“The date for the big mass meeting, under the
auspices of the Great War Veterans’ association, to discuss with the public the
advisability of having all alien enemies ousted from Canada, has been changed
to Sunday, Feb. 9, and, instead of meetings in three theaters as first planned,
it has been decided to hold only one in the Lyric theater. The doors will open
at 2:30 o’clock and the meeting will commence at three o’clock sharp.”
Hamilton Spectator. January 30, 1919.
Hamilton, like other cities
in Canada, was in a state of upheaval in early 1919. The declaration of an
armistice being signed on November 11, 1918, had effectively stopped all open
conflict in the Great War, although an official peace treaty had not been
signed by the end of January 1919.
The Hamilton factories which
had been producing huge amounts of munitions for the war effort, suddenly found
its contracts with the government cut. Munition workers soon were put out of
work as the factories had to regroup for the peacetime economy. Added to the volatile
ranks of the unemployed were large numbers of soldiers returning from western
Europe, each looking for work.
Finally, there were a number
of “alien enemies’ in the city, men from countries which had be the opponents
in the Great War, notably those from Germany, and the former country of
Austro-Hungarian. These men had been employed in the munitions factories for
the most part and were viewed with great suspicion and hostility by those
seeking work. It was estimated that about 5,000 men were unemployed in Hamilton
in January 1919, and if nothing else, it was fervently hoped that the ‘enemy
aliens’ would be deported so that they would no longer compete locally with
others seeking work.
To push the federal
government to do something about the alien labor problem, a mass meeting was
organized to be held on Sunday, February 9, 1919:
“On the stage will be about
100 prominent citizens, representing the Dominion and provincial parliaments,
city council, Canadian club, board of trade, trades and labor council,
Independent Labor party, Kiwanis club, Rotary club, medical health department,
police commissioners, Daughters of the Empire, Women’s Canadian club,
Manufacturers’ association, and soldiers’ aid commission. Mayor Booker will be
present also and open the meeting. It is being arranged for several of the most
prominent men to speak, and their names will be announced later.
“The subject for discussion
will be Alien Enemies and Their Deportation from Canada, which will embody the
labor question and employment for returned soldiers.
“It is likely that the
returned men will parade to the theater, accompanied by the veterans’ band,
which will furnish music during the afternoon and occupy a section which will
be reserved for them. The boxes of the theater will be reserved also.
“The G.W.V.A. wishes to
thank J.A. Wall, genial manager of the Lyric, for granting them the use of the
theater. “Mr. Wall is always to the front when there is anything to be done for
the returned man,’ stated Secretary Cooke this morning, ‘and we wish him to
know that all he has done is greatly appreciated.’1
1 “Veterans
Want Aliens Ousted : Big Mass Meeting at the Lyric, Sunday, Feb. 9 : Soldiers
Will Parade in a Body to Theater”
Hamilton Spectator. January 30, 1919.
Just one day before the mass meeting was to be held, it seemed that not all the major Hamilton organizations shared exactly the same view on the deportations being urged”
“The trades and labor council held its regular
monthly meeting last night. Many communications were received and dealt with,
and as a result the election of officers which was to have been held last
night, was deferred until the next meeting. A resolution from the G.W.V.A.,
dealing with the alien enemies was received, and a request that the trades and
labor council endorse same. After a lengthy discussion the following resolution
was unanimously carried :
‘While the trades and labor
council is in sympathy with the G.W.V.A. in its desire to rid the country of
all alien enemies, we feel the resolution as passed by it is too drastic., and
while this council cannot see its way clear to endorse the resolution of the
G.W.V.A. in its entirety , we do go on record as favoring the deportation of
alien enemies who were interned and, by word or deed, have proven themselves to
be disloyal to the country, and who are otherwise known to be dangerous, but
that the other alien enemies be allowed to leave the country at their own
pleasure. We also favor the deportation of all aliens who have been convicted
of criminal offense.”2
2 “Would
Deport Alien Enemies : But Only Lawbreakers Or Those Disloyal : That Is
Attitude of Trades and Labor Council ”
Hamilton Spectator. February 08, 1919.
