Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union


The Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union in Manitoba
---- FARMERS ORGANIZING! ___________________ Meetings at Crystal City, Ruttanville and Manitou. ___________________ FORMATION OF CENTRAL UNION! ___________________ Mr. Greenway’s Address at Central meeting. ___________________ CANADIAN PACIFIC IS DENOUNCED! _____________________ And the Ogilvie Company Roughly Handled. _____________________ [From our Special Commissioner.] Crystal City. On Saturday last a large number of settlers in this section of the country met for the purpose of forming a branch of the proposed Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union. The meeting was held in the school- house, and Mr. John Greenway occupied the chair. Speeches were delivered by John McTavish, James Laidlaw, Donald Shaw, and Thomas Greenway, M. P. P. The latter dealt with the monopoly provisions of the railroad contract, and contended that the predictions he had made as to the manner in which the powers granted would be abused had been realized. H. J. Taylor was appointed president of the society, and G. W. Green, secretary; Messrs. R. Rogers, Robert Rollins and Thomas Greenway were appointed delegates to the Manitou meeting. A committee was appointed to correspond with the Northern Pacific, Saint Paul & Manitoba and Chicago & Milwaukee railways, as to the possibility of inducing them to build to the boundary line. ___________________________________ Ruttanville. On Monday night a meeting was held at Ruttanville, over which Mr. Robert Miller presided. Mr. Miller delivered an address, as did also Mr. Elson, the warden, Mr. Gosnell, and Mr. Greenway. The speeches delivered at this meeting were largely directed against the Canadian Pacific Railway monopoly, and the difficulties connected with the marketing of the frozen wheat. ___________________________________ Pilot Mound. A farmers’ meeting was held at Pilot Mound to-day (Friday) to receive the report of a committee appointed at a meeting a few days ago to draft suitable resolutions. ___________________________________ Manitou. The culminating meeting was held at Manitou on Wednesday afternoon last in the Stewart Hotel. This was a meeting of the central organization, and fully one hundred farmers were in attendance. There had been a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed during the day in consequence of disappointments met with in regard tot he purchasing of frozen wheat, and the farmers were in anything but good humor. Mr. D. Campbell (Reform) occupied the chair, and Mr. R. Owens (Conservative) acted as secretary. Messrs. Bradshaw, Owens, Stephens and McConnell, the deputation sent to Winnipeg to interview Mr. Egan, general superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway, presented their report, and submitted Mr. Egan’s announcing a reduction in the rates of freight to be charged for frozen grain over the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the granting of permission to load frozen wheat elsewhere than from elevators. Mr. Owens, in the course of his remarks, said Mr. Stirton had told them that if the had the cars he could give them a good price for their frozen grain, but now when he had the cars he would not buy. He did not know what they could do unless they circulated throughout Ontario the fact that they had a large quantity of frozen grain to sell, made an estimate of what they had, and saw if they could not obtain purchases for it. Mr. Stevens said in the course of his remarks that after seeing the wheat the buyers rejected yesterday, he was afraid if that policy were continued some of them would be in a pretty tight place; they would have lots of wheat the summer over. (Laughter.) Several samples of frozen grain of good quality, for which forty and forty-five cents had been paid, were produced. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. Mr. Bailey, of the Nelson Mountaineer, presented a draft, constitution and by-laws of “The Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union.” The constitution declared the objects of the society to be “TO CONCENTRATE THE EFFORTS OF THE AGRICULTURISTS AND FARMERS OF THE NORTHWEST IN SECURING A REPEAL OF THE LAWS THAT MILITATE AGAINST THEIR INTERESTS; THE REMOVAL, BY AGITATION AND OTHER UNLAWFUL MEANS, OF RAILWAY AND OTHER MONOPOLIES THAT PREVENT THE SECURING OF THE CHEAPEST FREIGHTS POSSIBLE TO THE MARKETS OF THE WORLD; THE REMOVAL OF THE UNJUST RESTRICTIONS PLACED UPON TRADE; AND GENERALLY TO GUARD THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE AGAINST UNJUST AGGRESSIONS FROM ANY QUARTER WHATSOEVER.” Then followed the by-laws, which provided that the officers should consist of a president, two vice- presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and a board of directors of five members, to be elected by the delegates from the subordinate lodges at the annual meeting to be held on the first Wednesday in January in each year. Meetings to held at least once in three months, or oftener if necessary. All persons to be eligible for membership by paying a fee of $1, signing the declaration of principles and taking the following OBLIGATION: I, _______, do solemnly and sincerely promise to carry into effect the principles of this society; to use my utmost endeavors to support the principles of the central union; that I will keep strictly private all business