Beginnings and endings mark June 15, 1944

The June 15, 1944 edition of the Yorkton Enterprise was defined by beginnings and endings.

It marked the beginning of the CCF in the province, which took power in a landslide election. Tommy Douglas’ party won 47 of 52 seats, with the Liberal party under William John Patterson forming the official opposition. The Progressive Conservatives, under Rupert Ramsay, lost every seat. Douglas would be premier until 1961, when he left to lead the national CCF. This victory would go on to see major changes to Saskatchewan, including the introduction of many crown corporations and the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights, but most famously building Medicare, which was finally completely implemented under Douglas’ successor Woodrow Lloyd in 1962.

But that was the future, in 1944 the headline was the win, and the Enterprise called the victorious Douglas, over long distance telephone.

“Naturally I am very delighted with the outcome. I want to thank all our supporters and our workers for the magnificent work they have done. I don’t feel this is a matter of a personal triumph but rather a victory for the people of Saskatchewan as a whole. We take our responsibility soberly and will endeavor to carry on our commitments,” said Douglas.

Patterson was also reached for comment, again over long distance telephone.

“The people of Saskatchewan have spoken,” said Patterson. “And naturally we take their decision in good grace. My sincere hope is that the province will continue to prosper under the new administration and to those who have for so many years expressed confidence in myself and the Liberal party, I extend my thanks.”

The Enterprise also extended their long-distance line, of which they were evidently extremely proud, to the third place Progressive Conservatives. Ramsay, in the midst of extending congratulations to the victorious CCF, promised that his party would return.

“The Progressive Conservative party was not in this fight just to win an election but we have begun a movement which will go forward.”

It would return, eventually, but not with Ramsay at the helm, who resigned from the leadership after a similarly disastrous 1948 election.

In Yorkton, riding the wave of CCF support was Arthur P. Swallow. He bested Liberal Alfred A. Brown and Progressive Conservative Norman Roebuck. Swallow took the day with a convincing majority of 1,600 votes.

Swallow pledged to represent his constituents no matter where their votes went. Brown was gracious in defeat, using the opportunity of an interview with the Enterprise to give congratulations to Swallow. Roebuck, meanwhile, just said thanks to his supporters.

D-Day began on June 6, 1944, and Yorkton also saw its first reported casualty of the Normandy landings reported on June 15, Major Jack Love. Major E. A. Crosthwaite, E.D., his former principal, remembered his former student.

“Jack was one of those boys for whom I prophesied a great future, because of the brilliance he had shown in his whole career up until the time of his death... I pray that he may live on into the future of Canada by the magnificent example which he set in his life and in his death.”

Yorkton also lost its first resident, Cosmo J. Macfarline. The city’s founder died in his sleep on June 10, and the Enterprise ran his obituary. Since founding the town in 1882, he had been a resident continuously since, until his death at 95. At the time he was not only the first citizen of the town, but also its oldest.

Macfarline, born November 13, 1848, was sent by the York Farmer’s Colonization Company to settle the region in 1882, setting out by oxen from Brandon after reaching the end of the rail lines. Rail also meant that the town moved three miles south in 1889, as the original location was too far away from the planned route of the railroad. He would become Yorkton’s first overseer in 1894.

Macfarline’s obituary also included the tale of why Yorkton is called Yorkton. The original plan was to call the town York City, but the homestead inspector thought there were too many “cities” in the west. Then the plan was to call it Yorktown, but that vetoed because there was already a Yorktown in the United States. Thus, they discarded the w and the town was christened Yorkton.

It was also Father’s Day, and The Bay had broadcloth shirts for the low price of $3.50. In another indication of the very different times of the day, they also proudly advertised a pigskin tobacco pouch for $2.95 and a serviceable lighter for $4.00.