1915-02-26oo

 

“Discussing relief measures with the board of control  this morning, John H. McMcMenemy, city relief officer, declared that 20 per cent of those who applied for assistance were imposters.

Hamilton Spectator.   February 26, 1915.

It was a case of government bureaucracy versus a volunteer service agency, the matter being the provision of food, fuel and other basic necessities to Hamiltonians in need.

For many, many years, church and benevolent societies provided help for those in need, and usually, but not exclusively, to those belonging to the religion of the organization providing help. For example, on the 24^th of December every year, there would several different places distributing Christmas cheer for the needy, including gifts for the children and food for the Christmas dinner.

Not long before the outbreak of World War One, a decision was made to combine the efforts of the various agencies into one organization, the United Relief Association. The demand for relief intensified greatly as Hamilton, Canada, indeed most of the world, was experiencing a deep economic depression, with unemployment extremely high.

While the United Relief Association mainly used voluntary donations of goods and money, the unemployment problem in Hamilton had become so severe that the association had requested and received funds from the City of Hamilton to assist its program.

The City of Hamilton already had its own relief department, and there was inevitable  conflict. That conflict can to the fore in February 1915.

At a February 26, 1915 meeting at City Hall of the Hamilton Board of Control, City Relief Officer McMenemy accused the United Relief Association volunteers of being too generous, and not sufficiently rigorous in screening applicants:

“Mr. McMenemy thinks more investigators should be employed and characterized the method of distributing provisions now employed by the United Relief association as a mistake.”¹

¹ Hamilton Spectator.    February 26, 1915.

Just four days earlier at a meeting of the executive of the United Relief association it was unanimously resolved “that the executive of the United Relief association desire to put on the record their high appreciation of the unselfish and devoted efforts of W. D. Wilson in connection with the management and work of the association; that this association feels its senses of deep obligation to Mr. Wilson for his untiring efforts since October last, realizing that his unbiased and humane efforts for dispensing the trust imposed on the association by the authorities and citizens generally has enabled the association to secure maximum results with a minimum of cost.”²

² “High Appreciation : United Relief Pays Tribute to W.D. Wilson’s Fine Work.”

Hamilton Spectator.   February 26, 1915.

Me tribute to Mr. Wilson was in response to his decision to quit his position as director of the United Relief association. While no reasons for Wilson’s departure were made public, it could have been as a result of behind the scenes efforts being made at Hamilton City Hall.

Indeed, at February 26, 1915 meeting of the Board of Control, a topic of discussion was the proposal that the city take over all relief, and that the city relief officer investigate the possibility and potential costs of converting the city garage on Hughson street into a headquarters for relief services.

The City Relief officer was not content with the direction made to investigate costs for a potential relief office, but went on to say that a big building would not be needed as he would handle the provision of relief much differently that the association :

“Instead of the present method of purchasing food in carload lots and distributing baskets, Mr. McMenemy favored the issuing of provision orders upon local grocers. He thought applicants were better satisfied with that arrangement and were enabled to get better rations. He also thought that the number of applicants could be greatly reduced by a stricter investigation, and as a proof that conditions were improving said that the number of applicants is decreasing daily. The hope was expressed that by the first day of May, conditions will be so much better that there will be little need of any great amount of relief work.”¹   

          Mayor Chester Walters was not prepared to simply accept Mr. McMenemy’s insulting views regarding the United Relief Association:

 “ ‘I am not impressed with Mr. McMenemy’s arguments,’ said the mayor. ‘I think the Relief association has the proper machinery for handling this kind of work, and for reducing the number of applicants to a minimum.’ ”¹

The following day, a meeting of the Hamilton Board of Control and members of the United Relief Association was held at City Hall. The City of Hamilton confirmed its request that the United Relief Association continue its work, but cease operations on May 1,1915. Some city financing was to be provided to allow the association to continue its work for two months, but after the first of May, all relief work in Hamilton would be handled by municipal bureaucrats.

 (To be continued)