Part 48

=Sloan, Hon. William, M.P.P.=, Minister of Mines for the Province of British Columbia, is also one of the best known capitalists and public men of the Pacific Coast. He was born in Wingham, Huron County, Ontario, on September 10, 1867, the son of Dr. R. J. and Elizabeth (McMichael) Sloan, and was educated in the public schools and at the Collegiate Institute, Seaforth, Ont. While he was still a boy, his father removed to Shanghai, China, where the elder Sloan still resides. After two years in the Orient, the subject of this sketch returned to Canada, locating in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1887, and later residing at Vancouver and at Nanaimo, B.C. The mining possibilities of the region soon claimed his attention, and he was one of the discoverers of the Eldorado Creek placer gold deposits in the Yukon territory in the later nineties. His enterprise in that country laid the foundations of a substantial fortune, and on his return to Victoria, he became Liberal candidate for the House of Commons for Vancouver Island at the general elections of 1900. He was re-elected both in 1904 and 1908, and became one of the most popular figures in Ottawa during that period. Shortly after his election in 1908, he resigned his seat in order that the late Hon. William Templeman, who had been Appointed Minister of Inland Revenue, might be elected as his successor. For eight years Hon. Mr. Sloan remained in retirement, so far as politics were concerned; but in the political upheaval of 1916 he consented to join forces with those who were anxious to reform the administration of his province, and was elected to the British Columbia Legislature for Nanaimo at the general elections of September 14, 1916. On the formation of a new government, he was offered, and accepted, the portfolio of Minister of Mines, and was sworn in on November 29, 1916. His administration has been noted for progressive business management, and the expert knowledge he is able to bring to his task. He is married, and has one son, Gordon Sloan. He is a member of the Vancouver, Union (Victoria), and Rideau (Ottawa) Clubs, and his favorite recreations are hunting and fishing. In politics he is a Liberal, and in religion a Presbyterian.

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=Lennox, Lieut.-Col. Thomas Herbert, K.C., M.L.A.= (Aurora, Ont.), son of Thos. and Margaret Lennox, both Irish. Born on April 7th, 1869, at the Township of Innisfil, County of Simcoe. Educated at the Barrie Public Schools and Collegiate Institute and Osgoode Hall, Toronto. Was a member of the Town Council of Aurora for three years and of the Aurora School Board for six years. Was first elected to the Ontario Legislature as the member for North York at the general elections in 1905. For years North York was the stronghold of the Liberal Party and its final redemption by Lieut.-Col. Lennox gave him an unique place in public favor and a strong position in Provincial Politics. He was re-elected at the general election in 1908, 1911 and 1914, and is to-day the most popular man in the riding. A few years ago the member for North York originated the “Lennox Picnic” which has been declared to be the biggest affair of its kind in the world. Up at Jackson’s Point on the beautiful shores of Lake Simcoe, his constituents and friends hold their annual gathering of thirty thousand people. Each year the attendance grows bigger and the people throng to it from all parts and it is now recognized as being the most popular out-of-door festival of the year. Lieut.-Col. Lennox has always taken a keen interest in sports of all kinds, particularly lacrosse, and played the game himself. He was elected President of the Canadian Lacrosse Association, following which he was elected President of The Presidents’ Association. As a sound lawyer and an able counsel, Lieut.-Col. Lennox enjoys a large and lucrative practice, being solicitor for the County of York, and several corporations. He is a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and a King’s Counsellor. On the outbreak of the war, having had previous Military experience as Lieutenant of the Twelfth York Rangers and later a Squadron Commander of the Governor-General’s Body Guard, and subsequently as Major of an Irish regiment known as the 110th, authorized by the Minister of Militia, he undertook the raising of an Irish Canadian Battalion. The onerous work of recruiting began on the 17th day of March, 1915, and no finer body of men ever rallied to the colors in so short a time. Men flocked to the standard of the popular member for North York, and the battalion, which was known as the 208th or “The Irish Fusiliers,” was accompanied overseas by Lieut.-Col. Lennox, where they gave a splendid account of themselves. This battalion had one of the finest brass and bugle bands in the Canadian forces and also the fully equipped Brian Boru Irish War Pipe Band, the first of its kind in Canada, made possible by the splendid generosity of Mrs. Ambrose J. Small, of Toronto. Lieut.-Col. Lennox was married on June 5th, 1894, to Louise, daughter of Edward Meeking, of Barrie, and has one son, Herbert Sidney Lennox. He is a member of the following Clubs and Societies: Albany, Military Institute; Masonic Order; Sons of England; Orange Order; Foresters; Odd Fellows and The Workmen. In religion he is an Anglican. Honorable Mr. Justice Lennox, of the Supreme Court of Ontario, is a cousin of the member for North York. Lieut.-Col. Lennox enjoys a very wide popularity among his fellow legislators, and his constituents in North York. He makes friends everywhere and retains them by his personal magnetism. He is recognized as one of the best types of Canadian manhood, and has spared neither time nor energy to always inculcate a strong National sentiment.

