 Not only as the city's leading financier, but as President of Winnipeg Electric he was also the leading employer in Winnipeg.Despite all he had done to grow Winnipeg from its roots before the war and all his work to support Canadian soldiers – particularly those from Manitoba – during the war, he became a figure of contempt to many.Not only did the supporters of the Labour Party of Canada who had argued against Conscription turn against him, but also many of the soldiers who he had done so much to support rallied against him when they returned home to find their jobs had been taken by immigrants who had continued to come West during the war.