Seeking Victory by Other Means, 1912-14

• Author: C. Ian Kyer
• Pages: 121-130



Chapter

SEEKINGVICTORYBY

OTHERMEANS



circumstancesbroughtHoratioHockenoneoftheCitys

mostdedicatedconcernedandeectivepoliticianstothemayorsoceHis

determination and vision almost changed the story of Toronto transit dra

matically. Hocken’s appointment as mayor began with the death of Justice

MabeethechairmanoftheFederalRailwayCommission The federal gov

ernmentchoseHenryDraytonTorontosCitysolicitortoreplaceMabee That

openedupthelucrativepositionofCitysolicitorandMayorGearyresigned

inordertotakethatpositionThecitycouncilchosethelongtimecontroller

Hocken, to succeed him as mayor.

Hocken had paid aention when Jacobs Davies had suggested that

if the City did not want to broaden the Toronto Railway Company’s (TRC)

franchise, it ought to buy out the Company. Spence had suggested much the

samethingAsCitycontrollerHockenhadinformaldiscussionswithMack

enziein Now as mayor, Hocken decided to broach the subject again.

HewastiredoftheendlessandlargelyineectualbaleswiththeTRCso

he set out to acquire it.

MackenzieletitbeknownthathewantedtoselltheTRCtogetherwith

itselectricalsupplierandaliatetheTorontoElectricLightCompany That

wasnewithHockenTopurchasetheTRCandnotbuythepowercompany

thatsupplieditwouldhavelefttheCityatthemercyofMackenzieandhis

partners.