august july fifth premier alberta canada serving born ontario studied history political science moving west calgary lawyer clients included alberta connection lobby group involved founding entered electoral politics won election new premier asked serve attorney general agreed elected election riding attorney general important member government closely involved important activities including efforts better lot farmers living alberta drought ridden south money losing railways win jurisdiction natural resources federal government group grew frustrated weak leadership asked replace eventually agreed premier enjoyed early success premier won election signed agreement federal government transferring control alberta natural resources provincial government sold struggling government railways railway companies ran series balanced budgets things difficult advent great depression unable restore province prosperity face global economic crisis reluctantly ran budget political increased found orthodox approach political economy attack family friend sued denied sexual relationship jury found favour judge disregarded jury verdict trial testimony stigma resulting jury finding forced resignation premier ran election provincial election defeated swept province politics resumed practice law joined management serving president general manager shortly death early life childhood born august ontario née named maternal grandfather miller paternal grandfather carpenter school mistress operator port general store sister born september lived general store building john spent times childhood preferred parents books political discussions neighbours details business life outside store village children displeased temperament throwing age seven john assisting store tasks mixing butter different father dealt produce standardized blend end 1880s port dying advent railways making tiny lake ports obsolete port case town mill burning august backdrop family moved john began school attended sunday school village methodist church pupil tiny school farm later claimed exposure farmers gave early understanding concerns involved church young people club speaking programs nature shy programs challenge found able succeed focus discipline september began high school closest high school distant daily age fourteen boarded away family seeing holidays occasional weekends good student described instructors brilliant social success peers wrote examinations july graduated shortly early professional career graduating high school travelled father sales trip northern ontario assisted operation family business family expected teacher september eighteenth birthday enrolled completed week program included subjects school management school law reading instruction graduated december second person class month teachers school fast gained reputation competent instructor old work ethic served seriousness cool blue grey eyes foot frame combined impressive presence year salary satisfy ambition spring half years job decided wanted university education teaching salary sufficient finance spent summer selling volume newly settled areas providing income required patient effective salesman later boasted thrown farm job gave year old glimpse western canada returning ontario summer end enrolled university toronto pursued honours program history political science chosen subjects required study mathematics biology english literature composition latin additional languages despite having knowledge french chose german hebrew continued trend scholarship earned subjects year latin german mathematics received trend continued year class subjects economics eighth involved pursuits grades fell fourth final year graduated iii class honours leaving tier students professors included historian held high esteem involved wide array pursuits chief dubbed lit college literary journal bob satirical revue allowed skills formal debate earned reputation effective dramatic speakers involvement journal developed business skills second year named assistant business manager promoted business manager fourth year financial management college glee club served business manager fourth year organizing day tour region earned accolades bob temporarily abandoned seriousness write fun college classmates won good reviews declaring edition headed best summer following year attended lake attended bible study classes heard guest speakers encourage pursue career clergy summers university spent selling viewers england magazine toronto derived salary fourth year business manager sources income allowed rent small room private home meal plan local week family female classmate return announced engaged news stunned friends aware romance apparent engagement odds reputation seriousness caution engagement following winter met began court arts student summer moved family calgary combination personal professional reasons soon followed pair married december toronto home sister honeymoon trip calgary chicago followed wife sons born december born september florence pregnancy combined bout poor health virtual invalid subsequent years exacerbated birth death infancy daughter visited family ontario returned alberta sister assisted florence care children soon time maid hired life alberta florence missed friends family ontario health worse worry sons john nervous high help beginning husband spent work week home calgary weekends situation continued family moved region way home visit east sons examined given clean bills health florence particular advised resume active life public image severe private allowed christmas morning boys find coal dust leading fireplace stairs note mess explaining searching mistaken florence feet emerging covers foot bed occasion reacted sons displeasure leaving parents cat ontario acquiring large came enjoy legal career early career time graduation path entry chosen profession law years instead law school victoria classmate resolved west choice calgary vancouver selected basis legal community established offered better prospects young lawyers significant capital bennett partners included sir close bennett future prime minister visited hours studying memory impressive skills younger man detailed lectures area law reading illustrated precise invariably accurate references cases despite relationship dissatisfied work given moved adams hoped practice commercial law benefited spent hours finding precise relevant studies left open appropriate page find morning december called alberta bar began work associate adams partner took advantage membership newly founded calgary alumni branch build professional connections outbreak world war enlist biographer historian speculates notes involve patriotic fundraising volunteer work questions completely shared values ideals generation farmers lawyer adams major clients new agricultural lobby organization called alberta group