transacted at the meetings of the central or subordinate unions; that I will stand side by side with my fellow- members in all efforts of this association; that I will recognize in every member a brother; that I will neither injure him myself nor suffer others to do so if in my power to prevent it, and that I will cheerfully give him my counsel and assistance whenever required. It was decided finally that none but doctors should become eligible for membership, some expressing themselves in favor of confining the movement entirely to farmers. Provision was made for the formation of subordinate unions throughout Manitoba and the Northwest, and for the adoption of by-laws by the same, subject to the approval of the central board of directors, and for the representation of these subordinate lodges at the meetings of the Central Union on the basis of one delegate to each 25 members. Provisions were made for amending the by-laws by a two-thirds vote at a special or annual meeting of the union. The constitution and by-laws were adopted. THE BOUNDARIES. A discussion ensued as to the boundaries of the central union, and it was finally decided, that it was finally embrace entire Southern Manitoba as far west as Cartwright, the presumption being that the Turtle Mountain settlers would prefer to co-operate with Brandon, where there is a similar organization. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were then elected: President - Donald Campbell, Manitou. First Vice-President - William Tapley, Nelson. Second Vice-President - James Laidlaw, Clearwater. Secretary - E. A. Bailey, Mountaineer, Nelson. Treasurer - R. Owens, Manitou. Directors - Thomas Duncan, Nelson; John McTavish, Clearwater; F. A. Stevens, Calf Mountain; W. D. Ruttan, Ruttanville; John Turnbull, Cartwright. THOMAS GREENWAY, M. P. P., was then called upon to address the electors. He was very much pleased with the proceedings of the meeting so far; their organization, so far as he had been able to gather, was a very admirable one, and was arranged upon a very good basis , and he hoped that it would accomplish that which they all so desired. It was difficult to believe that any movement that had been would not finally succeed. Everyone must be convinced by this time that the prosperity of this country depended upon the success of those engaged in agricultural pursuits, and that the failure of thus engaged meant the failure of the entire country. What they were aiming at is was the best means of removing any undue restrictions that had been placed upon the farmer. The growing of wheat was looked to by everyone in this country as the great staple. That arose from the fact that the country was peculiarly adapted for the production of a very fine article of wheat. They found that the affairs of this country had been so managed that at this moment the settlers were placed in a position that some people thought they would be placed in when the effects of certain legislation began to be felt. The disadvantages under which the agriculturists labored were felt with particular severity at the present time, and they should sink all other questions out of sight and unite as one man for the purpose of removing the unjust restrictions which had been placed upon them. As he had said to some people he had spoken to recently upon the subject, and as there would be no difficulty in showing, did time permit, the railway corporation upon which they had depended, were charging them for carrying grain to Port Arthur 10 cents more per bushel than they need to do. The farmers could easily understand the effects of the monopolies by making a simple calculation. Supposing that one of their number had 200 bushels to market at Manitou, the additional 10 cents a bushel would mean the payment of $20 a year to uphold that monopoly; if 500 bushels, $50; and if 1,000 bushels, $100. Was that the kind of thing the farmers of this country desired should continue to exist? He did not think it was. Would they tell him that this monopoly could exist in this country for a little more than seventeen years to come? Then if it could not, they wanted to consider the best means of removing it. The best way was to tell the people who were in authority over them, that they would not submit to be ground down by any such monopoly. Most of them had come down from a part of the Dominion where these restrictions did not exist, and they had been placed upon them since the came here. Since they tamely submit to such things? He said, “No.” (Cries of “Never!”) The central government must be given to understand in the most gentlemanly manner, and in the most lawfully- framed resolutions that it was possible to frame, but at the same time in the most emphatic manner, that they would not submit to this monopoly. A continuance of the existing state of things merely meant that they would have to leave the institutions under which they lived; institutions upon which they prided themselves; institutions they were proud to live under, and institutions which they would be very sorry to leave. It merely meant they would have to go back to their old homes below, and he did not see any bright prospect in that. It was true that in Ontario their wheat was not frozen, but it was because there was not substance enough for the frost to attack. (Laughter) They did not have forty bushels to the acre of frozen wheat, but they had two or three bushels of chicken-feed to the acre. (Laughter) No, they