Hearing rumors of the
possibility of efforts to weaken the resolve to deport aliens forthwith, the
leadership of the Great War Veterans’ association, which was the lead in
organizing the mass meeting, would not entertain any watering down of the
resolution which was to be put forward during the mass meeting:
“The Great War Veterans’ association this
morning received a report that officials of some of the larger organizations to
be represented at the public mass meeting, to be held in the Lyric theater
tomorrow afternoon, had taken objection to the resolution which the vets would
submit concerning the aliens and their proposed deportation, and hurriedly
called a meeting to discuss the matter, the meeting being held in one of the
uptown offices. It was claimed that the resolution was too drastic and that a
committee of citizens should be appointed to make an investigation of present
conditions before the resolution was passed as being the feeling of the people
of Hamilton.
“Speaking in reference to
the matter this morning, President A.H. Peart, of the east end G.W.V.A.,
announced that it was too late now to make any alterations in the resolution.
It had been drafted very carefully by officials of both branches of the Great
War Veterans’ association and, in order to make any changes it would be
necessary to call the men together again. This, he said, would not be done.
“ ‘The time has passed for
further dilly-dallying on the alien question,’ he said, ‘and the returned
soldiers in Hamilton are going to stand behind the resolution. Too much time
had been lost already and we are going right through with our undertaking. The
resolution will stand as it is at present and it will be moved tomorrow
afternoon without any changes being made, eithers.
“Doors of the theater will
be thrown open to the public at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon and the meeting
will commence promptly at 3 o’clock.
“Among the speakers will be
H.G. Fester, representing the trades and labor council; Controller Halcrow,
Independent Labor party, and either George A. Martin or A.C. Garden, for the
board of trade. The Canadian club, Rotary club, police commissioners, board of
health, Manufacturers’ association and other bodies will be represented also.
“The resolution will be
moved by Fred. Tresham and seconded by S.M. Jordan.”3
3 “War
Veterans Will Stand By the Resolution : Refuse to Back Down On the Alien
Question : Express Determination to See It Through : Say There Has Been Too
Much Dilly-Dallying ”
Hamilton Spectator. February 08, 1919.
Sunday February 9 arrived
and the turnout for the mass meeting was overwhelming
The Spectator published the
following detailed account of the meeting for its issue appearing on Monday,
February 10, 1919:
“With the unanimous endorsation and the
thunderous acclamation of a mighty gathering of well-nigh 10,000 citizens,
representative of every class of the community, stern resolutions, demanding
the immediate deportation of enemy aliens and other undesirable foreigners,
were sent on to the Dominion government from the great War Veterans’ meeting
and outside the Lyric theater on Sunday afternoon.
“Following are the
resolutions, sponsored by the Great War Veterans’ association and endorsed by
the Hamilton board of trade, the Canadian club and the Hamilton trades and
labor council:
‘Moved by F.W.
Tresham, past president of the Great War Veterans of Hamilton, seconded by
Sergt.-Major W. Jordan, D.C.M.:
‘That
whereas there in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, and throughout Canada, a great
number of people of German, Austrian, Turkish and Bulgarian origin, whom it is
impossible to assimilate as Canadian citizens;
‘And
whereas during the war, the majority of these alien enemies enjoyed their
liberty and the protection of Canada without in any way contributing to the
burden of the war;
‘And
whereas at the present time, many of these alien enemies and other undesirables
are employed in various industries throughout the country to the exclusion of
our own true and loyal Canadian citizens;
‘And
whereas it is the desire of the assembled citizens, in unison with the
government, to promote future peace and harmony by constitutional methods;
‘Now,
therefore, be it resolved, that we urge upon the government the necessity of
removing the menace constituted by the presence of these enemy aliens and other
undesirables in Canada by their immediate deportation to the countries from
which they came;
‘And
be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the
acting prime minister of Canada and such other persons and bodies as may be
designated by the chairman and secretary of this meeting;
‘And
be it further resolved that a committee of five be appointed by this meeting to
convey this resolution to the proper authorities’
‘Moved
by A.C. Garden, seconded by A.H. Peart
‘That
the government of the Dominion of Canada be requested to appoint a deportation
committee, composed of citizens of Hamilton, with full power, to have deported
from this city all undesirable and unpatriotic aliens to their respective
countries of birth or naturalization.
