The end of the First World War marked
many changes in Canada and the world. Another change
which was underway as the post war years began was that
of the changing of the guard for both the Liberal and
the Conservative parties. The earth shaking events of
the Great War, the Russian Revolution, and the general
reallocation of people and resources in the Canadian
economy and community, had created a new political
landscape. In
1917 Mackenzie King, who was the incumbent MP for the
York North riding had decided that he would not run in
the upcoming general election. The Laurier banner had
lost it's lustre in Ontario, the conscription question
would hurt his chances in a pro-conscription riding and
the fact that thousands of women, who would back the
Conservatives, would now be able to vote, all conspired
against him, It was only when Laurier made a direct
appeal to King telling him "you must run" that he gave
in and joined the election fray. He lost, but only by
about 1,000 votes which was not bad considering the
Conservative landslide in most other parts of Ontario.
King channelled his
efforts into developing his skills as a mediator and
student of labour management relations. He worked for
the Rockefellers and Andrew Carnegie in the U.S. wrote a
book on labour economics. On February 17, 1919 word came
that Laurier had passed away and King was immediately at
work determining his chances of successfully running for
the leadership of the Liberal Party. He shrewdly
analysed the situation and realized that he had stuck
with the party during the rough times and had not
deserted to the Union banner, he was a young dynamic
contender going up against W.S. Fielding who was over 70
and had voted for conscription, and the Liberals would
start with a lock on Quebec due to the Conservatives
conscription position.
King also knew that the Liberals were
well positioned to win the general election due to the
grass roots strength the held across the country, the
view many had of the new Conservative leader and an
overall desire for change in government. He came in out
favour of old age pensions, unemployment insurance, a
form of medial support, pensions for widows and a
role for labour in the economy. His speech at the
convention in August, was very good and his praise of
Laurier and portraying himself as the heir to the
Liberal tradition brought the delegates to their feet.
By the fourth ballot he final managed to pull ahead of
Fielding, 476 votes to 438.
Arthur Meighen had
first meet Robert Borden in the small Manitoba town of
Portage la Prairie where they exchanged a few brief
words, but Borden was impressed. By 1911 when Border
took power, Meighen was elected as an MP and by 1913 he
was made Solicitor General which started him on his
climb to the party leadership. During the war he
investigated was profiteering and ran up against Sam
Hughes and another future Conservative Prime Minister
R.B. Bennett. He also wrote and guided the Wartime
Elections Act through Parliament in 1917 and then took
responsibility for implementing the conscription laws.
This relationship with these two pieces of legislation
made him damage goods in Quebec for the rest of his
life. After the
war he became the Federal representative during the
handling of the Winnipeg General Strike and during that
event he alienated the labour forces completely by being
a strong backer of business and the authorities.
By the spring of 1920 Sir Robert Borden
was exhausted and tired. He had been in politics since
the death of Macdonald and was ready to retire. He
supported Meighen as his handpicked successor and on
July 10th, 1920 after Meighen had won the Conservative
leadership race, Borden and Meighen made a visit to the
Governor General's residence and Meighen was sworn in as
Prime Minister.
At 46 Meighen was the youngest Prime Minister in
Canadian history and seemed fit to continue the
Conservative dominance in the Federal parliament.
Meighen and King had been classmates at the University
of Toronto and Meighen was sure he could handle King, as
were many other Conservative leaders for the next 30
years. By December 29th, 1921 he was out of office and
Mackenzie King was Prime Minister. The transition to new
leadership had been made and it was to prove to be a
tough one for the Conservatives. |