could not well go back; and they did not like the idea of going across the line, because they loved the institutions under which they now lived, institutions which were not surpassed by those of any country in the world. The people, however, were the peers of the realm; They could make and unmake those who made our laws, and they would get redress if they carried out the agitation in a proper spirit. But it was not so easy to suggest an immediate remedy at the present moment. There had been an attempt to impose upon them a grinding rate, not only upon what they got out, but also upon what they got in. And at this unfortunate time, an effort had been made to impose another monopoly upon them. He then proceeded to condemn the Ogilvie monopoly and said that the men who were purchasing wheat were not judges, and had even declared some of last year’s wheat to have been frozen on the 7th of September. Men who declared that wheat, which was only the least hit shrivelled, was not worth more than forty cents per bushel, did not know anything about it. Mr. Ogilvie has spread exaggerated reports in the east as to the damage done to our wheat, and he believed that since the night of the 7th of September this company has been seeking to make fortunes for themselves out of the farmers misfortunes. (Cheers.) He pointed out further the alleged injustice worked out of the frozen wheat purchases, and said that farmers who left home with No. 1 hard found when they got to their market with it and offered it for sale that it had suddenly become “frozen.” In his section there was a good deal of No. 1 frozen grain which he believed to be worth from five to ten cents per bushel less than No. 1 hard. And he believed it would make just as good flour, only a little less of it, if they had the mills for that purpose. He advised the farmers themselves to adopt some means of ascertaining the proper value of the wheat, by sending some of it to the Ontario market, and he believed they would get a proper price for it. He knew that many farmers expecting a yield of 40 or 45 bushels to the acre, had contracted heavy engagements and now found themselves in the lurch, and he advised them to live economically until they were freed from their present difficulty. If they accomplished the little relief they talked of now, and if the movement led to the removal of other grievances, it might be a good thing after all that Jack Frost came on that night of the 7th of September. When the get their rights they might expect to have on these fair plains of the west a prosperous people and one of the best provinces of Confederation. MR. BAILEY, of the Nelson Mountaineer, first dealt with the absurd prices which Mr. Ogilvie, after declaring himself to be a friend of the farmer, paid for frozen wheat, mentioning a poor Mennonite who at Morden yesterday had been paid thirty cents per bushel for his frozen wheat. The railroad question was also touched upon. And the appointment of a railroad commission under such a scheme as that proposed by Mr. Dalton McCarthy advocated. Had Mr. McCarthy’s bill become law, the Canadian Pacific Company could not have given the Ogilvie Company the peculiar advantages they had given. He slowed the disproportion in the selling prices of flour as compared with the with the present rates at which wheat was purchased, and, estimating the capacity of the Ogilvie mill at 25 days, placed their profits for a month at $275,645. He could also tell them that the province owed the Canadian Pacific Railway nothing. Counting the land at one dollar an acre, the Canadian Pacific Railway have received lands in this province, 2,406,400 acres, worth an average of $3 an acre, a total of $7,219,200, more than enough to pay for every mile of the railway in the province, and assist to pay the Government grant on other parts of the line. They had more than paid the cash subsidy, at last year the Dominion Government took from the province more than $2,400,000. He strongly denounced the Dominion Government for withholding from the province the control of its own lands. OTHER SPEECHES. Mr. Laidlaw, of Clearwater, urged his fellow-Conservatives to exert themselves to secure redress, and he was sure they would succeed. Speeches were also made by Mr. Coltart, of Clearwater, who pointed out the disproportion between the price paid for wheat and the price asked for flour, Mr. McTavish, of the same place, who demanded monopolies in general, Mr. Miller and others. The latter, a stern old farmer, with a quaint accent, was determined to get redress, and if it could not be had at Ottawa would look to Washington. This was the only reference to annexation made during the day and was received with laughter. IN THE EVENING, the directors met and arranged for the organization of subordinate lodges. It was resolved to send a quantity of grain to Ontario. SO THANKS FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. Afterwards a general meeting was held, at which a resolution was introduced by Mr. Owens, one of the delegates, thanking the Canadian Pacific Railway for granting them more liberal rates than they had anticipated. Mr. Bailey and a number of others objected to the resolution, as it would convey a false impression to the outside world, leading it to believe that the farmers were now satisfied. Mr. Richards moved a resolution thanking the Canadian Pacific Railway for their kindness, but hinting to them