began work closely tasks assist creation province wide farmer owned company operate province grain elevators early delegation lobby provincial government grant charter company political power quickly incorporated refused farmers request guarantee bank loans new company guarantees instead received based equivalent lawyer capacity dealt lawsuits company alleging incompetence general manager fraud important work merging form new president began advocate amalgamation western canada farmer controlled grain elevator companies leaving potential partners accompanying meeting minister initially found agreement stewart belief companies shareholders accept amalgamation holding company instead created run companies affairs study changed mind pursued amalgamation typical focus reviewed companies corporate charters found prevented selling company acquiring sufficient buy charter amended concerned request amendment lead eastern canadian financial interests successfully lobby weakening farmers rights meeting companies boards offices reached reluctant conclusion request necessary amalgamation continued fear resistance shareholders companies annual general meetings approved proposal heavily involved meetings fielding questions shareholders legal serving hoc study aspects proposal proposal approved drew necessary agreements stock certificates instruments came existence september lawyer began prevailing farmers view eastern canadian business establishment hostile interests example wanted sell manufacturer supply recommended reduce farmers reliance eastern establishment expanding operations insurance investment real estate result helped quietly sell stock held directors began doubt bank subtlety considered essential directors concerned airing doubts publicly bank failure self fulfilling prophecy assistant general manager found interested buyer advised murray insisting intricate written sales contract fear buyer sense directors concerns advice sale concluded december bank failed years later july left adams accept time position year months later increased view increased responsibilities general manager king counsel law business expected continue future legal work contact leaders proper including importantly charismatic wood president accompanied speaking engagements locals alberta wood held audiences cooperation social justice point likened religion explained services offered central office answered members legal questions trips interest political farmers movement began study greater detail contacts recently leader turned political education introduced newly elected ontario arranged meeting alberta premier meeting told stewart felt desires accommodated stewart liberal government warned quick election foster suggests strategic advice political offended stewart true stewart quick election july decided january woods wishes run candidates election provincial election federal election scheduled june running local farmer asked wood vice president broker alliance farmers labour mixed rural urban riding efforts come fruition federal government conservative disclosed allegations irregularities management elevators hearing june employees testified storage false bottoms railway employees allegations involved events sudden prominence suspect hearings politically motivated attorney successful obtaining injunction hearings time conduct investigation importantly medicine hat election won wide margin preparing provincial election went vacation victoria month despite recent interest politics viewed lawyer businessman little role play electoral activities leaving calgary assured wood win alberta seats fact won watched results come offices political party conventional sense contested election leader control majority seats legislature entitled conventions westminster parliamentary system form government clear premier wood natural choice declined job reasons surprise wood proposed premier instead declined newly elected farmer politicians seen urban lawyer premier office stood ultimately selected attorney general appointed attorney general soon acclaimed election training business law unique caucus gave central role government initiatives led defense attacks liberal opposition eventually responsible setting agenda cabinet meetings quickly entrenched conservative wing caucus resisted measures decision making government departments transfer caucus locals opposed efforts transform application westminster system alberta radical elements called creation government owned bank dismissed idea financially feasible concern government finances extended budget deficit found spending cuts wanting cut staff department set example attempt better government financial position unsuccessfully advocated sale money losing railways longstanding objective alberta government winning control alberta lands natural resources federal government older provinces control alberta admitted confederation federal government retained resource rights paid provincial governments annual grant compensation attorney general alberta chief efforts met frequently representatives liberal prime minister negotiations occasionally promising king unwilling fully commit transfer possibly king alberta lieutenant leader provincial liberals sworn enemies farmers government committed helping farmers province drought stricken south authored drought relief act created drought relief commissioner provide farmers financial help reach settlements banks unable pay debts played leading role creation alberta wheat pool department responsible administration prohibition policy initially enjoyed support disregard sufficiently widespread effective enforcement proved impossible murder constable hanged helped turn public opinion referendum held issue found voters willing replace prohibition government owned liquor stores regulated beer act repealed lord day act prohibited commerce sundays responsibility little enthusiasm prosecuted violations came government reliance embarrassing abilities limited continue lead pressured resign replace plot warning resignation accompanied second attempt successful wood intervened convince accept assured pleased rid premier alberta november premier term challenges premier similar faced attorney general winning control alberta natural resources selling money losing railways balancing provincial budget needed win impending provincial election accomplished winning seats election increase won majority seat legislature returned office turned attention priorities required cooperation federal government provincial control resources require federal government felt deficit result federal government failure cover rightful share expenses king reliant minority government survived thank support allied factions including mps legislators preferred conservatives personally supported king government appeared consider offer prime minister