‘Moved
by Lieut.-Col. C.R. McCullough, seconded by Lieut. Charles W. Heming:
‘Resolved,
that in order to co-operate with returned soldiers seeking employment and with
employers of labor, and with the object of facilitating employment of such
returned soldiers, a co-operative committee, composed of one representative of
the west end branch of the G.W.V.A., one from the east end branch of the
G.W.V.A., one from the Hamilton board of trade, one from the Canadian club of
Hamilton and one from the ranks of labor, be appointed by this meeting of the
citizens of the city of Hamilton, to enter forthwith upon the labors devolving
upon such committee.’
THREE
GREAT AUDIENCES
“Yesterday’s demonstration
was one of the greatest in Hamilton’s history and bespoke the tremendous
interest of the community concerning the alien question and its determination
to have it settled, and that right soon. The L:yric theater was totally
inadequate to contain the endless tide of men and women that poured from all
parts of the city. About 2,500 were in the house when the doors were locked
before 3 o’clock, with nearly three times that number waiting outside. Overflow
meetings were hastily arranged. Sergt.-Major Jordan, R.G. Fester and G.C.
Martin addressed a great crowd on Mary street outside the theater, while
Controller Halcrow harangued another huge throng from the steps of the city
hall. The resolutions were given a noisy endorsation, with hats thrown in the
air.
“It was a critical and at
time testy audience that was packed in the Lyric theater. There was but one
business on hand, and that toinform the government of the feeling of the
community on the alien question. No wavering half-measures, or modifications
were tolerated, and F.F. MacPherson, representing the executive of the Canadian
club who pleaded that discretion be exercised in deporting the aliens, was
greeted with such a storm of hissing that he ceased to speak.
STRONG LANGUAGE
“Strong terminology was
brought into use by the speakers. Sergt.-Major Jordan called the aliens
‘miserable vermin.’ They were of ‘a miserable, skunk-like type,’ according to
his worship, Mayor Brooker. George C. Martin, speaking of conscientious
objectors, called them ‘infernal skunks.’
“A.H. Peart, president of
the G.W.V.A., gave warning that if the government did not meet the demand of
the veterans he would not care to take responsibility for what might happen.
REPRESENTATIVE AUDIENCE
“It could be truly said that the gathering was truly representative of every class of the community, although returned soldiers and working men seemed to predominate. An amusing feature was the presence of quite a sprinkling of foreigners, who endorsed by standing vote the resolution calling for their immediate deportation.
“The Great War Veterans’
band was on the stage and gave excellent music during the afternoon.
MAYOR C.G. BOOKER
“Mayor Booker, who presided,
said in his opening remarks that there were two kinds of aliens – the friendly
aliens, who had stood side by side with the allied cause, and were deserving of
every kindness, and the representatives of ‘the bestial, skunk-like type’ who
fattened on the sacrifices of the Canadian soldiers who were fighting the men
of their own nation. ‘Get rid of them,’ said his worship.
“ ‘This is no time for
supiness; we want strong men at the head of our affairs, so that these men who
have been living upon the sacrifices of
our own boys should be sent out of the country for all time to come and that
none of their breed be allowed to enter this country for the next fifty years,’
the mayor went on. He concluded with an extempore paraphrase of Psalm cxx1.
F.W. TESHAM
“The main resolution was
introduced by F.W. Tresham, past president of the Great War Veterans’
association.
“ ‘We are actuated by a
desire to serve the best interests of the community,’ said Mr. Tresham. ‘There
are in the city of Hamilton, and throughout the Dominion, a great number of
persons of alien enemy extraction who are permitted to enjoy the protection of
Canada, and yet have been enabled to escape the burden of the war. Not only
have they been immune from the responsibilities of citizenship, but they have
been afforded exceptional opportunities of profiting by the war while the loyal
sons of Canada shed their blood for freedom in Flanders and France. It is true
that a few of these were interned, but the great majority of them were not
interfered with, and the consequence is that the average alien enemy has become
imbued with a wrong idea of their status in this country. They have become
drunk with prosperity and emboldened by what they conceive to be the weakness of
the government. Strong steps must be taken to save our country from future
strife and internal disruption.
