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| Credit: Farmerettes, 1916. City of Toronto Archives |
June 1st 1916
Voice of the People
To the Editor of the Examiner
Dear Sir:
The other day while we were riding on the southbound street
car going to the Henry Hope Co., where we offered our services as munitions
workers, an altercation arose between the motorman and us. After giving our husband and sons to the army, we feel that there are many more men in
Peterborough that should don the khaki. A suggestion was made to the men on the
car that they change their suits to khaki, and let women who are willing, take their
places. Whereupon the motorman became indignant, and in the course of several
remarks (none of which should be termed loyal) he said he would rather fight
for the Germans than the allies. We told him that he should express such
sentiments to Chief Thompson, and not us. He threatened to throw us out the
window.
We have sons in the trenches, and others on the way there.
We would consider our men poor specimens of manhood if they didn’t fight for
the right in this war. We are willing and able to work in places of men that
they might do their share. Women are taking places of men in the old land, why
not here?
Men with anti-British sentiments should be interned, and
those who are not in khaki should get a hustle on and “don” it. We wouldn’t
respond any man who is a slacker.
Thanking you Sir,
Mrs. Wm. Smith
Mrs. John McGee,
421 Chambers Street.
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| Credit: City of Toronto Archives, 2012 |
[I love this document. It speaks to conscription, first wave feminism, masculinity, and the historical beginnings of terrible customer service on Peterborough Transit]
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