cabinet attempted leverage relationship king win provincial control natural resources won agreement soon scuttled federal addition clause requiring alberta continue supporting separate roman catholic schools clause persisted compromise reached remained question compensation alberta land given away federal government end agreement reached returned ottawa alberta greeted cheering supporters similarly successful government railways initial attempts sell failed provincial government took direct operation lines began profit lines soon sold joint offer remaining lines judged low sold near end million control natural resources railways factors permitted balanced provincial budgets registered despite success continued advocate tried unsuccessfully persuade federal government assume greater share costs new social programs old age pension resulting reputation penny came cost personal popularity government attempted advance progressive agenda way manifested attempt consolidate alberta thousands school districts far smaller number school divisions plan supported educational believed status quo province wide reform impossible scrapped rural residents expressed fears mean closure local schools progressive initiative sexual act alberta allowed mental act repealed viewed time enjoyed support moral like believed subjects protection second term campaigned vigorously election elected slightly diminished majority great depression making felt alberta price wheat alberta major export declined high summer following march end guaranteed members minimum price farmers earn living found facing banks denied credit individual farmers turn difficult afford seed crop provincial government faced calls provide loan guarantees concerned guarantees encourage loans higher interest rates knowledge provincial government pay farmers sought federally guaranteed minimum price rebuffed prime minister saw source problem global farms failed young people migrated farms alberta cities situation scarcely better unemployment rate rose labour december saw hunger march thousand unemployed men women attempted hold protest march alberta legislature requested city government prohibit display pronounced sympathetic workers ordeal said felt event create volatile atmosphere breed communism lens viewed founding operative members supported new party saw partnership farmers labourers considered dangerously socialist hunger march attempted ahead government brutally dispersed city police took blame weakening control situation time took sharp left ward turn replaced retiring president provincial body weakened economy presented significant challenges provincial government finances saw deficit approximately million larger year province came hours million bond avoided loan federal government cut spending aggressively closed province agricultural colleges reduced civil service cut provincial employees salaries disbanded replacing government increased corporate taxes implemented new provincial income tax measures proved insufficient joined colleagues western provinces bennett help bennett said privately sympathetic refused provide assistance appointed representative unorthodox economic views despite conservative approach alberta finances outside province viewed spokesperson progressive movement argued banks treating eastern western charging predatory interest rates farmers joined majority commission calling creation central bank canada proposing entirely publicly controlled great depression early years calgary began preach version social credit economic theory believed proposals unconstitutional implemented provincial government control monetary policy ineffective create markets alberta agricultural products gained popularity attacked solutions little offer critiques sex scandal sued family friend clerk provincial attorney general office alleged subsequent affair lasted denied story completely said lawsuit result conspiracy opponents sensational publicized trial jury found favour justice presided trial disregarded finding ruling failed suffered damage appeals eventually led time canada highest court appeal emerged victorious jury issued finding realized time premier finished announced resign soon successor found july replaced later political career months resignation kept low profile returned public eye speech january convention attacking plans implement social credit alberta impress loss hope additional despair follow attempt system kind province jurisdiction matters despite hearing directly convention defeated wide margin motion endorse version social credit government chief social credit tactic adopted serve consultant alberta government economic reconstruction hoped opt promise social credit benefit discredit demonstrating widely interpretation social credit differed douglas effort failed confronted contrast fiery charismatic douglas preferred invited come prepare proposals government act attempt force specific positions attacked relying vague assurances economic salvation continued toured southern alberta attacking policies vague unconstitutional april gave series radio speeches designed counter popular radio program bible hour customary appeals logic work resorted attacking personally comparing resist comparison rid capitol rats responded led children destruction announced social credit movement contest provincial election ridiculed candidate selection process personally interviewed selected candidates riding ultimately run candidates wrapped carefully hidden away dry day calls rest election took place august spent campaign trying retain riding despite respect commanded constituents desperate economic straits tired failed raise condition later recalled man got said listened great deal attention answers given pretty hard meet question selling wheat cents tried sell steer tomorrow probably hardly pay freight cents dozen eggs lucky dollar cream tell got lose cheer went audience knew result election going election day candidate province defeated won seats defeated votes election sought political office life politics shortly electoral defeat started new law firm based soon appointed general counsel restored career position entered politics firm counted number major agricultural companies clients brought considerable work hired write legal column newspaper capacity general counsel responsible restructuring provided farmers buy shares directly company placed limitation buy shareholders effect limiting capital farmers afford buy shares depression transferring control company non farmers purchasing shares impoverished farmers solution create classes share investment share par value voting share par value held person maximum shares person held farmers maximum shares person director vice president capital included rider non farmers held shares time new structure came effect hold voting shares clause allowed