“ ‘Germany is still
dangerous politically. The Germans are past masters at the art of propaganda.
They are past masters at the art of propaganda. They are seeking to bring about
a state of chaos in the allied countries similar to that they established in
Russia. I hear people saying that the Germans are all right because they are
treating the Canadian boys so well in Germany. It is a dangerous doctrine to
preach. Do not let ourselves become tools in the hand of the enemy. The German
people have proved themselves unworthy, and we must never permit any influence
to be brought to bear that would place the Germans on the same footing as our
own Canadian boys.
“There are in our midst
undesirable aliens other than enemy aliens who are really a menace to the
welfare of the community and they ought to be deported right away. It may be
news to some of you to know that there are right in this city out-and-out anarchists
and not a few Bolsheviks. Bolshevism is the child of German intrigue. We don’t
want it in this country. (Loud applause.)
We have their names and addresses and stand prepared to support the
authorities in taking action to protect society against them. It is time that
all true and loyal citizens should get together in the spirit of co-operation
and give and take to adjust differences between themselves at this time. The
big people must come down to the viewpoint of the other chap, and the other must
take into consideration the view of the big people. (Applause.) The man who
seeks to create war between capital and labor, I don’t care who he is –
laborer, soldier or manufacturer – is an enemy to this country. Give the
returned man his due. All he asks for is a square deal and a chance to get
along on the word. (Applause.) I think that the idea that every returned
soldier is a crank, every workingman a chronic kicker, and every manufacturer a
crook, is simply ridiculous. The extremists are pretty well distributed.
“ ‘If the government doesn’t
meet our demands, then we will fire a volley of ballots that will be more
effective than bullets, at the earliest days,’ assured Mr. Tresham. ‘If they do
not do what the people call upon them to mdo, then out they go! (Loud
applause.)
“ ‘So long as the alien
enemies remain in this country, they will be a constant source of irritation
and trouble. The government must give them a one-way excursion ticket,’ Mr.
Tresham said in conclusion.
“His last remark was greeted
with cries of ‘Make them pay their own way.’
SERGT.-MAJ. WILLIAM JORDAN, D.C.M.
“William Jordan, D.C.M.,
late regimental sergeant-major of the P.P.C.L.I., seconded the resolution.
“ ‘The Germans plotted
against civilization for forty years,’ he said, ‘and the devastation that they
have wrought in France and Belgium has made the name of Germany stink in the
nostrils of civilization. We don’t want to be unfair, we don’t want to adopt
any unconstitutional methods. People ask us why don’t we do the same as they
did in Winnipeg? I am the last person in the world to sanction any such methods
and wold stand aloof from it, for it is not playing the game. We have learned
to play the game in France and Belgium. There is a great deal of unrest at the
present time, and I hold that the government is absolutely to blame.
(Applause.) They have shown that they are not strong enough to deal with this
question. Many a time have these questions been brought before them, and the
deputations have waited upon them at Ottawa, but they have always sidestepped.
But we are determined that on this question the government shall not sidestep .
They have got to come across; they have got to do something. We demand that
these aliens be immediately deported to the countries from which they came.
“ ‘There are in this city,
4,000 alien enemies, and nearly all of them holding jobs. (Cries of ‘Kick them
out!) There are in this city 5,000 true and loyal Canadian citizens walking the
streets without employment. (Cries of ‘Shame!)
“ ‘Let us see that these
miserable vermin that have been allowed to run at large and flout the laws of
this country be exterminated as far as Canada is concerned,’ said the
sergeant-major in conclusion.
H.G. FESTER
“Labor’s viewpoint was ably
set forth by H.G. Fester, of the trades and labor council.
“ ‘While we have possibly
disagreed a little of the phrasing of the resolution, we are solidly behind its
principles.,’ Mr. Fester announced, amidst applause. ‘You will readily
understand that in our organization comprising so many different classes and
kinds of people, it is only natural that there should be some extremists at
both ends of the line, and we have had some very bitter battles over this
question during the past month or so. However, the great bulk of opinion has
been solidly in favor of this resolution. There are thousands of enemy aliens
in this country who have spoken disloyally during the war, and these should be
weeded out and sent back. Again, we hear a lot about the so-called friendly
aliens. WE find that they are giving the police just as much trouble as the
enemy aliens.
