“ That such a showing should have been made by a country so limited in population as Canada, is the best proof of his skill as administrator of the nation’s finances during the most trying epoch in the history of the world. So thoroughly has Sir Thomas the confidence of his leader, Sir Robert Borden, that when in November, 1918, he left Canada for an indefinite absence as a member of the European Peace Conference, he appointed the Minister of Finance Acting Prime Minister, to take charge of the hazardous task of re-organizing the country on a peace basis. ”

“ He is a man of rugged honesty, industrious and aggressive, and enjoys a measure of public confidence which is indicated by the title conferred upon him by the people of his province. The Premier’s candour and courage are recognized as his greatest assets, while his long association with public affairs and foremost position in the Liberal party has made his name a household word in British Columbia. The Premier possesses sufficient property, acquired by his own industry, to make him independent of political fortunes. ”

“ To-day, with marked pride, he sees the seven thousand population increased to one hundred and twenty thousand, the once fields and uncared-for lanes converted into beautifully paved streets, parks, and gardens, the costly Parliament Buildings, standing in all their grandeur upon the hill overlooking the Ottawa River; huge commercial, financial and office buildings and apartment houses galore facing the eye at every angle, and handsome modern residences in abundance. ”

“ A distinguished graduate of Toronto University, the new President, far from leaving the avenues of learning, as some do when they graduate, has ever increased his stores, and has successfully striven not only to broaden and deepen his knowledge, but to devote it to the service of his fellow-men, as witness Mr. Clark’s strong and convincing advocacy of the Canadian Government availing itself of the great scientific attainments and progressive scholarship of men like Professors Macallum and McLennan. ”

“ Langelier, The Honorable Sir François-Xavier, Statesman, and Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, comes of very distinguished ancestry, and is one of the most respected, capable and learned of French-Canadian gentlemen, who has taken a leading part in the public life of Canada, and by his brilliant achievements, ripe scholarship and administrative ability, has served as an inspiration and shining example to all who would win a high place in the confidence and esteem of their fellow-countrymen. ”

“ In 1889, death called this pioneer Canadian lumberman and high-principled citizen. His private and social relations had won for him everywhere good will and highest regard. Men had learned to esteem the man because of his tested and sterling worth. In the commerce of Canada Mr. Bronson’s name will go down in history as the first lumberman in the Ottawa Valley to manufacture sawn lumber for the American market, and as a pioneer in the development of the resources of that section of Canada to the point where its principal city was deemed worthy of being named as the Capital City of the Dominion. ”

“ MacLean is a man of splendid executive ability, which has been shown by his able judgment in all public enterprises with which he has been connected. It has been said that the farmer needs ideas. In his case he has ideas—big ones—and is not afraid to champion them even in the face of strong opposition. He is a leader and a safe one to follow, because of his canny Scotch nature. He is a good public speaker and has such splendid control of himself that he has never been known to show anger even under trying circumstances. ”

“ MacDonald is not only a westerner by birth and by all his traditions, he was educated in Portage la Prairie and has always taken a prominent part in the outdoor sports which are such a feature of Western Canadian life. In his youth he played hockey and lacrosse with the Victorias of Winnipeg, and the Portage la Prairie clubs and was also a member of the famous lacrosse club of Victoria, B.C. In bicycling, football, baseball, running, jumping he was always prominent, and he finds his greatest present recreations in hunting, curling, motoring and trap-shooting. ”

“ Being a man with a practical knowledge of this business, he has been a valuable asset to the Steele-Briggs Company, and much credit is due him for the high position that firm holds in the esteem of the Canadian people to-day. While his active business career requires considerable of his time and attention, still he is a citizen of more than ordinary worth, and he takes no small interest in all measures that have a tendency towards furthering public welfare, and is also a worthy friend of both religious and charitable enterprises. ”

“ Parent has held the reputation for being an honest and able man; as one of the most industrious administrators of modern times; as a man of decision, business and legal ability, and rare enterprise in public matters; unassuming, courteous, and practical. A Roman Catholic in religion, Mr. Parent has ever been a staunch Liberal, and one of the late Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s best and most influential supporters. He is a member of the Rideau, Laurentian, and Ottawa Hunt Clubs in Ottawa, and of the Garrison Club, Quebec. His Ottawa residence is at 485 King Edward Avenue. ”

“ Endowed with foresight and courage, attributes which helped to raise him to his enviable position in the business world, he believed that the formation of the Dominion Iron and Steel Company, with its adjunct, the Dominion Coal Company, would not only open the way for a gigantic steel enterprise in Canada which would take care of the big domestic business in the Dominion, but also extend to other parts of the Empire and to foreign countries. ”

“ With a very large majority at his disposal, he found the task an easy one, and was successful in gathering around him men who have since carried on the government of the country in one of the most critical periods of its existence. At the time the first Borden government assumed office the world war was unthought of except as a vague speculation, which few students of world finance and world politics believed would ever become a fact, and the new Premier did not foresee that before him lay the most difficult task that had ever confronted a Canadian Government. ”

“ While, however, his career as an insurance man and financier has been such as very few men of his age have attained, that represents but one side of a character remarkable for activity and public spirit, as well as ability. In movements toward the betterment of conditions in the life insurance business Mr. Cox has naturally taken a keen interest, but his pursuits outside of business, especially in the field of social betterment, are varied and important. He took a deep and active interest in the erection of Toronto’s General Hospital, serving upon several committees in this connection. ”