strongly that there was some things that might yet be done. Hope was expressed that the company would continue to show the same interest in the farmers as they had now done. Both resolutions were voted down. Mr. Clarke and one or two others thought that the farmers did not show an appreciative spirit with regard tot he efforts of the railroad company, and he thought that some kind of resolution of thanks should be passed. He would not blame the company if they put up their rates again. A vote of thanks was passed to the Winnipeg delegates, which Mr. Owens declined to accept unless it included the railway company. The amendment was not made, and the resolution carried without it. The meeting finally adjourned without transacting any further business. One of the speakers thought most of the blame was attached to Stirton, as he had misled the farmers. ___________________________________ Rapid City. RAPID CITY, Dec. 6. - Mayor Cornell presided at a meeting last night, to consider the cause of the existing depression and how to remedy it. Dr. Crawford, in the course of an excellent address, referred to the railway monopoly and the urgent need of competition; the low price of grain on account of the high freight rates; the high prices of all the goods imported; the obstruction offered by the Canadian Pacific Railway to any competing railway lines; the high tariff on agricultural implements, which was a ruinous taxation on the farmers, while the manufacturers of the older provinces were being built up at our expense. He strongly advocated the building of the Hudson Bay Railroad, even if the province had been taxed for so doing. This province must insist upon equal rights with the other provinces, and upon the acquisition of its public lands. We know better how to administer them, and what would be a benefit to the province, than they do at Ottawa. If monopoly could not be done away with otherwise, let the Dominion Government buy off the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and allow free competition. If we are allowed to be trodden down by the other provinces he would advocate seccession. If there was not a change in the administration of our affairs soon we would have to go over to Dakota in a body. Resolution similar to those passed in the meeting at Brandon were unanimously adopted by the meeting, and delegates appointed to attend the meeting in Washington. ___________________________________ Brandon. BRANDON, Dec. 7. - At a meeting of the citizens held last night to second the views of the farmers’ convention the following were adopted:- 1st. That this meeting hereby endorse the action of the farmers’ Union, as expressed in the in the resolutions passed by them at their meeting in the city of Brandon. 2nd. That in the opinion of this meeting the present movement of the people of Manitoba to secure redress of well understood grievances in highly commendable, and we pledge our co-operation with it to secure all rights properly due this province, that can be secured in a legal and constitutional manner. 3rd. That a deputation consisting of the mayor, Messrs. Christie, Johnston, Daly, Smart, Sifton, Russell, Dr. Fleming and Dr. Shaw, attend the forthcoming convention in Winnipeg, to represent the views of the citizens of Brandon. Addresses were delivered by several prominent citizens, and Conservatives vied with Liberals in advocating measures for the redress of grievances, preferring annexation to the present state of affairs. They believed that justice should be forced from the present Government, that their grievances would be placed before it, and that justice must be had at any price. It was clearly a non-party gathering, intense enthusiasm prevailing. The advocating of extreme measures called forth repeated cheers. Every one here is thoroughly aroused to the importance of the undertaking. The feeling is gaining ground wonderfully fast. This article is found at http://library.usask.ca/northwest/db/html_docs/organ.html

The Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union in Manitoba

----

FARMERS ORGANIZING!
___________________
Meetings at Crystal City,
Ruttanville and Manitou.
___________________
FORMATION OF CENTRAL UNION!
___________________
Mr. Greenway’s Address at Central meeting.
___________________
CANADIAN PACIFIC IS DENOUNCED!
_____________________
And the Ogilvie Company Roughly Handled.
_____________________
[From our Special Commissioner.]
Crystal City.
On Saturday last a large number of settlers in this section of the country met for the purpose of forming a branch of the proposed Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union. The meeting was held in the school- house, and Mr. John Greenway occupied the chair. Speeches were delivered by John McTavish, James Laidlaw, Donald Shaw, and Thomas Greenway, M. P. P. The latter dealt with the monopoly provisions of the railroad contract, and contended that the predictions he had made as to the manner in which the powers granted would be abused had been realized. H. J. Taylor was appointed president of the society, and G. W. Green, secretary; Messrs. R. Rogers, Robert Rollins and Thomas Greenway were appointed delegates to the Manitou meeting. A committee was appointed to correspond with the Northern Pacific, Saint Paul & Manitoba and Chicago & Milwaukee railways, as to the possibility of inducing them to build to the boundary line. ___________________________________
Ruttanville.