“The labor movement has no
apologies to make regarding the aliens, friendly or enemy. Time after time we
have adjured the government to be careful as to the class of men whom they were
permitting to enter the country. But the government paid no heed. They were the
representatives of certain interests and classes who desired to obtain cheap
labor, and lots of it! (Hear, Hear!) The labor movement long realized what it
meant.
“When the country was
unexpectedly thrust into the war, we sent our sons in hundreds of thousands.
They have discharged their duty. Now they are coming back and they are asking
for the right to live. Let us consider the promises made to them. ‘Your jobs
are waiting for you when you come back, boys,’ they were told. (Laughter!) How
many jobs are waiting for them, now they come back? (Cries of ‘none.’) Labor
pointed out throughout the war that the government should get on the job and
appoint committees to deal with the employment question the day that the war
came to a close. What have they done? (Nothing!)
“ ‘But the government alone
is not to blame,’ Mr. Fester continued. ‘The big, powerful capitalistic
interests must bear part of the blame.
“ ‘There is one firm right
here in Hamilton – (‘Give us the name!’ – from all over the audience.) Very
well, let us call it the Tuckett company with one of its directors a powerful
man in the government – (Cries of ‘General Mewburn!) – the managers of which
went among its employees telling them that if they would enlist, their jobs
would be waiting for them when they came back. They put up placards to the same
effect on the factory walls. What have they done now? They have closed down
their plant in Hamilton and moved to Montreal to get the cheap labor in Quebec.
(Cries of ‘Shame!’) In Toronto, they of a similar stripe also moved to
Montreal. I could cite hundreds of cases in which the manufacturers have given
the returned soldiers a raw deal.
“ ‘Personally, I hope that
discretion will be exercised in the deportation of these alien enemies. There
are many who have settled down and married Canadian women and are living decent
lives in the community. I believe that the Great War Veterans association has
this in mind.
F.F. MACPHERSON
“Mr. MacPherson,
representing the Canadian club, embarked well enough when he expressed his
personal indignation at the arrogant attitude of the alien enemies who have
been allowed to profit by the war. ‘They would be treated as enemies, and not
allowed to go free to make big wages,’ Mr. MacPherson said. ‘Our executive
certainly endorsed the principle of this resolution, but we, independently of
the opinion of other bodies, would certainly like to see discretion exercised
as to who should be deported. I have been out in the west, where many of the
aliens are living as reputable citizens of the country, for they are all alike.
Some of them have fulfilled the duties of citizenship, although they have not
become assimilated. It is partly our own fault, for we have allowed them to
collect in communities so that they have not come under the Canadianizing
influences. We hope that something will be done in the future to make such a
condition impossible in our country.’
“The murmurs of dissent
which had followed the latter portion of Mr. MacPherson’s address culminated at
this point in a storm of hissing and cries of ‘Kick them out!’ and the speaker,
sensing that his doctrine was not acceptable, gracefully withdrew.
A.C. GARDEN
“ ‘The only objection that
we have to make with the resolution is that it did not go far enough,’ was the
statement of A.C. Garden, president of the board of trade, in introducing the
first subsidiary resolution which was loudly applauded. ‘The resolution was
sent to us by the G.W.V.A. and it was considered by one of the largest meetings
of the council who was out fully in accord with it. It is exactly what the
people of Hamilton feel and what the people of Canada feel.
“Mr. Garden proceeded to
give a few figures. ‘There are in our city 4,554 enemy aliens who have to
report every month to the police station here. Out of that 4,554, there are
only 36 Germans and a few Turks. There are over two thousand Austrians and two
thousand Bulgarians.
“Statistics show that 80 per
cent of the police court cases in Hamilton were foreign cases. Hamilton has no
right to take the onuses of the offences of these men. Eighty-five per cent of
the convicted criminals of this city last year were aliens. There needs to be a
fine combing out of these undesirables
so that they can be returned from whence they came.
“ ‘I am aware that messages
have been passing between the war conference and Ottawa concerning the enemies
which have been interned. Arrangements should be made as soon as possible to
ship out the enemy aliens somewhere. I hope that the government will
exterminate these miserable vermin from our land legally, lawfully, effectually
and eternally.’ Prolonged applause followed Mr. Garden’s address.
