Tuesday, 17 June 1919 - The Newsstand

Western Labour News
- Says not so fast. Labour has NOT agreed to the definition of collective bargaining !

- They remind supporters that even though they may see light at the end of the tunnel, they must not get too optimistic as the actual negotiations have not begun yet. "At present, we must carry on."

Winnipeg Citizen
- Also vows to "Stay With It."

- They print a full page article about yesterday's 'accepted' definition of collective bargaining as a 'matter of historical record' and proof that collective bargaining is not an important item for Labour after all - it is really revolution that they want.

- There's also a small banner in the bottom margin of their front page:


Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition
- Has the big story of the day: late night arrests.


-Those arrested (for a more detailed list see)

Monday, 16 June 1919 - The Newsstand

No Labor News today as they published yesterday. How about substituting the Calgary Herald instead ? (Sorry, I can't find another labour paper for this day !):

Calgary Daily Herald

Winnipeg Citizen
- Has a "few sharp words regarding agitators"

Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition
- Is reporting today that an important milestone has been reached. The Iron Trades have agreed to a definition of "collective bargaining" and the Federal Labour Minister, Gideon Robertson, is said to accepted the definition. In a rather simplistic conclusion they declare that the strike must almost be at the end.

- The Police Commission will ensure that new police are protected in their jobs if old members start to return.

- A changing of the guard.

15 - 16 June 1919 - Weather Woes

A fierce wind storm last night caused a great deal of damage in and around the city, (part 2). "The worst hurricane" in living memory broke windows, flattened fences and sheds and toppled trees.

Telephone and hydro poles snapped and the power loss was made worse by the toppling of transmission towers and damage to power plants.

Roofs were blown off of many buildings, including the McPhillips water pumping station (Winnipeg's central water supply) and the Childrens Hospital

On Main Street, a row of parked cars are reported to have been blown across the street, some overturned. Eaton's had six of their large plate glass windows broken. "With the noise like the opening of an artillery barrage" the main sign for The Bay toppled into the street.

The worst of the wind was over by 9 pm Sunday and it rained throughout the night causing additional damage.

There were only a few reports of injuries. One being the ex-police chief MacPherson and his wife. Their car had been hit by flying debris.

Calgary Daily Herald, June 16 1919

It would take some time to clean up from the storm, especially as the utilities were being manned by volunteers. It was expected that a limited number of streetcars would begin running in the next day or two but that has been put off given the damage to streetcar wires and electrical facilities at Main and Assiniboine.

Note: the winds gusted at 84 mph (135 kph). On June 7, 1954 another devastating wind storm hit the province but it still did not break the 1919 record.

Main Street

"Aliens"

Read a letter from Great War Veterans Association to the Winnipeg Trades and Labor Council and Citizens' Committee of One Thousand Re: the definition of "undesirable aliens"

Sunday, 15 June 1919 - The Newsstand

The only paper to publish today is the Western Labour News.

Some stories:

- Is Winnipeg Ruined ? The editors give their take answering the question that some businessmen have floated. That this will be a black eye for Winnipeg that will prevent business from coming or expanding.

- An account of last night's 8,000 strong meeting in Victoria Park. J.S. Woodsworth, and W.A. Pritchard were two of the presenters.

Bray addresses supporters

- A reminder that the only barbers in town who are not scabs are the ones working in the basement of the Labour Temple.

Saturday, 14 June 1919 - The Newsstand

Western Labor News for June 14
- More details on the resolution passed at last night's successful strike vote of the railway firemen and engineers locals. It was forwarded to the city today.

Winnipeg Citizen for June 14
- Interviews a 'mole' ! William Bathie, said to have been a strike committee 'insider' who left because revolution was at the bottom of the strike and that German money was funding it, speaks to The Citizen.

Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition for June 14
- The N.Y.-based Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen orders their members back to work. The Telegram has a copy of the memo sent to the local leadership. Their concern is that one city can disrupt existing agreements with rail companies across the continent.

(For more on some of the US rail fraternities of the day).

13 June 1919 - Railway Men Now Out

Due to international affiliations, some locals were asked not to strike by their umbrella organizations. In Winnipeg that included railway car men and typographers.

Today, the railway men split with their International Brotherhood and joined the general strike.

The New York Times reports:

Railroad men Now Out In Winnipeg; Nevertheless Mayor Gray Intimates Strike Settlement Is Coming Soon.

WINNIPEG, Jun 13 (NY Times) - Settlement of the Winnipeg strike this week was intimated this afternoon by Mayor Gray. When he was asked if the latest conciliation movement was succeeding he said: "I may have big news for you within twenty-four hours." (more - pdf)

Friday, 13 June 1919 - The Newsstand

Western Labor News for June 13, 1919
- A "Birdseye View" of the strike
- Labor gets wind that "ugly action" is contemplated to end the strike.

Winnipeg Citizen June 13, 1919
- Ominous headline reads An Awakening is Coming.

Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition June 13, 1919
- An editorial says that the time has come to read the riot act now that blood has been shed:

Thursday, 12 June 1919 - The Newsstand

Western Labor News for June 12, 1919
- Rioting at Portage and Main. Mayor quoted as saying "By God, I'm responsible for law and order and I'll maintain it"

- An open letter from J.S. Woodsworth to Winnipeg labour. "In reality, this strike has nothing to do with Revolution. It is an attempt to meet a very pressing and immediate need....They are out for higher wages." 