On Monday night a meeting was held at Ruttanville, over which Mr. Robert Miller presided. Mr. Miller delivered an address, as did also Mr. Elson, the warden, Mr. Gosnell, and Mr. Greenway. The speeches delivered at this meeting were largely directed against the Canadian Pacific Railway monopoly, and the difficulties connected with the marketing of the frozen wheat. ___________________________________
Pilot Mound.
A farmers’ meeting was held at Pilot Mound to-day (Friday) to receive the report of a committee appointed at a meeting a few days ago to draft suitable resolutions. ___________________________________
Manitou.
The culminating meeting was held at Manitou on Wednesday afternoon last in the Stewart Hotel. This was a meeting of the central organization, and fully one hundred farmers were in attendance. There had been a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed during the day in consequence of disappointments met with in regard tot he purchasing of frozen wheat, and the farmers were in anything but good humor. Mr. D. Campbell (Reform) occupied the chair, and Mr. R. Owens (Conservative) acted as secretary. Messrs. Bradshaw, Owens, Stephens and McConnell, the deputation sent to Winnipeg to interview Mr. Egan, general superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway, presented their report, and submitted Mr. Egan’s announcing a reduction in the rates of freight to be charged for frozen grain over the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the granting of permission to load frozen wheat elsewhere than from elevators. Mr. Owens, in the course of his remarks, said Mr. Stirton had told them that if the had the cars he could give them a good price for their frozen grain, but now when he had the cars he would not buy. He did not know what they could do unless they circulated throughout Ontario the fact that they had a large quantity of frozen grain to sell, made an estimate of what they had, and saw if they could not obtain purchases for it. Mr. Stevens said in the course of his remarks that after seeing the wheat the buyers rejected yesterday, he was afraid if that policy were continued some of them would be in a pretty tight place; they would have lots of wheat the summer over. (Laughter.)
Several samples of frozen grain of good quality, for which forty and forty-five cents had been paid, were produced. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
Mr. Bailey, of the Nelson Mountaineer, presented a draft, constitution and by-laws of “The Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union.” The constitution declared the objects of the society to be “TO CONCENTRATE THE EFFORTS OF THE AGRICULTURISTS AND FARMERS OF THE NORTHWEST IN SECURING A REPEAL OF THE LAWS THAT MILITATE AGAINST THEIR INTERESTS; THE REMOVAL, BY AGITATION AND OTHER UNLAWFUL MEANS, OF RAILWAY AND OTHER MONOPOLIES THAT PREVENT THE SECURING OF THE CHEAPEST FREIGHTS POSSIBLE TO THE MARKETS OF THE WORLD; THE REMOVAL OF THE UNJUST RESTRICTIONS PLACED UPON TRADE; AND GENERALLY TO GUARD THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE AGAINST UNJUST AGGRESSIONS FROM ANY QUARTER WHATSOEVER.”
Then followed the by-laws, which provided that the officers should consist of a president, two vice- presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and a board of directors of five members, to be elected by the delegates from the subordinate lodges at the annual meeting to be held on the first Wednesday in January in each year. Meetings to held at least once in three months, or oftener if necessary. All persons to be eligible for membership by paying a fee of $1, signing the declaration of principles and taking the following
OBLIGATION:
I, _______, do solemnly and sincerely promise to carry into effect the principles of this society; to use my utmost endeavors to support the principles of the central union; that I will keep strictly private all business transacted at the meetings of the central or subordinate unions; that I will stand side by side with my fellow- members in all efforts of this association; that I will recognize in every member a brother; that I will neither injure him myself nor suffer others to do so if in my power to prevent it, and that I will cheerfully give him my counsel and assistance whenever required.
It was decided finally that none but doctors should become eligible for membership, some expressing themselves in favor of confining the movement entirely to farmers. Provision was made for the formation of subordinate unions throughout Manitoba and the Northwest, and for the adoption of by-laws by the same, subject to the approval of the central board of directors, and for the representation of these subordinate lodges at the meetings of the Central Union on the basis of one delegate to each 25 members.
