James J. Morrison
Encyclopedia
James J. Morrison (1861–1936) was a farm leader in Ontario
, Canada
, a founder of the United Farmers of Ontario
(UFO) in 1914, and a leader of the co-operative movement. He was the UFO's sometimes controversial general secretary
during the period in which it became a political party and took power in the province following the 1919 provincial election
.
He worked in manufacturing in Toronto for twelve years but returned to his family's farm in 1900. Morrison became active in the agrarian movement.
Premiers Mitchell Hepburn
and Harry Nixon
.
Morrison also served as secretary of the United Farmers Co-operative Company Ltd. (UFCC) from 1914 to 1935. The UFCC was the purchasing co-operative that the UFO operated on behalf of its members.
The UFO entered party politics in the 1919 provincial election. To everyone's surprise, it won enough seats to form a government in coalition
with Labour MLAs. Morrison had hoped the UFO would be able to hold the balance of power and thus win legislation favourable to farmers but there began a whole series of actions and position taking on the part of Morrison which are difficult to describe adequately according to conventional notions of success or failure.
The party ran without a leader and had no designated individual to serve as Premier of Ontario
.
Morrison himself was offered the position of Premier, but he declined. Instead of Morrison, E.C. Drury was appointed Premier.
, but proved unwilling to exercise a supportive role during Drury's Premiership.
Morrison became a thorn in the side of the Drury government on various levels. He held no formal government responsibility, but he had much power.
Instead, Morrison was an advocate of what was known as a non-partisan "group government", as advocated by Henry Wise Wood
, of the United Farmers of Alberta
. However, Drury was not in agreement with this position, rejecting it as impractical.
He also opposed attempts by the government to establish a marketing system.
after one term.
Subsequently Morrison's UFO was not to lead an Ontario
government again.
in 1923, a circumstance which led Morrison into further controversy.
However, this did not indicate that Morrison acquiesced at others in his own organization taking a more prominent role in the organization. This led to further difficulties.
Instead, the designation of Official Opposition went to the Ontario Liberal Party. This bizarre situation arose, despite Morrison's own United Farmers having more seats than the Liberals.
, became a politician and served as an Ontario Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Member of Provincial Parliament in the 1940s.
who served as an MP in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1920s and 1930s. Macphail and Luckock were the first two women elected to the Ontario legislature in 1943.
When his UFO was in office, Morrison undoubtedly spent many of his energies in conflict with UFO Premier Drury. Morrison's fraught relations with Premier Drury in the crucial period 1919-1923 may be summed up as follows: It was difficult for Drury to countenance successful governance in collaboration with his nominal ally, Morrison, because the latter was more interested in farming — and his personal relations with fellow farmers — than in matters of governance. It was equally difficult for Drury to try to govern without Morrison, since the latter as UFO leader had the power to bring him down (which, in substance, did indeed happen).
The career of J J Morisson arguably exemplifies the results of a single issue cause mindset being thrust upon the political scene, while remaining disturbingly immune to perceptions of political feasibility.
Morrison died in 1936.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a founder of the United Farmers of Ontario
United Farmers of Ontario
The United Farmers of Ontario was a political party in Ontario, Canada. It was the Ontario provincial branch of the United Farmers movement of the early part of the 20th century.- Foundation and rise :...
(UFO) in 1914, and a leader of the co-operative movement. He was the UFO's sometimes controversial general secretary
General secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
during the period in which it became a political party and took power in the province following the 1919 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1919
The Ontario general election, 1919 was the 15th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on October 20, 1919, to elect the 111 Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
.
Early career
Morrison was born on his family's homestead in Peel Township, Wellington County.He worked in manufacturing in Toronto for twelve years but returned to his family's farm in 1900. Morrison became active in the agrarian movement.
United Farmers' leadership and infighting
Morrison helped found the UFO in 1914 as a farm advocacy organization of which he remained its secretary until 1933, and over which he exercised a sometimes somewhat eccentric leadership style. Among Morrison's early colleagues in the UFO were future OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Premiers Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
and Harry Nixon
Harry Nixon
Harry Corwin Nixon was a Canadian politician and briefly the 13th Premier of Ontario.He was born on a farm near St...
.
Morrison also served as secretary of the United Farmers Co-operative Company Ltd. (UFCC) from 1914 to 1935. The UFCC was the purchasing co-operative that the UFO operated on behalf of its members.
