October 5, 2011 at 2:15 pm

politics

Whacking Whitney While Keeping Drew Out

Promises of coloured margarine, demonizing drink, and men of action in a gallery of past provincial election ads.

By Jamie Bradburn

Source: the Richmond Hill Liberal, December 23, 1886.

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87984 December 28, 1886 Back in the 19th century, a candidate generally placed ads in publications slanted toward their political party. Such was the case with G.B. Smith, a Liberal endorsed by the Richmond Hill Liberal. It wouldn’t be a great shock to discover that the paper’s December 23, 1886, editorial portrayed him as “man whose every utterance is straight-forward and fair, for a man whose conduct is open and fearless, for a man whose character and abilities should commend themselves to all.” Voters in York East agreed—Smith represented the riding until 1894. Results: Liberal (Oliver Mowat): 57 seats Conservative (William Ralph Meredith): 32 seats Other: 1 seat Source: the Richmond Hill Liberal, December 23, 1886. 20111005smith1886 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005smith1886-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005smith1886.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005smith1886.jpg 640 608 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005smith1886/ 20111005smith1886 0 0: Source: the Richmond Hill Liberal, December 23, 1886.

87985 March 1, 1898 Short , sweet, to the point. The voters fulfilled the Globe’s vow, as the Liberals won their eighth consecutive term in office and their first without longtime premier <a href="http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=6944">Oliver Mowat</a> at the helm. Conservative leader <a href="http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=7769">James Pliny Whitney</a> was whacked again in the 1902 election, then finally won the premiership in 1905. Results: Liberal (Arthur Hardy): 51 seats Conservative (James Pliny Whitney): 42 seats Other: 1 seat Source: the Globe, February 26, 1898. 20111005whitney1898 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005whitney1898-100x67.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005whitney1898.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005whitney1898.jpg 640 67 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005whitney1898/ 20111005whitney1898 0 0: Source: the Globe, February 26, 1898.

87988 January 25, 1905 Liberal candidate Hugh Blain claimed nasty things were afoot in North Toronto as the campaign drew to a close. A poster entitled “Will Hugh Blain Deny” that alleged the candidate took advantage of government subsidies for beet sugar was circulated by Conservative supporters of incumbent MPP <a href="http://torontoist.com/2011/09/margaret-haile-socialist-candidate-for-north-toronto/">Dr. Beattie Nesbitt</a>. Attacks on the Grits were common during an election that saw the end of 34 years of Liberal government. Nesbitt won, but he resigned his seat a year later to accept an appointment as registrar of West Toronto. Results: Conservative (James Pliny Whitney): 69 seats Liberal (George William Ross): 28 seats Other: 1 seat Source: the News, January 24, 1905. 20111005blain1905 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005blain1905-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005blain1905.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005blain1905.jpg 640 1005 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005blain1905/ 20111005blain1905 0 0: Source: the News, January 24, 1905.

87991 October 20, 1919 The first postwar election was accompanied by a referendum on the prohibition of alcohol, which the province had enacted three years earlier. There were four questions regarding varying degrees of repeal, from dumping the Ontario Temperance Act altogether, to allowing beer to be sold through the government. Voting on each question ranged from 60 to 67 per cent against bringing legal booze back. Results: United Farmers of Ontario (no official leader): 44 seats Liberal: (Hartley Dewart): 27 seats Conservative (William Hearst): 25 seats Labour (Walter Rollo): 11 seats Other: 4 seats Source: the Globe, October 18, 1919. 20111005temperance1919 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005temperance1919-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005temperance1919.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005temperance1919.jpg 640 1343 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005temperance1919/ 20111005temperance1919 0 0: Source: the Globe, October 18, 1919.

87992 December 1, 1926 Alcohol was the key issue of the 1926 campaign. Premier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Ferguson">Howard Ferguson‘s</a> Conservatives proposed repealing the act to allow government sales, which led to ads like this one. Killjoy drys were overruled in this election: Ferguson won a majority and introduced the Liquor License Act in March 1927, which led to the birth of the LCBO. Results: Conservative (Howard Ferguson): 72 seats Liberal (W.E.N. Sinclair): 15 seats Other: 12 seats Progressive (William Raney): 10 seats United Farmers of Ontario (Leslie Oke): 3 seats Source: the Toronto Star, November 30, 1926. 20111005antiferguson26 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005antiferguson26-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005antiferguson26.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005antiferguson26.jpg 640 1060 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005antiferguson26/ 20111005antiferguson26 0 0: Source: the Toronto Star, November 30, 1926.