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=Veniot, Hon. Peter John= (Bathurst, N.B.), born October 4, 1863, at Richibucto, N.B. Son of Captain Stephen Veniot and Mary Morell, his wife, both French. Educated at Pictou Academy, Pictou, N.S., from which he graduated in 1882. Married on February 8, 1885, to Cathelene Melanson, daughter of Raphael Melanson, of parish of Shediac, N.B., and is the father of six children: Dr. C. L. Veniot, married to Mary Leger; A. S. Veniot, C.F., married to Jane Gautrear; Dr. J. L. Veniot, dentist; Lieut. W. L. Veniot, who went overseas with the 132nd Battalion, married to Mina Cote; Lieut. P. J. Veniot, Jr., formerly of the famous 26th Battalion; and Francis P. Veniot, attending college. Member of the New Brunswick Legislature from 1894-1900. Collector of Customs from 1900-1911. Elected a member for the constituency of Gloucester at the general elections in 1917, and taken into the Foster cabinet, on its formation, as Minister of Public Works for the province, and re-elected at by-election on April 23, 1917. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, and a Liberal. He is a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, Knights of Columbus, Assumption, and Artisans. His principal recreations are curling and boating.

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=Winkler, Hon. Valentine, M.P.P.=, Minister of Agriculture for Manitoba, is a public man who has been largely identified with the progress and growth of that province. He was born at Neustadt, Grey County, Ont., on March 18, 1864, the son of David and Barbara J. (Lang) Winkler. He was educated at the public schools of his native village, and as a very young man went to Manitoba in the days of its early development, settling at Morden, where he became a farmer, and also engaged extensively in the lumber business. His friends and neighbours induced him to enter politics at an early age, and he entered the municipal office, serving as reeve of Stanley. In 1892, the late Hon. Thomas Greenway, for some years Premier of Manitoba, induced him to run for the riding of Rhineland, now called Morden and Rhineland, as a Liberal, and he was elected. He was re-elected at the general elections of 1896 and also at those of 1899, though the latter contest resulted in the defeat of his party in many constituencies. In 1900, he was induced by Sir Clifford Sifton, then the Western leader in the Laurier administration, to resign his seat in the Legislature, and contest the riding of Lisgar for the House of Commons at the Federal elections of that year. In this contest he was unsuccessful, but was immediately re-nominated for the Legislature in his old constituency of Rhineland, and was returned at a by-election on November 19, 1900, and has ever since continued to hold that seat, despite the fact that from 1899 until 1915 his party continued in opposition. The general elections of the latter year brought the Liberals back to power, and one of the first acts of the new Premier, Hon. Mr. Norris, was to send for Mr. Winkler and offer him the portfolio of Agriculture in his government. Mr. Winkler accepted, and as an administrator has shown himself thoroughly in touch with all progressive movements for the benefit of the farming industry. He is widely popular with both parties in the Legislature, of which he is the oldest member in point of service. On March 31, 1886, he married Josephine, daughter of M. B. Rombough, Dominion Land Surveyor, and has four children, Howard W., Hazel F., Ruth W., and Josephine R. Winkler. His address is the Parliament Buildings, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