Winnipeg Citizen for June 12, 1919

- Runs a Chicago Tribune Editorial that "Canada's sympathetic strike is losing ground"

Winnipeg Telegram for June 12, 1919
- Police move in to arrest one of the "aliens" involved in the Higgins and Main riot yesterday, the one that saw a constable shot. As the police were leading him to the paddy wagon a crowd intervened and the man set loose.

Great War Veterans demonstration at City Hall

Great War Veterans demonstration at City Hall

Wednesday, 11 June 1919 - The Newsstand

The papers are all about last night's rioting...

Western Labor News for June 11


Winnipeg Citizen for June 11
- Last night saw "A Riot Born of Revolution"

Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition for June 11

- A Telegram reader upset by 'bohunk' riots:

A school lesson on Fred Coppins' injuries can be found here in pdf. It includes excerpts from newspaper reports.

The New York Times for June 11
- "Riot and violence broke loose on the streets of Winnipeg today. For three hours the strikers fought a pitched battle with the special constabulary in the heart of the city, at Main Street and Portage Avenue, while from windows and roofs of office buildings for three blocks Winnipeg looked on". (full article in pdf)

Wednesday, 11 June 1919 - Riot and Proclamation

The proclamation was issued after a riot last night.

A number of people were hurt including recently returned V.C. Frederick Coppins, acting as a special mounted constable. It's hard to tell what exacly happened from reading the newspapers (also see today's Newsstand).

A Telegram article says that he was both "...dragged from his horse by aliens who started murderously kicking him" but two paragraphs further down "... as he was turning, the horse stumbled and fell, throwing Coppins" and then he was beaten.

As for his condition, The Citizen reports that he is dying in hospital and that "He was not expected to make it until morning". The Telegram is more upbeat "Unless complications set it doctors hold out hope for his recovery".

The Citizens' Committee have this ad about Coppins in today's Telegram:


Another Special Constable injured is T.S. Morrison of Ruby Street who is recovering in General Hospital from a gunshot wound to the leg. The Telegram says that a man driving by Higgins and Main came across a scuffle between a crowd and constables. He pulled over and shot with the intent to stop the fight and protect the officers. Accounts say that teh fighting did stop !

One of the three 'Austrian aliens' involved in the brawl with offiers was beaten with police batons "having his head severely damaged".

Tuesday, 10 June 1919

Here's what it looked like on the streets of Winnipeg today. The dismissal of the police force has added to the tension and the first open conflicts between strikers and police are noted. (Images from Manitobia and Tribune Archives.)

Tuesday, 10 June 1919 - The Chief goes, too

Chief Donald MacPherson, a 15-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police Department and chief since 1911, is ordered to take a three month administrative leave to allow for a new acting chief to 'reorganize'. MacPherson refuses and, as with the rest of his force, is dismissed.

Chief Constable Donald MacPherson

The official statement from the Police Commission:

The new acting chief Chris H. Newton is a 20-year member of the force and was deputy chief under MacPherson. According to a Winnipeg Free Press story he had been offered the position of chief in 1911 but declined, making way for MacPherson.

Chief Constable Chris H Newton

For more on the Winnipeg Police during the Strike.

Tuesday, 10 June 1919 - A few good men

The following ad is in today's Winnipeg Free Press. Note that you apply to the now deposed Chief Constable !

Despite the offer to re-hire police officers if thy denounce their association and refuse to ever strike, only 22 of the original members sign back onto the force. In the night a new force of special constables, referred to as "specials", are sworn in.

Tuesday, 10 June 1919 - The Newsstand

Western Labor News forJune 10, 1919

Winnipeg Citizen for June 10, 1919

Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition for June 10, 1919

9 June 1919 - Out With the Force

Tempers have been simmering at city hall over the police force.

Officials fear that the unionized police force may walk out in sympathy with the general strike. The addition of special constables and federal police to city streets has caused tensions between forces.

The Police Commission refused to deal with the police union and issued an ultimatum: that members of the force must sign a declaration renouncing their union membership and that they will not participate in a general strike. The members wouldn't sign the declaration and, as a result, the entire 277 member Winnipeg Police Force is fired by Resolution of Dismissal passed by council today:


Also see Winnipeg Telegram Police Force Fired

Monday, 9 June 1919 - The Newsstand

Western Labor News for June 9, 1919

- The "Greatest meeting ever held" in Winnipeg last night as Woodsworth addresses 10,000 at Victoria Park.

Winnipeg Citizen for June 9, 1919

- Under the headline "The Winnipeg Revolutionary Strike" a full 12 pages of text outlining the Citizens' position on the strike.

Winnipeg Telegram Strike Edition for June 9, 1919

- Premier Norris' Cabinet calls for the Alien Act to be passed by parliament to deal with the "foreign agitator and alien enemy of Canada"

- The Walker Theatre closes for June due to the stage hand strike.

- More want ads appear looking for replacement workers.

Sunday, 8 June 1919 - Psst...looking for a job ?!

The papers don't publish today but if you have yesterday's Telegram look at all the jobs on the go now - permanent ones, too:

They're not hiring for Grand Beach as the place isn't ready for summer visitors yet due to the strike: