Premier Walter Scott : a study of his rise to political power

Abstract

Early in 1885 Walter Scott left his rural Ontario home to seek his fortune in western Canada. He had completed an elementary school education but was not trained for any trade or profession. In the twenty years that followed he acquired control of two newspapers, was twice elected as a member of Parliament and in 1905 became the first Premier of Saskatchewan. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about his political career was that he achieved success despite the strong opposition of two able, well educated and politically experienced men in the persons of N. F. Davin and F. W. G. Haultain. By the time Scott had completed his training as a printer and was ready to move into the business and political world the issues in western Canada were well defined and the leaders well established, and yet he was able to achieve high political office.