Patrons of Industry in Manitoba
Encyclopedia
The Patrons of Industry
was initially a fraternal organization based in the United States and Canada. During the 1890s, the Canadian Patrons became politically active, running provincial and federal candidates in Ontario
and Manitoba
. The party's provincial leader was Charles Braithwaite
, who was chosen at a convention held in November 1891.
The Manitoba Patrons were initially focused on coordinating an agrarian cooperative movement in the province, but turned to political action in 1894. Following a tour of the province by Braithwaite (who was a spellbinder orator), the Patrons succeeded in nominating candidates in all but two of the province's ridings, in anticipation of the next provincial election.
The Patrons were the first "third party" to emerge in Manitoba after partisan government was formally introduced to the province in 1888. They opposed both Conservatives
and Liberals
, and were for a time affiliated with Dalton McCarthy
, a dissident federal Conservative.
On August 23, 1894, the Patrons were recognized as a significant force in Manitoba politics when their candidate John Forsyth defeated Conservative leader John Andrew Davidson
in a Beautiful Plains by-election. But there was no Liberal candidate in the race.
The party was unable to follow up on its early successes. Forsyth was expelled from the Patrons in 1895 for using a railway pass (given free to legislators) in violation of party policy. Subsequently, the party became internally divided over the Manitoba Schools Question
. Many Catholic Patrons were alienated by the party's support of Premier Thomas Greenway
's efforts to eliminate denominational schools, and left the party as such. The Patrons ran only seven candidates in the provincial election of 1896
, and only two of them were elected: Watson Crosby in Dennis and William Sirett in Beautiful Plains.
The Patrons also ran candidates in two provincial by-elections in 1896, but were not successful in either. Three Manitoba Patrons (including Braithwaite) ran for the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1896 federal election
, but all finished third in their ridings.
Braithwaite stepped down as party leader in January 1897, and the party effectively ceased to exist after this time. Crosby died in 1897, and Sirett did not run for re-election in 1899.
In addition to supporting agrarian interests, the Patrons also supported prohibition, universal suffrage (for men and women) and electoral reform. These policies would later re-emerge in the platform of the Progressive Party of Canada
.
Patrons of Industry
The Grand Association of the Patrons of Industry in Ontario was a Canadian farmers' organization formed in 1890 that cooperated with the urban labour movement to address the political frustrations of both groups with big business....
was initially a fraternal organization based in the United States and Canada. During the 1890s, the Canadian Patrons became politically active, running provincial and federal candidates in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. The party's provincial leader was Charles Braithwaite
Charles Braithwaite
Charles Braithwaite was a Manitoba politician and agrarian leader. From 1891 to 1897, he was the leader of the province's Patrons of Industry....
, who was chosen at a convention held in November 1891.
The Manitoba Patrons were initially focused on coordinating an agrarian cooperative movement in the province, but turned to political action in 1894. Following a tour of the province by Braithwaite (who was a spellbinder orator), the Patrons succeeded in nominating candidates in all but two of the province's ridings, in anticipation of the next provincial election.
The Patrons were the first "third party" to emerge in Manitoba after partisan government was formally introduced to the province in 1888. They opposed both Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
and Liberals
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, and were for a time affiliated with Dalton McCarthy
Dalton McCarthy
Dalton McCarthy , or D'Alton McCarthy, was a Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian. It was his firm, Boulton & McCarthy in Barrie, that was the first incarnation of what is now Canada's largest law firm, McCarthy Tétrault.McCarthy was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1878...
, a dissident federal Conservative.
On August 23, 1894, the Patrons were recognized as a significant force in Manitoba politics when their candidate John Forsyth defeated Conservative leader John Andrew Davidson
John Andrew Davidson
John Andrew Davidson was a Manitoba politician. He was briefly the leader of Manitoba's Conservative parliamentary caucus in 1894, and later served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Hugh John Macdonald and Rodmond P. Roblin.Davidson was born in Thamesford, Canada West...
in a Beautiful Plains by-election. But there was no Liberal candidate in the race.
The party was unable to follow up on its early successes. Forsyth was expelled from the Patrons in 1895 for using a railway pass (given free to legislators) in violation of party policy. Subsequently, the party became internally divided over the Manitoba Schools Question
Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba Schools Question was a political crisis in the Canadian Province of Manitoba that occurred late in the 19th century, involving publicly funded separate schools for Roman Catholics and Protestants...
. Many Catholic Patrons were alienated by the party's support of Premier Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
's efforts to eliminate denominational schools, and left the party as such. The Patrons ran only seven candidates in the provincial election of 1896
Manitoba general election, 1896
This was the ninth Manitoba general election and was held on January 15, 1896....
, and only two of them were elected: Watson Crosby in Dennis and William Sirett in Beautiful Plains.
The Patrons also ran candidates in two provincial by-elections in 1896, but were not successful in either. Three Manitoba Patrons (including Braithwaite) ran for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1896 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1896
The Canadian federal election of 1896 was held on June 23, 1896 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Canada. Though the Conservative Party won a plurality of the popular vote, the Liberal Party, led by Wilfrid Laurier, won the majority of seats to form the...
, but all finished third in their ridings.
Braithwaite stepped down as party leader in January 1897, and the party effectively ceased to exist after this time. Crosby died in 1897, and Sirett did not run for re-election in 1899.
In addition to supporting agrarian interests, the Patrons also supported prohibition, universal suffrage (for men and women) and electoral reform. These policies would later re-emerge in the platform of the Progressive Party of Canada
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
.