A.H.PRATT
“The first subsidiary
resolution was seconded by A.H. Pratt, president of the East Hamilton Great War
Veterans’ association.
“ ‘We have been working for
twelve solid months on this question,’ he declared in commencement. ‘We have
been to Ottawa time after time, and it has been the old waste paper basket time
after time. They told us the last time that it was an international question
that could only be decided when the armistice was signed. Now it’s wait till
the peace conference is over. I believe that with quick action the aliens could
be all out of the country by the time that the conference is over.
“ ‘They claim that they have
not enough ships. They had enough ships
to take 4,000 soldiers overseas – surely they can find enough transports to
carry back 40,000 aliens.
“ ‘It is said, ‘don’t
criticize the government too much. I do criticize the government from Sir
Robert Borden down. (Applause.) We have always been sidestepped. But we don’t
intend to be sidestepped again. We have so much trouble with pensions and
widows’ pensions and disability allowances that we are about ready to take some
action if the government won’t take any action. I believe in everybody laying
their cards right on the table – soldiers, labor, employers, government,
everybody.
“ ‘We had a great big
meeting on the same question last year. Where did we get? Nowhere. The last
time we didn’t have the board of trade gentlemen behind us; but they are now
because they see we have had a rotten deal ever since we started to come back
home. We have just as much brains and intelligence as the big people say they
have.
“ ‘When this deputation is
sent to Ottawa, it will never leave until it knows that what we demand is going
to be done. We have enough of the old four-flushing about ‘serious
consideration.’
“ ‘We are counselled to be
calm. But I am here to tell you that this thing is spreading fast. There are
25,000 fully paid up members in Ontario, and 60,000 throughout the Dominion,
and hundreds are joining every day. The government tried to put the onus on the
manufacturer. I put it right back on the people at Ottawa, for they have got
the power.
“ ‘There is a bone of
contention between soldiers and the labor people. Why? Because certain unions
have taken in alien enemies. Our comrades disagree with them. We want them to
throw out the alien enemies. It is said that 90 per cent of the rank and file
in the armies were composed of laboring men. Labor should keep its ranks clean.
GAVE WARNING
“ ‘Some of the speakers have
deprecated any unconstitutional methods on the part of the returned soldiers.
As a member of the provincial executive, I say that I will refuse to take
responsibility much longer if the government refuses to take action regarding
the aliens. If the government doesn’t do something for us, we intend to tell
the citizens the truth. You boys all knew that when you left the front on leave
you were pledged to tell nothing about what you knew. We kept our word. Now the
government is getting a little scared because we are asking for a square deal.
If we can’t get anything done in a constitutional way, we shall do it in other
ways.
“ ‘We are in possession of
facts concerning the manufacturing plants employing enemy aliens. We know what
money they are getting in a great many cases. One or two of the firms have
awakened and are up and doing and have shown
themselves as gentlemen in their dealing with the returned men. We find it
isn’t always the manufacturer to blame. Many of them have lost their sons over
there, although they can get the ‘flavor’ of the thing as we can. The trouble
we find in the factories is with the straw bosses and foremen. (‘Hear, Hear’)
“ ‘We need to discuss this
thing in the trenches, in the dugouts and in the reserve billets. The boys
declared that they were going to change conditions in this country when they
came back. But a great many of the boys who made that pledge will never come
back. The returned soldiers have a duty to the dead, and they are going to
fulfill that duty.
ANOTHER RESOLUTION
“The second subsidiary
resolution was moved by Lieut.-Col. Charles R. McCullough without any comment.
Lieut. C.W. Heming, president of the West Hamilton Great War Veterans’
association in seconding the resolution, declared that the government had been
‘too soft’ in its treatment of the aliens, and asserted that his own brother,
Townley Heming, had been murdered by an enemy alien.
“The original form of this
resolution provided for a representative from each of the east and west
branches of the G.W.V.A., the board of trade, the Canadian club and a fifth
representative appointed by the committee thus formed. A lady asked why labor
was not represented, so the resoutin was amended to provide that the fifth
member should represent the labor interests. In this form the motion passed
with enthusiasm.