=Champagne, Napoleon.= Controller Napoleon Champagne, barrister, many years ago, became well known to the citizens of Ottawa. Well educated, talented, aggressive, ambitious and persistent, he has year after year kept himself in the public eye, and has been, and deservedly so, accorded public recognition. On several occasions he was selected by the Conservatives of Ottawa as their candidate for political honors in the Federal Parliament, and on each occasion he made a gallant fight to achieve success. When, in the early part of 1918, the famous Blue Devils of France, those brave fellows who made themselves famous in many battles during the terrible world war by their dare-devil conduct, reached Ottawa, Controller Champagne was selected to receive and welcome them. His address of welcome was one of the finest gems of oratory heard during the war. Mr. Champagne is the son of Seraphin Champagne, grocer, and Melina Duchene. His brother, Albert Champagne, is the member for North Battleford, Saskatchewan, in the House of Commons. He was born in Ottawa, May 4, 1861, and was educated in the Christian Brothers School. He has been a frequent contributor to both English and French newspapers and French magazines. In civic life, Controller Champagne has had a phenomenal career. He has served in the City Council as alderman for the years 1892-3-4-5-6-9, 1900-1-2-3-4-5-6-7, fourteen years, and as Controller for the years 1908-9-10-11-14-15-16-17-18-19, ten years. During the latter part of 1908, Controller Champagne, owing to the resignation of Mayor Scott to accept a position on the Dominion Railway Commission, became acting mayor, and held the office with much dignity. Since Controller Champagne first entered into civic life as one of the city’s representatives, he has rendered effective service on the following committees: Fire and Light, Waterworks, Board of Health, By-Laws, Printing, Library, and Finance, of which he was chairman for several years. He was also a member of the following special committees: Conduit, City Charter, Street Lighting, and Water Power. Controller Champagne is a member of the Union St. Joseph Society and the Artisans Canadiens Français. Mr. Champagne is a brilliant and successful lawyer, and has distinguished himself in several important law cases, particularly in two murder cases, in which his handling of the witnesses and his ability in cross-examination created quite a stir, and placed him in the front ranks of the legal profession in Ottawa. He practises law in both provinces—Ontario and Quebec—and has a large clientele in each. In 1911, Mr. Champagne was elected to the Ontario Legislature. He was slated for, and had he not been defeated at the election of 1914, would have become a member of the Provincial Government. He never married. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, and in politics a Conservative. His law office is at 30 Rideau Street, and he resides at 184 Osgoode Street, Ottawa, Ont.