87999 June 19, 1934 Proof scare tactics can backfire on a party: Premier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stewart_Henry">George Stewart Henry</a> (whose name lives on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Farm">in the North York neighbourhood named after his farm</a>) saw his party’s fortunes collapse as the Conservatives dropped from 90 to 17 seats against the populist appeal of Mitch Hepburn’s Liberals. Results: Liberal (Mitch Hepburn): 65 seats Conservative (George Stewart Henry) 17 seats Liberal-Progressive (Harry Nixon): 4 seats Other: 4 seats Source: the Enterprise, June 13, 1934 20111005henry34 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005henry34-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005henry34.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005henry34.jpg 640 896 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005henry34/ 20111005henry34 0 0: Source: the Enterprise, June 13, 1934

88005 August 4, 1943 Governor-generals have to start somewhere. Though unsuccessful in his 1943 campaign against future Toronto Mayor William Dennison, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Michener">Roland Michener</a> was elected to Queen’s Park two years later. Results: Progressive Conservative (George Drew): 38 seats CCF (Ted Jolliffe): 34 seats Liberal (Harry Nixon): 15 seats Labour-Progressive (no leader): 2 seats Other: 1 seat Source: the Globe and Mail, August 4, 1943. 20111005michener1943 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005michener1943-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005michener1943.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005michener1943.jpg 640 457 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005michener1943/ 20111005michener1943 0 0: Source: the Globe and Mail, August 4, 1943.

88013 August 4, 1943 Following its opposition to Canada’s entry into World War II, the Communist Party of Canada was officially banned in 1940. Despite this, candidates continued to run in federal and provincial elections. In Toronto, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._A._MacLeod">A.A. MacLeod</a> (Bellwoods) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.B._Salsberg">J.B. Salsberg</a> (St. Andrew), who advertised themselves as “Labour” candidates, won their ridings. Shortly after the election, they agreed to sit as MPPs for the Communists’ new legal entity, the Labour-Progressive Party. Results: Progressive Conservative (George Drew): 38 seats CCF (Ted Jolliffe): 34 seats Liberal (Harry Nixon): 15 seats Labour-Progressive (no leader): 2 seats Other: 1 seat Source: the Toronto Star, August 3, 1943. 20111005lpp43 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lpp43-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lpp43.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lpp43.jpg 640 478 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005lpp43/ 20111005lpp43 0 0: Source: the Toronto Star, August 3, 1943.

88015 June 4, 1945 Building on the success of Toronto MPPs A.A. MacLeod and J.B. Salsberg in the 1943 election, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour-Progressive_Party">Labour-Progressive Party</a> ran 31 candidates across the province, some of whom were allied with Mitch Hepburn’s Liberals. They failed to keep Drew out, as the Conservatives returned with a majority government. Part of the Tories’ success may have been due to a radio speech given by CCF leader Ted Jolliffe which accused Drew of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBel_Royal_Commission">establishing a “Gestapo”</a> within the Ontario Provincial Police to keep watch on the opposition. The speech backfired on Jolliffe, though evidence was found years later to support his claims of government spying. Results: Progressive Conservative (George Drew): 66 seats Liberal (Mitch Hepburn): 14 seats CCF (Ted Jolliffe): 8 seats Labour-Progressive (Leslie Morris): 2 seats Source: the Toronto Star, June 2, 1945. 20111005lpp45 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lpp45-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lpp45.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lpp45.jpg 640 1284 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005lpp45/ 20111005lpp45 0 0: Source: the Toronto Star, June 2, 1945.

