by Charlie Tatham Alex Muir’s Grit (Liberal) votes balanced Charlie Hearn’s Tory votes. The roads were plugged with snow; the only way to get to Jackson’s polling booth was through the fields. It was a cold, blizzardy day in Oxford county. They both agreed, “Let’s stay home, we’re just going to cancel each other’s votes.” Later in the afternoon one fellow harnessed his horses and hitched them to the sleigh. The other neighbour saw and did the same. The agreement was broken. However, two sleigh loads of voters did their duty and voted.
Back in the 1930s my grandmother’s kitchen was warmed by a big black stove—warm enough to keep early spring lambs alive and warm. A large picture of a room full of men hung on the opposite side of the room. Who were they? I was told they were some of the Fathers of Confederation.
What was voting? I was told that my great-grandfather and his brothers had to fight their way to the polls to vote. It was an open vote; you had to declare who you were supporting. It was not until 1874 that men got the secret ballot, and it was 1917 before women got the vote.
I was one of four Canadian delegates of the National Council YMCA who spent three weeks in Russia, 1963. I certainly better understood and appreciated our system of government after that visit. An older friend remarked, “Next to life itself the secret ballot is the most important thing.”
We must keep that right, defend it and exercise it.
We have our fine young service men and women in Afghanistan. We are grateful for their service.
F. H. Underhill in The Image of Confederation, Massey Lecture 1963, said: “A nation is a body of people who have done great things together in the past and who expect to do great things together in the future.”
About Vimy Ridge, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Stacey, addressing the Canadian Historical Association in 1967 said “Canadian Corps, on April 9, 1917, with four divisions in line on a front of four miles, attacked and captured this ridge...If a single milestone is needed to mark progress on the road to national maturity, one might do much worse than nominate that famous Easter Monday.”
Democracy is a very messy business and we often turn our backs on our politicians. I know there are good people in all parties.
Remember Vimy Ridge—remember to vote.
Charlie Tatham retired to Powell River in 1997 after 72 years in Southwestern Ontario. He is the former mayor of Woodstock, Ontario.