Provisions were made for amending the by-laws by a two-thirds vote at a special or annual meeting of the union. The constitution and by-laws were adopted.
THE BOUNDARIES.
A discussion ensued as to the boundaries of the central union, and it was finally decided, that it was finally embrace entire Southern Manitoba as far west as Cartwright, the presumption being that the Turtle Mountain settlers would prefer to co-operate with Brandon, where there is a similar organization.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
The following officers were then elected:
President - Donald Campbell, Manitou.
First Vice-President - William Tapley, Nelson.
Second Vice-President - James Laidlaw, Clearwater.
Secretary - E. A. Bailey, Mountaineer, Nelson.
Treasurer - R. Owens, Manitou.
Directors - Thomas Duncan, Nelson; John McTavish, Clearwater; F. A. Stevens, Calf Mountain; W. D. Ruttan, Ruttanville; John Turnbull, Cartwright. THOMAS GREENWAY, M. P. P.,
was then called upon to address the electors. He was very much pleased with the proceedings of the meeting so far; their organization, so far as he had been able to gather, was a very admirable one, and was arranged upon a very good basis , and he hoped that it would accomplish that which they all so desired. It was difficult to believe that any movement that had been would not finally succeed. Everyone must be convinced by this time that the prosperity of this country depended upon the success of those engaged in agricultural pursuits, and that the failure of thus engaged meant the failure of the entire country. What they were aiming at is was the best means of removing any undue restrictions that had been placed upon the farmer. The growing of wheat was looked to by everyone in this country as the great staple. That arose from the fact that the country was peculiarly adapted for the production of a very fine article of wheat. They found that the affairs of this country had been so managed that at this moment the settlers were placed in a position that some people thought they would be placed in when the effects of certain legislation began to be felt. The disadvantages under which the agriculturists labored were felt with particular severity at the present time, and they should sink all other questions out of sight and unite as one man for the purpose of removing the unjust restrictions which had been placed upon them. As he had said to some people he had spoken to recently upon the subject, and as there would be no difficulty in showing, did time permit, the railway corporation upon which they had depended, were charging them for carrying grain to Port Arthur 10 cents more per bushel than they need to do. The farmers could easily understand the effects of the monopolies by making a simple calculation. Supposing that one of their number had 200 bushels to market at Manitou, the additional 10 cents a bushel would mean the payment of $20 a year to uphold that monopoly; if 500 bushels, $50; and if 1,000 bushels, $100. Was that the kind of thing the farmers of this country desired should continue to exist? He did not think it was. Would they tell him that this monopoly could exist in this country for a little more than seventeen years to come? Then if it could not, they wanted to consider the best means of removing it. The best way was to tell the people who were in authority over them, that they would not submit to be ground down by any such monopoly. Most of them had come down from a part of the Dominion where these restrictions did not exist, and they had been placed upon them since the came here. Since they tamely submit to such things? He said, “No.” (Cries of “Never!”) The central government must be given to understand in the most gentlemanly manner, and in the most lawfully- framed resolutions that it was possible to frame, but at the same time in the most emphatic manner, that they would not submit to this monopoly. A continuance of the existing state of things merely meant that they would have to leave the institutions under which they lived; institutions upon which they prided themselves; institutions they were proud to live under, and institutions which they would be very sorry to leave. It merely meant they would have to go back to their old homes below, and he did not see any bright prospect in that. It was true that in Ontario their wheat was not frozen, but it was because there was not substance enough for the frost to attack. (Laughter) They did not have forty bushels to the acre of frozen wheat, but they had two or three bushels of chicken-feed to the acre. (Laughter) No, they could not well go back; and they did not like the idea of going across the line, because they loved the institutions under which they now lived, institutions which were not surpassed by those of any country in the world. The people, however, were the peers of the realm; They could make and unmake those who made our laws, and they would get redress if they carried out the agitation in a proper spirit. But it was not so easy to suggest an immediate remedy at the present moment. There had been an attempt to impose upon them a grinding rate, not only upon what they got out, but also upon what they got in. And at this unfortunate time, an effort had been made to impose another monopoly upon them. He then proceeded to condemn the Ogilvie monopoly and said that the men who were purchasing wheat were not judges, and had even declared some of last year’s wheat to have been frozen on the 7th of September. Men who declared that wheat, which was only the least hit shrivelled, was not worth more than forty cents per bushel, did not know anything about it. Mr. Ogilvie has spread exaggerated reports in the east as to the damage done to our wheat, and he believed that since the night of the 7th of September this company has been seeking to make fortunes for themselves out of the farmers misfortunes. (Cheers.) He pointed out further the alleged injustice worked out of the frozen wheat purchases, and said that farmers who left home with No. 1 hard found when they got to their market with it and offered it for sale that it had suddenly become “frozen.” In his section there was a good deal of No. 1 frozen grain which he believed to be worth from five to ten cents per bushel less than No. 1 hard. And he believed it would make just as good flour, only a little less of it, if they had the mills for that purpose. He advised the farmers themselves to adopt some means of ascertaining the proper value of the wheat, by sending some of it to the Ontario market, and he believed they would get a proper price for it. He knew that many farmers expecting a yield of 40 or 45 bushels to the acre, had contracted heavy engagements and now found themselves in the lurch, and he advised them to live economically until they were freed from their present difficulty. If they accomplished the little relief they talked of now, and if the movement led to the removal of other grievances, it might be a good thing after all that Jack Frost came on that night of the 7th of September. When the get their rights they might expect to have on these fair plains of the west a prosperous people and one of the best provinces of Confederation.
