Vancouver Voyager: Oliver Hangs On

Pancho Villa

Kodiak Alaska. Photo was taken sometime between 1900 and 1923.

A 1916 photo of the 4th of July parade in Nome Alaska.

A 1921 photo.

When I left on Friday, John Oliver had been cajoled into leading the provincial Liberal party but wasn't fully prepared for the upcoming election against the popular conservatives. He lost. Not only were the Conservatives able to take 38 out of the 42 seats, one of those was that of John Oliver. For the first time in almost ten years, Oliver would not sit in the legislature. (It is rumoured that the Conservatives spent $60,000 to beat the popular Oliver.)

The next day, Oliver stated that he was out of politics for good. However, once the shock of the serious defeat was absorbed, it was clear the John had not lost his enthusiasm for the public life. Initially, he returned to his farm and local politics in Delta - he served as reeve and was elected school trustee. He then stood as a Liberal for New Westminster in the 1911 federal election. Oliver and Laurier's Liberal government went down in defeat.

Teddy Roosevelt giving a fiery speech.

Council of chiefs who met with General Mills.

Firemen in New York City, 1908-1916.

This is the U.S. Treasury as well as the old Hotel Riggs in Washington, D.C. Photo was taken between 1860 and 1865.

There was more bad news on the horizon for Oliver's political career. In 1912, Premier McBride called an election. The province had increased revenues under the Conservatives and there was little opposition to the party.

Frances James Anderson Mackenzie - the Conservative incumbent in Delta - was certain to mention that the provincial government intended to spend $85,000 on public works in the area as opposed to the measly $15,000, which had been spent while Oliver represented the area. On March 28, 1912, Oliver and the rest of the Liberal party were completely shut out of the legislature.

Filling a car with gas sometime between 1905 and 1945. Photo was taken by Harris and Ewing.

British boxers, Rueben Charles – Rube Warnes (1875-1961), W.W. Allen, R. Erskine,

A. Spenceley, F. Parks with E.T. Calver, secretary of the Amateur Boxing

This is the People's Drug Store, 7th and E Streets, Washington, D.C. with soda fountain in 1909

This is 1914 photo of 23 men outside the Yukon Gold Co in Dawson Creek.

But all was not lost. A few years later, the magical run of the Conservatives began to wind down. Our provincial economy wasn't able to sustain rapid levels of growth and World War I was leading us into a recession. Then there were the charges of corruption levelled at the provincial government. McBride surprised everyone by resigning on December 15, 1915. William John Bowser took over and grabbed the helm of a sinking ship.

In the spring of 1916, two Liberals won seats in by-elections and in the late summer election, a more organized Liberal party with new, reformist ideas made a dramatic comeback. 36 Liberals - including Oliver representing Dewdney, 9 Conservatives and 2 Independent now formed the government. For the next 25 yeas, the Liberals would dominate provincial politics.