Talk:Erastus Wiman

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This section needs a lot of editing, and the removal or substantiation of some claims (such as "One of the most popular Canadians in the late 1800’s" ... "Became a popular policy in Canada by 1887") before it can be used:

NEEDS EDITING AND SMOOTHING OUT -Favoured pro-US relationship -One of the most popular Canadians in the late 1800’s -Born into humble family, rags-to-riches success story -Journalist, then made fortune when he moved to New York, entrepreneur, real estate, entertainment -Bought the New York Mets, built new stadium, bought Staten Island Ferry system -Late 1880’s, net worth $2-3 million -defied the stereotype that Canadians couldn’t compete with Americans -Founded: Canadian Club in New York -Promoted Canadian culture: Lacrosse, art, Quebec winter fair - Wiman: gave enormous sums of money, spoke in favour of minorities, women, children - Succeeded in abolishing the ‘Debtor’s Prison’ in New York - ‘In a room full of millionaires, he was the only one who’d give an ordinary guy a $20 bill’ - Wiman’s GOAL: - Bring about commercial union with the United States - Free trade, plus: - A common external tariff - Two countries would be a single economic unit, same tariffs against the world, and share the tariffs in Some sort of equitable deal - Pretty radical concept for the times - Became a popular policy in Canada by 1887 - Notion that Canadians would be disadvantaged was rebutted by Wiman saying, ‘Look at me, I am successful’ - Saying: ‘Get over the inferiority complex’ - Wiman never succeeded - Later: life became pathetic - Went to jail for fraud with his company - Fortune is gone, reputation discredited - Died in obscurity - Did not achieve fame in posterity —Preceding unsigned comment added by 156.34.36.154 (talk) 18:16, 15 August 2009 (UTC)