1915-07-09ii

The issue of the Spectator, published the day after the formation of the Hamilton Recruiting League, not only carried an article about the organizational meeting, but an editorial strongly endorsing the league’s goal:

“Nearly a year has passed since the war began, and during most of that time the only difficulty was to repress the eagerness of the young men who wanted to go to the front. Those who were accepted considered themselves fortunate, and those who were not were accordingly disappointed. The pressure to enlist has now slackened, and indeed some difficulty is being found in securing the necessary number of men for the latest enrollment. Special means, therefore, are now to be taken to stimulate interest in the movement, and to arouse possible recruits to a sense of their duty.

“It is not the lack of courage which hinders the springing forward of our young men in undiminished numbers. After every reverse, whatever the slaughter, the rush to enlist is renewed. The whole trouble is lack of interest. Those naturally inclined to a military life have either gone forward already or been rejected on medical grounds. Among those who remain of suitable age, the question is simply one of stern duty, which may or may not be faced as it should be now that the war has become somewhat monotonous, and there is much nearer to distract attention. On one side are business connections, families, etc; on the other side of the obligations of patriotism. On which side will the call be louder? On the side of patriotism, it will not be the louder until steps have been taken to paint in impressive colors the reality of the situation.

“In Great Britain, the duty to enlist has been set forth in a great variety of ways – by public meetings addressed by well-known speakers, by skillfully framed advertisements, by cartoons, by social pressure, etc. The result is that Kitchener’s army is at least ten times as large in proportion to population as all the contingents that have yet been formed in Canada. If Canada were doing as well as Great Britain, we should have at least half a million men in the field or in training, instead of not much more than a hundred thousand. The war is just as much ours as it is Britain’s. Canada is an integral part of the Empire. If Britain fails, nothing can save us. It is high to us to awake out of comparative sleep.

“It is cheering to find that the most weighty men in our community are taking the matter in hand. They will proceed with it in a business-like way, and great results may be expected. WE shall begin to look at things in a true perspective; and, when our young men know how much they are needed, they will rally to the flag crying, each one, ‘Here I am; send me.’ ”¹

¹  “Recruiting”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 8, 1915.

Not only was there a strongly-worded in the Spectator of July 8, 1915, the front page reproduced a number of statements heard at the meeting the previous night.

Under a boldly presented headline on the center top of the front page, the following utterances were printed in bold type:

“ ‘Canadians should not raise any false hopes of an early collapse of Germany. That collapse is not yet in sight’ – Sir John Gibson.

“ ‘Are we to be subdued and compelled to seek terms or not? It is still an open question’– Sir John Gibson.

“ ‘Hamilton should be ashamed to acknowledge that she has permitted her boys to leave the city for the front uninsured” – Lieut.-Col. Logie.

“ ‘ The Fate of the British nation is trembling in the balance. The question still is, what is to become of the British Empire?’ – Sir John Gibson.

“ ‘The people of this city stand greatly in need of being impressed with the seriousness of the situation and the need for all the men we can offer.’ – Sir John Gibson.

“ ‘It is not on the ‘hurrah boys’ basis, but on sober conviction of the necessity facing us that this recruiting campaign should be undertaken.’ – Lieut.-Col. Logie.

“ ‘Nobody in this city should begrudge a few extra mills on the dollar in the way of taxation for insurance for the soldiers.’ – Lieut.-Col. Logie.

“ ‘THE WOMEN OF ENGLAND, THE WOMEN OF CANADA, IN CASE OF GERMAN VICTORY, WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE SAME INHUMAN TREATMENT ACCORDED THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF BELGIUM.’ – Lieut. George Ballard.

“ ‘The people of Canada do not understand the seriousness of the situation; do not appreciate the fact that the future of their country and of their children is involved.’ – Lieut.-Col. Logie.

“ ‘The people of England have realized within the last six weeks what this war means to them. It is time that Canada woke up to the same realization.’ – Capt. Huggins.

“ ‘The citizens of Hamilton must be convinced of the necessity of sending contingents to the front and that need must be talked over in the homes with the women.’ – Lieut.-Col. Logie.

“ ‘  I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL TONIGHT THAT HAMILTON HAD NOT INSURED HER MEN NOW AT THE FRONT, AND I AM SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT FACT. THIS IS THE ONLY CITY IN CANADA WHICH HAS NOT DONE SO.’ – Captain Huggins.’²

² “You Young Men Who Can Enlist ! : What Say you to These Utterances at Last Night’s Meeting. Read ‘Em All”

Hamilton Spectator. July 8, 1915.

By July 9, 1915, just two days after the Hamilton Recruiting League has been formed, a prominently visible part of the League’s business appeared at the James street end of Gore Park, a recruiting station:

“This will be in charge of the various officers, who will have recruiting sergeants on the job to look after the applicants. The officers of the local garrison will take their turn in doing duty at the booth, while the recruiting sergeants will be drawn from overseas units already organized”³

^{3 “}Will Explain the Need for More Recruits”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 9, 1915.

Another effort was underway but not completed:

“The officers of the league are preparing a large poster showing to what measure the government, and the city protects the men and their families. The rates of pay, the government and patriotic fund allowances, pensions and insurance will be carefully explained, and thus putting this important part of the question before the public in a clear way for the first time since the war broke out.”³

By July 9, 1915, it was understood that there had been about 2,500 men from Hamilton and district who had volunteered to fight in the war. It was fully anticipated that another 1,000 recruits would be required before the end of the year.:

“In order that this number may be secured, the young men of this community and their parents must thoroughly realize the absolute need for the best the city can send out. There is no excuse for   the physically fit not going and the league’s undertaking will be to convince the public of that fract.”³