Ralph Humphreys Webb
Encyclopedia
Colonel Ralph Humphreys Webb, DSO
, MC
(August 30, 1886 – June 1, 1945) was a soldier and politician based in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served as the 31st Mayor of Winnipeg from 1925 to 1927 and again from 1930 to 1934, and also served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1932 to 1941. Webb was a member of the Conservative Party
.
Webb was born at sea, on a British
liner bound for India
. He worked as a deck hand on a whaling vessel, and rose in the ranks of the army during World War I
.
He was a virulent opponent of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919, calling for the deportation of "radical agitators" and urging "the whole gang be dumped in the Red River
".
His tenure as mayor began in 1924, when he defeated the incumbent Seymour J. Farmer
. Webb's candidacy was supported by the city's business community, and his support base was located in the city's wealthy south-end.
After a series of labour strikes in 1931, Webb urged the "deportation of all undesirables", including communists, from Canada. A staunch monarchist, he also attacked Chicago
's Big Bill Thompson for his criticisms of royalty.
A flamboyant politician, Webb was known as a strong civic booster and an effective salesman of Winnipeg on the international stage. After several re-elections, he was finally defeated by John Queen
in 1934.
Webb was first elected to the legislature in the 1932 provincial election
, defeating a candidate of the Independent Labour Party
in the constituency of Assiniboia.
He ran for re-election in Winnipeg in the 1936 campaign
. At the time, Winnipeg elected ten members by a single transferable ballot. Webb finished third on the first count, and was declared elected on the second.
Having served in opposition since 1915, the Conservatives joined an all-party coalition government
in 1940. Webb briefly served as a government backbencher, but did not seek re-election in 1941.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(August 30, 1886 – June 1, 1945) was a soldier and politician based in 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as the 31st Mayor of Winnipeg from 1925 to 1927 and again from 1930 to 1934, and also served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1932 to 1941. Webb was a member of the Conservative Party
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:...
.
Webb was born at sea, on a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
liner bound for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He worked as a deck hand on a whaling vessel, and rose in the ranks of the army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He was a virulent opponent of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919, calling for the deportation of "radical agitators" and urging "the whole gang be dumped in the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
".
His tenure as mayor began in 1924, when he defeated the incumbent Seymour J. Farmer
Seymour J. Farmer
Seymour James Farmer was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 30th mayor of Winnipeg from 1923 to 1924, and was later the leader of the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1935 to 1947. In the latter capacity, he became the first socialist politician in Canada to...
. Webb's candidacy was supported by the city's business community, and his support base was located in the city's wealthy south-end.
After a series of labour strikes in 1931, Webb urged the "deportation of all undesirables", including communists, from Canada. A staunch monarchist, he also attacked Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Big Bill Thompson for his criticisms of royalty.
A flamboyant politician, Webb was known as a strong civic booster and an effective salesman of Winnipeg on the international stage. After several re-elections, he was finally defeated by John Queen
John Queen
John Queen was a Manitoba politician, and the second parliamentary leader of that province's Independent Labour Party...
in 1934.
Webb was first elected to the legislature in the 1932 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, defeating a candidate of the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
in the constituency of Assiniboia.
He ran for re-election in Winnipeg in the 1936 campaign
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
. At the time, Winnipeg elected ten members by a single transferable ballot. Webb finished third on the first count, and was declared elected on the second.
Having served in opposition since 1915, the Conservatives joined an all-party coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
in 1940. Webb briefly served as a government backbencher, but did not seek re-election in 1941.