The UFO entered party politics in the 1919 provincial election. To everyone's surprise, it won enough seats to form a government in coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
with Labour MLAs. Morrison had hoped the UFO would be able to hold the balance of power and thus win legislation favourable to farmers but there began a whole series of actions and position taking on the part of Morrison which are difficult to describe adequately according to conventional notions of success or failure.
Unwillingness to serve as Premier
Despite his party's winning of enough seats in the Ontario Legislature, Morrison had reservations about the UFO forming a government.The party ran without a leader and had no designated individual to serve as Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
.
Morrison himself was offered the position of Premier, but he declined. Instead of Morrison, E.C. Drury was appointed Premier.
Unsupportive of Drury's Premiership
Morrison continued as UFO general secretaryGeneral secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
, but proved unwilling to exercise a supportive role during Drury's Premiership.
Morrison became a thorn in the side of the Drury government on various levels. He held no formal government responsibility, but he had much power.
Opposition to alliance with urban workers
Morrison opposed the UFO's alliance with urban workers and the labour movement.Instead, Morrison was an advocate of what was known as a non-partisan "group government", as advocated by Henry Wise Wood
Henry Wise Wood
Henry Wise Wood was an American-born Canadian agrarian thinker and activist. He became director in 1914 and was elected president of the United Farmers of Alberta in 1916. Under his leadership the UFA became the most powerful political lobby group in the province...
, of the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
. However, Drury was not in agreement with this position, rejecting it as impractical.
Objection to i) pension and ii) marketing initiatives
Morrison objected to initiatives by the Drury government such as a superannuation scheme for civil servants which was denounced by farmers.He also opposed attempts by the government to establish a marketing system.
Collapse of Drury government
The lack of support by Morrison and his faction of the UFO was a contributing factor to the Drury government's defeat in the 1923 electionOntario general election, 1923
The Ontario general election, 1923 was the 16th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 25, 1923, to elect the 111 Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
after one term.
Subsequently Morrison's UFO was not to lead an Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
government again.
Later career
Premier Drury was replaced by Howard FergusonHoward Ferguson
George Howard Ferguson, PC was a Conservative politician and the ninth Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1923 to 1930.-Background:He was the son of Charles Frederick Ferguson who served in the Canadian House of Commons...
in 1923, a circumstance which led Morrison into further controversy.
Hostility to a personal, Official Opposition role
Morrison was personally unwilling to lead the United Farmers as the Official Opposition in the Ontario Legislature.However, this did not indicate that Morrison acquiesced at others in his own organization taking a more prominent role in the organization. This led to further difficulties.
Hostility to a UFO, Official Opposition role
Against Morrison's own colleagues' views — he was also unwilling for the United Farmers to be designated the Official Opposition.Instead, the designation of Official Opposition went to the Ontario Liberal Party. This bizarre situation arose, despite Morrison's own United Farmers having more seats than the Liberals.
Family background
Morrison's daughter, Rae LuckockRae Luckock
Margaret Rae Morrison Luckock known as Rae Luckock was a feminist, social justice activist, peace activist and, with Agnes Macphail, one of the two first women elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario....
, became a politician and served as an Ontario Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
Member of Provincial Parliament in the 1940s.
Political repercussions
Morrison was a mentor to Agnes MacphailAgnes Macphail
Agnes Campbell Macphail was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons, and one of the first two women elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario...
who served as an MP in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1920s and 1930s. Macphail and Luckock were the first two women elected to the Ontario legislature in 1943.
When his UFO was in office, Morrison undoubtedly spent many of his energies in conflict with UFO Premier Drury. Morrison's fraught relations with Premier Drury in the crucial period 1919-1923 may be summed up as follows: It was difficult for Drury to countenance successful governance in collaboration with his nominal ally, Morrison, because the latter was more interested in farming — and his personal relations with fellow farmers — than in matters of governance. It was equally difficult for Drury to try to govern without Morrison, since the latter as UFO leader had the power to bring him down (which, in substance, did indeed happen).
The career of J J Morisson arguably exemplifies the results of a single issue cause mindset being thrust upon the political scene, while remaining disturbingly immune to perceptions of political feasibility.
Morrison died in 1936.
See also
- Ernest Charles Drury#Opposition of J.J.Morrison and other controversies
- Henry Wise Wood#Class conflict ideology
Sources
- Biographical sketch from York University archives.
- Labour and Famers in Ontario, 1919-1923