august january canadian politician born ontario migrated west young adult started successful lumber company later alberta minister public works 11th mayor calgary minister public works government oversaw creation resignation precipitated alberta great waterways railway scandal forced resignation hopes asked replace role fell instead province chief judge left cabinet seek election election enter politics chairman board governors sixteen years died early life born august ontario father farmer immigrated carpenter moved calgary partnership engaged building houses stores married died years later married children opened door factory wealthy business flourished expanded occupied city lots employed workers number reached active local methodist church golf club served years school trustee supporter municipal politics elected calgary town councillor term beginning january remained capacity january years later council calgary city served january january january term elected thirteenth mayor calgary position held january january subsequently served term january january served president calgary provincial politics asked form alberta government appointed minister public works notes important portfolio given rapid development infrastructure expected new province keeping custom cabinet ministers westminster parliamentary systems ran district calgary election liberal opposed conservative leader campaign meeting bennett accused giving fellow liberal candidates road building money bribe districts election day defeated bennett attributed defeat roman catholic influence elected calgary primary supporter legislature debate alberta capital city claiming new province economic centre alberta status province result political movement begun calgary cheaper build legislature site interim capital motion calgary capital defeated votes permanent capital located preferred location public works minister choose design new alberta legislature building based minnesota state capitol calgary representative dismayed elected locate hometown immediately felt having denied capital line university public works minister primary advocate government intervention labour disputes alberta coal industry eventually appointed commission examine problem presided government entry telephone business telephone lines alberta privately owned largest private owners bell controlled telephone service calgary refused extend operations densely populated profitable regions province response attacked bell monopoly people claiming free sponsored legislation creating service areas bell new company later purchased bell lines financing venture issuing contrast government usual policy pay zeal government involvement member warned public works minister going crazy public ownership someday find lot trouble thomas argued strange successful businessman like aggressive successful corporation historian suggested experience living monopoly hostile saw symbol eastern capitalism hopeful bringing telephone service rural areas guarantee continued liberal success railway scandal election calgary growth earned second seat legislature finished candidate field elected fill seats bennett finishing second elected minister public works initially responsible railway policy november created new ministry railways appointed head february resigned minister public works expressing disagreement policy offering loan guarantees private railway builders including alberta great waterways railway stated letter resignation policy adopted knowledge consent accepted resignation regret publicly disagreed claim kept unaware government railway policy february gave account events leading resignation legislature responsibility railways removed department offered guarantees mile railway constructed making guarantee consulted government engineers department construction costs relying instead engineer felt mile regardless actual construction costs believed government reliance engineer let company away building sub standard railway followed dramatic series legislative debates votes liberals including frequently voted government motions non confidence march invited rejoin cabinet according assured rival attorney general resign declined offer considered longer able work premier allies urged fight rumours began resign replaced lieutenant governor alberta convinced resign order save liberals powerful liberals view capable leading government instead invited provincial chief justice form government reputed sitting hotel room ear telephone waiting summons lieutenant governor assume robes left major figures dispute cabinet staunch ally resigned seat protest seek election election later life legacy chairman holding post designated honorary chairman died calgary january heart attack calgary named honour primarily remembered role alberta great waterways railway scandal assessing role episode thomas suggested actions motivated appeared contract railway company instead believes concluded premier began conduct publicly way undermine authority motivations resignation precipitated scandal ended political career profound effect alberta political history evaluating legacy considers role establishing government telephone system opinion produced financial difficulties province years ahead electoral record
William Henry Cushing