfacing and sidewalks in these new sections of the city. In the latter aspect, there had been many, many opportunities for the senior city employees in the works department to exploit that situation to their own advantage.

So many contractors, and materials were needed for those sewers, roads and sidewalks that bribes were being made to city officials to get the work.

Also there was such a huge quantity of the materials needed for such work that proper oversight of the price paid and use of those materials led to criminal activities.

Finally, there were so many projects going on, that those in charge of financial oversight at the city hall were so overburdened that there were opportunities for civic employees in the works department to falsify accounts.

Enter Chester Walters who had only one term as alderman, and that term was coming to an end in December 1914. Rather than seek re-election as alderman, Chester Walters decided to run for mayor.

As one supporter of Walters’ mayoral campaign said;

“”He has shown us that he has a remarkable grasp of civic affairs. If we are to get any relief from the grafters who boost up the charges on us we will have to elect Ald. Waters. It seems to be the general idea that there are certain people who must be taken care of out of the taxpayers’ money. They must be rooted out, and Ald. Walters is one man who has shown that he is fearless enough to tackle the job sincerely.’ ”¹

In an overview of Chester Walters’ mayoral platform,  a reporter for the Hamilton Herald wrote:

“One plank in the platform of Ald. Walters that is meeting with general approval is his promise that he will do all in his power to reduce the general tax rate and keep assessment down if he is elected

“Taxes are falling heavy on the shoulders of the ordinary taxpayer just now, and what makes things worse is that the graft inquiry showed how much of this heavy burden could have been avoided if the city had been run honestly and efficiently for the past few years.

“Ald. Walters promises to see that a businesslike administration will operate under his regime as mayor, and that the taxpayers will get their money’s worth, which will be something new and appreciated in this city.”¹

The Hamilton Herald was a strong supporter of Chester Walters’ candidacy and often included personal testimonials for him from Hamiltonians of many stripes.

On December 27, 1914, such an endorsement of Chester Walters came from one of the most popular ministers in Hamilton’s east end, the Rev. C. B. Kenrick of the Church of St. Philip.

Rev. Kenrick stated that he had no sympathy with those who argued that Walters had not been in city council long to attain sufficient experience, especially not long enough to take on the responsibilities of mayor:

“ ‘I think,’ said the Rev. Mr. Kenrick, ‘that on general principles, we ought to look upon the thing in this way: This talk of lack of experience should not count. The trouble, I think, is that some of these men have had too much experience. It is a case of the new broom. We want a new broom, and I hope that it sweeps clean. I sincerely hope that Ald. Walters will be elected.’ ”¹

In an editorial which also appeared in the December 27, 1914 edition of the Herald, the question of Chester Walters’ age, 36, was addressed. It read, in part, :

“One of the arguments against the election of Alderman Walters which is being most freely used by the canvassers employed by the forces opposed to him is the argument that he is too young to serve as mayor of Hamilton. It is a foolish argument.

“It is fifteen years since Alderman Walters arrived at ‘years of discretion.’ He is a mature businessman, having successfully conducted more than one business enterprise and amassed a competence by his energy and business ability. He looks young, but he is not as young as he looks.”²

² “Not Too Young^”

Hamilton Herald.  December 27, 1914

The editorial went on to list many famous individuals who started to attain prominence at the same age as Chester Walters, including William Pitt, Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Napoleon, Joseph Chamberlain and many more.

The editorial concluded as follows:

“Alderman Walters is at the age when the energy and ideals of youth are combined and tempered with the sagacity of maturity and the wisdom that comes of experience. He is far from being too young to be mayor.”²