88023 November 22, 1951 The province didn’t feel the same chill: Premier Leslie Frost’s Progressive Conservatives won all but 11 of the 90 seats at Queen’s Park. Results: Progressive Conservative (Leslie Frost): 79 seats Liberal (Walter Thomson): 8 seats CCF (Ted Jolliffe): 2 seats Labour-Progressive (Stewart Smith): 1 seat Source: the Weston Times and Guide, November 8, 1951. 20111005frostbite1951 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005frostbite1951-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005frostbite1951.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005frostbite1951.jpg 640 1088 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005frostbite1951/ 20111005frostbite1951 0 0: Source: the Weston Times and Guide, November 8, 1951.

88018 September 25, 1963 Yes, the colour of margarine was once considered a major election issue, though butter-hued oil spread was not 100 per cent legal in Ontario until 1995. Note the promises related to the Toronto area—Robarts flipped the switch when the Bloor-Danforth line opened three years later. Results: Progressive Conservative (John Robarts): 77 seats Liberal (John Wintermeyer): 24 seats NDP (Donald MacDonald): 7 seats Source: the Don Mills Mirror, September 18, 1963. 20111005robarts63 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005robarts63-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005robarts63.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005robarts63.jpg 640 1426 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005robarts63/ 20111005robarts63 0 0: Source: the Don Mills Mirror, September 18, 1963.

88029 October 17, 1967 At least two of the “action politicians” were or would be easily recognized by the public. Stephen Lewis would win a second term in Scarborough West. Three years later, he became party leader. Over in High Park, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Shulman">Dr. Morton Shulman</a> ran after he was fired from his role as Ontario’s chief coroner earlier in the year for embarrassing the government over inadequate fire protection in a new hospital. Shulman’s crusading medical career had also inspired one of CBC's most popular dramas that year, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMmYv1Cu5FU&feature=related">Wojeck</a>. Results: Progressive Conservative (John Robarts): 69 seats Liberal (Robert Nixon): 28 seats NDP (Donald MacDonald): 20 seats Source: the Globe and Mail, October 16, 1967. 20111005ndp67 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005ndp67-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005ndp67.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005ndp67.jpg 640 961 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005ndp67/ 20111005ndp67 0 0: Source: the Globe and Mail, October 16, 1967.

88030 October 21, 1971 The Progressive Conservatives earned their ninth consecutive mandate under new leader <a href="http://torontoist.com/2011/09/catholic-schools-separate-but-equal-funding/">William Davis</a>. All of the candidates pictured in this ad, except for Deane (who lost to veteran Liberal Vern Singer) joined Davis at Queen’s Park. Results: Progressive Conservative (William Davis): 78 seats Liberal (Robert Nixon): 20 seats NDP (Stephen Lewis): 19 seats Source: the Don Mills Mirror, October 6, 1971. 20111005bales71 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005bales71-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005bales71.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005bales71.jpg 640 945 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005bales71/ 20111005bales71 0 0: Source: the Don Mills Mirror, October 6, 1971.

88033 September 18, 1975 Who’s a better provincial candidate than <a href="http://torontoist.com/2010/10/vintage_toronto_ads_3/">Mel Lastman</a>? EVVVERYBODY! Well, actually former Toronto mayor Philip Givens, who won Armourdale for the Liberals in election that produced Ontario’s first minority government since 1943. Results: Progressive Conservative (William Davis): 51 seats NDP (Stephen Lewis): 38 seats Liberal (Robert Nixon): 36 seats Source: the Toronto Star, September 16, 1975. 20111005lastman1975 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lastman1975-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lastman1975.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111005lastman1975.jpg 640 293 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/whacking-whitney-while-keeping-drew-out/slide/20111005lastman1975/ 20111005lastman1975 0 0: Source: the Toronto Star, September 16, 1975.

Besides lawn signs and public meetings, newspaper advertisements have long been a preferred method for Ontario politicians to spread their message to the public. Whether it’s a simple promise to provide “good government” or a full platform requiring a magnifying glass to read, the press has offered a forum for candidates to make their case to voters as long as they paid for the ad. Today’s gallery shows the evolution of Ontario election ads from short notices in partisan papers to spots where the reproduction quality barely hides the lines of a candidate’s toupee (sorry Mel).

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Whacking Whitney While Keeping Drew Out

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