“ Detwiler is a Protestant, worshipping with the United Brethren in Kitchener. In politics he is a real Independent, favoring no party, but always for to support the right man and the right principles if fortunate enough to have the opportunity of doing so. He was an early advocate of public ownership and his brother, D. B. Detwiler, of Kitchener, is the pioneer Hydro promoter in Canada, and is President of the Algoma Power Co., Ltd., and Chairman of the Great Waterways Union of Canada, and the proud father of two sons, with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France. ”

“ There have been rumors that an effort would be made to induce General Currie to enter Canadian politics as a Liberal leader on his return from the front, but so far he has refused to assent to any such proposals. He is an Anglican in religion and was married in 1901 to Miss L. S. Chaworth-Masters of Victoria, B.C., by whom he has one daughter. A quiet man of iron determination and marvellous powers of organization, he is, however, certain to play a prominent role in the life of Canada in future, whatever path he may elect to follow. ”

“ He met every obstacle with indomitable faith in himself as the biggest asset of human enterprise, which, more than any other, was a characteristic of Mr. Beach. He had absolute faith in his own judgment and with great capacity and resource he soon recovered his losses. He was President of the Beach Foundry Co., Ltd., of Ottawa, and also with his son Charles A., established the Beach Furniture Factory, at Cornwall. In 1909 he completed a water power development in Iroquois, one of the latest and most improved hydro-electric power plants in America. ”

“ The present century has witnessed a marvellous development in the Canadian West, so that in these pages we find numerous records showing not merely the commercial, but the intellectual, progress of the Provinces West of the Great Lakes—stories of brilliant careers built up by men who were mere children in the East when the first volume was published. The reader will also note in the biographies of business men which abound in these pages, the ever-increasing scale on which Canadian commerce and enterprise everywhere is conducted, so that what seemed large in 1886 is relatively small to-day. ”

“ His ideas, however, were over a generation in advance of the people’s desire for public ownership, and, as a consequence private capitalists draw some $40,000,000 in bond interest and dividends yearly, besides adding large sums to reserve, which the people pay; while the people are out a huge land and money bonus, have neither the national railway nor a national currency, but instead a huge octopus of capitalists that dominates our legislation and is an ever-watchful and valiant defender of “vested rights”—whether rightly or wrongly obtained. ”

“ Not only is he well known: he is also one of the most popular business men, social companion, lover of sports, and general good fellow with all his friends, acquaintances and customers to be found in any community, and his success in life, and his popularity, are what have sprung from his open, genial and straightforward conduct towards and with all who have had the good fortune to come in contact with him ever since he arrived in Ottawa in 1879 when he became an apprentice in the dry goods business in which line he served for ten years. ”

“ In 1905, feeling the need of greater freedom in editorial and business policy than his surroundings permitted, Mr. Campbell dissociated himself from his father, and began the publication of “Office and Field,” a weekly—in its time the only weekly journal in the world wholly devoted to life insurance. The world-wide upheaval in life insurance business arising from the investigation by a committee of the legislature of the State of New York in 1905 threatened the new venture with early extinction, but by daring and skilful guidance Mr. Campbell brought his craft to success. ”

“ Controller Napoleon Champagne, barrister, many years ago, became well known to the citizens of Ottawa. Well educated, talented, aggressive, ambitious and persistent, he has year after year kept himself in the public eye, and has been, and deservedly so, accorded public recognition. On several occasions he was selected by the Conservatives of Ottawa as their candidate for political honors in the Federal Parliament, and on each occasion he made a gallant fight to achieve success. ”

“ Flavelle is a very busy man, but finds relaxation and recreation in golf, motoring and boating. He is a Methodist in religion, and a Liberal-Conservative in politics. Public spirited, with a fine business reputation, he takes more than a passing interest in matters of National importance and is keenly concerned in all measures which will advance the community in which he has held a prominent place for so many years. ”

“ So wide is his knowledge of human affairs, so urbane is he in his manner and so just in his decisions, so charitable is he in his approach to the two sides of a public question, that he has more than once been called upon to act as arbitrator between employer and employees. During the many years of his episcopate he has organized over fifty new parishes, and has never failed to urge the building of spacious churches and school-houses and convents in the most of them. The events of his life have been for the most part the events of his native province and of Canada as well. ”

“ Writing in the “Toronto Star Weekly,” Arthur Hawkes says: “Mr. Parson’s service in the Manufacturers Association has been real service, and not a still hunt for glory. In committee he is as cautious as strong, and as strong as wise. He looks often before he leaps and he can take a pretty good leap—the fundamental condition of which is that he shall have examined the jumping-off place and surveyed the spot where he intends to land. ”

“ When in 1914, Germany made war against all Europe, and Canada decided to support the Motherland, perhaps the gravest task of all fell on the Minister of Finance, because up to that time Canada had been a heavy borrower from the Motherland, and these sources of supply would naturally be cut off if the war continued for a lengthy period. In fact, in 1914, many eminent financiers believed that the financial resources of the world would not stand the strain of a war of more than six months’ duration. ”

“ The welfare of the Canadian Manufacturers Association is in good hands under his care. He is a type of Association President well able to smooth out many of the difficulties between capital and labor, having appreciation of the problems met by both.” Mr. William Lewis Edmonds writes at the same time in “Industrial Canada”: “While Mr. Parsons is strong as a business man, and particularly in the quality of executive ability, that is not the only direction in which his strength lies. He is a strong man all the way round. ”