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=Sifton, Hon. Arthur Lewis, M.A., LL.B., D.C.L., K.C.=, was born in St. John’s County, Middlesex, Ontario (about six miles from London, Ontario), October 26, 1858, of Irish descent. He is the son of the late Hon. John W. Sifton, formerly Speaker of the Manitoba Assembly, who, in 1875, with his family left Ontario for Manitoba, where he executed a number of public contracts and conducted an extensive wheat farm near Brandon, and Kate Sifton, and a brother of Hon. Sir Clifford Sifton, ex-Minister of Interior and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs in the Laurier Cabinet. Mr. Sifton was educated in various public schools, in Wesley College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and in Victoria University, Cobourg, Ontario. In 1880 he was awarded his B.A., and in 1888 his M.A. and LL.B. degrees. In 1880, Mr. Sifton began the study of law in Winnipeg, and was admitted to the bar of Manitoba in 1883. In 1882 he was elected a member of the first municipal council, and, the following year, in 1883, commenced his legal practice in Brandon, Manitoba. He remained in Brandon until 1885 when he removed to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where for a few years he continued his practice, and then removed to Calgary, Alberta, in 1889. In 1898, Mr. Sifton was elected to the North-West Assembly. In 1901 he was created a K.C. In the same year, having been re-elected a member of the North-West Assembly, Mr. Sifton became Treasurer and Commissioner of Public Works in the Haultain Administration. In January, 1903, he resigned his portfolio to accept the position of Chief Justice of the Superior Court of the North-West Territories. In 1905, when the new provinces—Saskatchewan and Alberta—were established, Mr. Sifton was appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court of the Province of Alberta. May 26, 1910, when the Rutherford government resigned, Mr. Sifton also resigned his position as Chief Justice to accept the call of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province to form a new Provincial Government, and was sworn in as Prime Minister. He also assumed the portfolios of President of the Executive Council, Provincial Treasurer, and Minister of Public Works. In 1911, Mr. Sifton attended the coronation of their Majesties King George and Queen Mary, and, in June of that year, was presented to King George at St. James’ Palace. December, 1911, in addition to the other Cabinet portfolios which he held, Mr. Sifton was appointed Minister of Railways and Telephones. February 29, 1912, he was appointed a member of the Commission of Conservation as one of the representatives from the Province of Alberta. At the Provincial election in 1913, he was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Vermilion. In 1917, when, owing to the serious circumstances that had arisen in Canada and throughout the world resulting from the effects and requirements of the terrible world war that was then raging it was found necessary to cut out political party differences, and to have, politically and otherwise, a united Canada in the conduct of Dominion political, commercial, financial, and all public and private affairs, Mr. Sifton consented to join Sir Robert Borden, the Prime Minister, in the formation of a Union Government, and resigning his office as Prime Minister of the Province of Alberta, was sworn in as Minister of Customs in the Dominion Cabinet, which position he still holds. In 1918, Mr. Sifton accompanied Sir Robert Borden to the Peace Conference at Paris and Versailles, as one of the Canadian delegates to that memorable assembly in whose hands was placed arrangements and terms for the present and future peace of the world; and it is noteworthy to state that while there he rendered distinguished services by his advice and otherwise in the preparation and final agreement of terms that were placed before the Teutonic nations to accept and sign. On Sept. 20, 1882, Mr. Sifton married Mary H. Deering, daughter of William Deering, of Cobourg, Ontario. He has two children—one girl and one boy—Nellie Louise and Lewis Raymond. He is a member of the following clubs: Ranchmen’s, Calgary; Edmonton, Edmonton; and the Rideau and County, Ottawa. In politics, Mr. Sifton was formerly a Liberal, but is now a Unionist, and in religion a Methodist. His office is in Connaught Block, Sussex Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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=Proudfoot, William, K.C., M.P.P.=, for Centre Huron and Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature, is a barrister practising both at Toronto and at Goderich, Ont. He was born in Colborne Township, Huron County, on February 1st, 1859, the son of Robert and Margaret (Darlington) Proudfoot. His mother came from Wicklow, Ireland, and his father, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, was one of the family which won considerable distinction in Ontario. One of his brothers was Vice-Chancellor of Ontario, and another was Rev. Dr. Proudfoot, a leader of religious thought. The subject of this sketch was educated in the Public and High Schools of Goderich, Ont.; and qualified for the law as a student in the office of James (afterward Mr. Justice) Garrow, K.C., and at Osgoode Hall. On being called to the bar in 1880 he commenced the practice of law at Goderich, Ont., as a member of the firm of Garrow & Proudfoot and he is now head of the firm of Proudfoot, Killora & Cooke in that town. He is also a member of the firm of Proudfoot, Duncan, Grant & Gilday, barristers and solicitors, Confederation Life Building, Toronto, which he joined in 1902. He was created a King’s Counsel in 1902 and has long been Treasurer and Secretary of the Huron Law Association, and is a Bencher of the Ontario Law Society. His business interests include Directorship in the Goderich Elevator and Transit Company, Ltd. and the Dominion Road Machinery Co’y. Ltd. Despite a large practice throughout Huron county Mr. Proudfoot found time to take an active part in politics and was for many years President of the West Huron Liberal Association. In his younger days his partner, the late Mr. Justice Garrow, was long an honored member of the Ontario Legislature, and on the elevation of the latter to the bench, the Liberal party naturally tendered the nomination to Mr. Proudfoot, who had already rendered valuable municipal service as Reeve of Goderich town. He was elected for the newly constituted riding of Centre Huron in 1908 and re-elected at the general elections of 1911 and 1914. As a member of the small band of Liberals sitting opposite to Sir James Whitney he soon made his mark in debate and proved one of the most discerning and aggressive critics of the Government, though giving his support to wise measures. When in 1917 Hon. N. W. Rowell retired from the Leadership of the Opposition to enter Federal politics Mr. Proudfoot was his logical successor, a decision which was ratified by the Liberal caucus in Jan., 1918. The war being then in progress Mr. Proudfoot took the statesmanlike position that there should be no party contests during the duration of the conflict and agreed to support the Government in all reasonable measures looking exclusively to the unification of the country for the prosecution of the war. Nevertheless a large body of independent support rallied to his support and the signing of the armistice found him in a stronger position both in point of followers and as a parliamentary leader than when he accepted office. In religion he is a member of the Church of England and was married on June 23, 1886, to Marion F. Dickson. He has two children. Isobel, now the wife of Lieutenant E. H. Jordan, who went overseas in October, 1914, was wounded twice and invalided home in February, 1919. Lieut. Jordan was with the 18th Field Battery, saw much service, and was decorated with the M.C. Capt. W. Proudfoot, M.C., was a member of the 15th Battalion, was wounded several times, and is a member of his father’s legal firm in Toronto.

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