consequence elected company board directors annual shareholders meeting appointed vice president time appointment embroiled income tax dispute farmers movement generally supported introduction income tax rates climbed began especially given pools exempt rationale exemption pools agents members income personal income corporate income pre initially accepted argued pools reorganization eliminated differences exemption competitive disadvantage travelled ottawa express case collaborated representing private grain companies form north west line elevators association objected pools exemption joint brief minister national revenue government ruled pools pools appealed found government favour time government agreed tax pools revenue grant generous taxation world war federal government appointed examine question greater detail prepared submission pleased commission eventual findings recognized cooperative recommended granted pools enjoyed government intended collect taxes pools february returned ottawa present case finance minister eventually sided extended pools exemption dispute pools led suggest true cooperative old style grain company played major role allegations major contributor written response delegate opposed resolution calling continued tax exempt status pools resolution proponents suggested stating endorsed objected cooperative wording withdrawn later published pamphlet entitled history events leading taxation placed blame accusing working hated private grain companies enforce taxation seizing incorrect date pamphlet dismissed charges substantially true light joint brief incorrect shareholders subjected vigorous questioning held firm controversy died gave series radio addresses alberta president president general manager fell ill february named acting general manager january general manager spring law stepped completely succeeded president general manager capacity offices calgary worked constantly arriving work monday machine recordings foster says known staff man life work lived recreation changing job turned work ethic expanding company building new grain elevators purchasing existing ones time undertook study operating costs volume delivery points found roughly dozen elevators losing money climbing costs threatening increase number tried reach accommodations competitors divide centres small support elevator achieved success especially time increased presence larger centres especially regina remained involved grain industry outside position executive capacity found middle controversy british wheat agreement agreement sell wheat british clients fixed price year period price adjusted following years having regard world wheat prices years world wheat prices continually price stipulated agreement breeding resentment british especially sold fixed price wheat large profit european markets exacerbated british refused adjust price upwards years grounds agreement result considerable ill loss grain farmers estimated million federal government negotiated agreement offered supplement british payments million sum large raise eastern canadians small western farmers opposed agreement authorized purchase advertising country pointing government fixed domestic price wheat world price reached high view million payment government comparison benefit consumers federal policy subsequent international agreements acted advisor canadian delegation resulted favourable terms farmers continued status grain industry leading figures exhibited involvement government relations appeared oppose system box cars grain elevator formula favouring instead system retained flexibility assign saw fit september submission defense crow nest pass rates rejected railways calls rates charged shipment grain presidency coincided anniversary founding organizations celebration event travelled country speaking outlets oversaw publication wrote years history point capacity came conflict vice president charge department published book assistant general manager style president foster acknowledged outright interference years wore decision making board directors expected serve rubber stamp june ill health forced resignation later political activities sought political office defeat commented publicly political issues rarely social credit government particular contention viewed unfair left government bankrupt prevent advising scenes number issues notably alberta submission case alberta early 1940s met new federal leader train according ensuing conversation indicated prepared consider running federally candidate reported alberta leaders question report true adhered conservative view politics conducted telephone despite apology indicate interest running occasional public comments political issues attracted considerable attention spoke convention post war reconstruction expressed canada economic prospects advocated policy employment emphasized jobs meaningful men work building roads like china machines better criticized government imposed wartime ceiling wheat prices forcing farmers shoulder unfair burden national crisis depression personal life father died january suit pending april mother died left estate relinquished claim estate favour sister cared mother years sons successful careers graduated law joined father firm renamed baldwin john studied photography los_angeles returned canada work photographer married children time relinquished law firm returned calgary wife led quiet reserved life calgary planners announced intention widen memorial drive lived residents expressed concern plan destroy street trees consulted mayor saved trees years received number honours premier inducted province order buffalo hunt november recognition contributions prairie provinces awarded honorary life membership prime minister appointed ill health prevented participating inaugural march meeting beginning june underwent series major time memory failing ask wife details escaped died july weeks resigning board barely resigning president legacy premier remembered sex scandal ended career accomplishments largely forgotten highly regarded historians foster calls alberta greatest cites particular successful negotiations transfer resource rights provincial government cause alberta subsequent prosperity journalist noting willingness confront federal government sets apart contender title wrote lasting political estate left premier alberta today canada wealthiest provinces dollars oil gas royalties undergraduate ranked province greatest premier manning impact felt organizations participated founding alberta wheat pool remained important player canadian agriculture merged form new company merged form wheat pool took forming vision unique members publicly controlled central bank reality shifted private government control buried near provincial government named honour local government law electoral record party leader
John Edward Brownlee