BITTER AGAINST OBJECTORS.
“The question as to the
disposition of the conscientious objectors now serving in the various
penitentiaries and other institutions was dragged into the discussion, the
council of the board of trade seeking support for a strong resolution it is
sending to the acting prime minister against the release of the objectors from
prison.
“ ‘Thank God,’ Mayor Booker
ejaculated, ‘they are in jail!’ But I have just received a letter asking me
whether I was in favor of letting these men go who had refused to their part in
this war. I put that letter in the fire like a flas of lightning.’
“ ‘The infernal skunks!’ was the elegant term applied by
George C. Martin, of the council of the board of trade, to the objectors. He
said that the council mhad received a secular from the father of one of the
objectors asking if it was in favor of granting the objectors their release,
and if so, requesting that Sir Thomas White, acting prime minister, be informed
forthwith.
“ “If there is a mean thing
that crawls on the earth, it is the conscientious objector,’ said Mr. Martin.
‘Of course, there may be one or two of them who might be absolutely
conscientious.’
“ ‘Let them get out of the
country if they are unwilling to fight,’ interrupted Mayor Booker.
“ ‘But they should either be
kept in jail for the rest of their lives or be heavily fined to the extent that
they can pay and forever barred the franchise of Canadian citizenship. We are
putting through a mighty good strong resolution asking the government to put
these fellows where they belong.’
“At this point a soldier
jumped up and protested against the inequality of the sentences of the
conscientious objectors and defaulters. The objectors were given two and ten
years while in Quebec the defaulters were being assessed 35. The soldiers had
witnessed against the objectors at Niagara camp, ‘and they were a poor,
miserable lot,’ he said.
“God Save the King was sung
with great enthusiasm and the great gathering dispersed amidst the music of the
G.W.V.A. band.”4
4 “Feeling
Strong for Aliens’ Deportation : Lyric Theater Crowded to the Doors, and
Overflow Meetings Necessitated : Resolutions Adopted by Standing Vote at
Gathering Under G.W.V.A. Auspices”
Hamilton Spectator. February 10, 1919.
The Spectator also carried a
strong editorial endorsing what had been resolved at the mass meeting:
“There can be no possible shadow of doubt,
after the remarkable demonstration at the Lyric theater yesterday afternoon –
if any existed before – as to the prevailing sentiment of Hamilton regarding
the question of alien labor. The densely-packed theater, and the huge throngs
unable to obtain admission, are the outward signs of a resistless current of
opinion, which cannot be longer held in check by mere expressions of sympathy
and specious promises. Action, not words, is demanded, and if the government is
wise, it will try to sense the viewpoint of the people; for it will be a fatal
policy to ignore the growing temper of impatience – ‘disgust,’ as one War
Veteran put it – with the methods of officialdom. The meager outcome of a
similar mass meeting held last year in the Temple theater was referred to by
President Peart, of the East end branch of the Great War Veterans, and he made
it unmistakably plain that the organization he represented would not submit
quietly to a similar result on the present occasion. It must ne recognized, however, that transportation
is not the only difficulty the government has to contend with. A reasonable
time must be given.
“Enemy aliens must go –
there is not question about that and no compromise possible. And, in addition
to the enemy aliens, there are ‘undesirables’ – the degenerates and criminals
of whatever nationality – which also cannot be retained. Mr. Tresham, in moving
a resolution to this effect, expressed himself and those he represented as
being ‘actuated solely by a desire to serve the best interests of Canada.’ He
had his audience with him in everything he said. He warned against German
propaganda, and the presence in Hamilton of a ‘number of out-and-out Anarchists
and not a few Bolshevists, Bolshevism being the child of German intrigue.’ The
volleys of applause with which these remarks were greeted are indicative of the
staunch loyalty of the Canadian workers. The keynote of the whole meeting was,
plainly, to seek redress by constitutional means, to put the legal machinery in
motion. Such a loyal attitude should be rewarded, not exploited. It cannot be
denied that a commendable spirit of patience has been exhibited by the people
so far in the matter of alien labor; but there is a limit, and that limit has
now been reached. Promises will not do; there must be speedy and definite
action.”5
5 “Must
Act Promptly”
Hamilton Spectator. February 10, 1919.
