William Bayley
Encyclopedia
William Dowell Bayley was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1920 to 1927.
Bayley was born in Winnipeg, to a family of English
descent. One of his ancestors, Sir Thomas Wyatt
, was executed for sedition. Bayley received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Manitoba
, and was a medallist in philosophy and political economy. He served as principal of King George Public School in Norwood, and in 1918 lectured on prohibition
for the "dry" side in New Zealand
.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1915
, as a candidate of the Labour Representation Committee. He finished second in Assiniboia, coming 55 behind Liberal
candidate John Wilton.
Labour's electoral fortunes rose in Manitoba after the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. Bayley ran for the legislature again in the 1920 provincial election
as a candidate of the Dominion Labour Party
, and defeated Wilton by 103 votes. The Liberals won a minority government
in this election, and Bayley served as an opposition member of the legislature. He was re-elected in the 1922 election
, which was won by the United Farmers of Manitoba.
Bayley was known as a strong orator, and had the honour of being the first public school teacher to serve in the Manitoba legislature. He left the Labour Party caucus on January 8, 1924, shortly after the retirement of party leader Fred Dixon
. He served as an independent member of the legislature after this time, and did not seek re-election in 1927.
Bayley was appointed head of temperance education after retiring from the legislature, and opposed efforts to liberalize Manitoba's liquor laws. He attempted a political comeback in 1953, largely in response to Stephen Juba
's increased popularity in the city. Juba, who would later be elected as Winnipeg's Mayor, promoted liquor law reforms as part of a populist platform. In response, Bayley formed an organization called the Prosperity for Posterity Party
(PPP), which was primarily a vehicle to oppose Juba and his views on the issue.
Bayley registered as a PPP candidate for Winnipeg South in the 1953 provincial election
, but withdraw before election day. He was initially reluctant to run, and allowed his name to stand only after no other volunteers came forward. When he left the race, he suggested that his candidacy could split the temperance vote. He also issued the following statement:
"I choose to withdraw, thanking the friends of temperance, and of me personally, both those who paid me to run and those who said don't, and apologizing to Winnipeg Centre electors for ever thinking they wouldn't adequately deal with Mr. Juba". (Winnipeg Free Press
, 23 May 1953)
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1920 to 1927.
Bayley was born in Winnipeg, to a family of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
descent. One of his ancestors, Sir Thomas Wyatt
Thomas Wyatt the younger
Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger was a rebel leader during the reign of Queen Mary I of England; his rising is traditionally called "Wyatt's rebellion".-Birth and career:...
, was executed for sedition. Bayley received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, and was a medallist in philosophy and political economy. He served as principal of King George Public School in Norwood, and in 1918 lectured on prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
for the "dry" side in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1915
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
, as a candidate of the Labour Representation Committee. He finished second in Assiniboia, coming 55 behind Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
candidate John Wilton.
Labour's electoral fortunes rose in Manitoba after the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. Bayley ran for the legislature again in the 1920 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
as a candidate of the Dominion Labour Party
Dominion Labour Party (in Manitoba)
The Dominion Labour Party was a reformist labour party, formed in Canada in 1918. The party enjoyed itsgreatest success in the province of Manitoba....
, and defeated Wilton by 103 votes. The Liberals won a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in this election, and Bayley served as an opposition member of the legislature. He was re-elected in the 1922 election
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
, which was won by the United Farmers of Manitoba.
Bayley was known as a strong orator, and had the honour of being the first public school teacher to serve in the Manitoba legislature. He left the Labour Party caucus on January 8, 1924, shortly after the retirement of party leader Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon was a Manitoba politician, and was for several years the dominant figure in the province's mainstream labour movement.Born in Englefield, England, Dixon was not a socialist...
. He served as an independent member of the legislature after this time, and did not seek re-election in 1927.
Bayley was appointed head of temperance education after retiring from the legislature, and opposed efforts to liberalize Manitoba's liquor laws. He attempted a political comeback in 1953, largely in response to Stephen Juba
Stephen Juba
Stephen Juba, OC was a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1953 to 1959, and served as the 37th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1957 to 1977. He was the first Ukrainian Canadian to hold high political office in the city.Juba left school at age fifteen, when...
's increased popularity in the city. Juba, who would later be elected as Winnipeg's Mayor, promoted liquor law reforms as part of a populist platform. In response, Bayley formed an organization called the Prosperity for Posterity Party
Prosperity for Posterity Party
The Prosperity for Posterity Party was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was established for the 1953 provincial election, but dissolved before the election took place....
(PPP), which was primarily a vehicle to oppose Juba and his views on the issue.
Bayley registered as a PPP candidate for Winnipeg South in the 1953 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
, but withdraw before election day. He was initially reluctant to run, and allowed his name to stand only after no other volunteers came forward. When he left the race, he suggested that his candidacy could split the temperance vote. He also issued the following statement:
"I choose to withdraw, thanking the friends of temperance, and of me personally, both those who paid me to run and those who said don't, and apologizing to Winnipeg Centre electors for ever thinking they wouldn't adequately deal with Mr. Juba". (Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
, 23 May 1953)