MR. BAILEY,
of the Nelson Mountaineer, first dealt with the absurd prices which Mr. Ogilvie, after declaring himself to be a friend of the farmer, paid for frozen wheat, mentioning a poor Mennonite who at Morden yesterday had been paid thirty cents per bushel for his frozen wheat. The railroad question was also touched upon. And the appointment of a railroad commission under such a scheme as that proposed by Mr. Dalton McCarthy advocated. Had Mr. McCarthy’s bill become law, the Canadian Pacific Company could not have given the Ogilvie Company the peculiar advantages they had given. He slowed the disproportion in the selling prices of flour as compared with the with the present rates at which wheat was purchased, and, estimating the capacity of the Ogilvie mill at 25 days, placed their profits for a month at $275,645. He could also tell them that the province owed the Canadian Pacific Railway nothing. Counting the land at one dollar an acre, the Canadian Pacific Railway have received lands in this province, 2,406,400 acres, worth an average of $3 an acre, a total of $7,219,200, more than enough to pay for every mile of the railway in the province, and assist to pay the Government grant on other parts of the line. They had more than paid the cash subsidy, at last year the Dominion Government took from the province more than $2,400,000. He strongly denounced the Dominion Government for withholding from the province the control of its own lands.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Mr. Laidlaw, of Clearwater, urged his fellow-Conservatives to exert themselves to secure redress, and he was sure they would succeed.
Speeches were also made by Mr. Coltart, of Clearwater, who pointed out the disproportion between the price paid for wheat and the price asked for flour, Mr. McTavish, of the same place, who demanded monopolies in general, Mr. Miller and others. The latter, a stern old farmer, with a quaint accent, was determined to get redress, and if it could not be had at Ottawa would look to Washington. This was the only reference to annexation made during the day and was received with laughter.
IN THE EVENING,
the directors met and arranged for the organization of subordinate lodges. It was resolved to send a quantity of grain to Ontario. SO THANKS FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
Afterwards a general meeting was held, at which a resolution was introduced by Mr. Owens, one of the delegates, thanking the Canadian Pacific Railway for granting them more liberal rates than they had anticipated.
Mr. Bailey and a number of others objected to the resolution, as it would convey a false impression to the outside world, leading it to believe that the farmers were now satisfied. Mr. Richards moved a resolution thanking the Canadian Pacific Railway for their kindness, but hinting to them strongly that there was some things that might yet be done. Hope was expressed that the company would continue to show the same interest in the farmers as they had now done. Both resolutions were voted down.
Mr. Clarke and one or two others thought that the farmers did not show an appreciative spirit with regard tot he efforts of the railroad company, and he thought that some kind of resolution of thanks should be passed. He would not blame the company if they put up their rates again. A vote of thanks was passed to the Winnipeg delegates, which Mr. Owens declined to accept unless it included the railway company.
The amendment was not made, and the resolution carried without it. The meeting finally adjourned without transacting any further business. One of the speakers thought most of the blame was attached to Stirton, as he had misled the farmers. ___________________________________
Rapid City.
RAPID CITY, Dec. 6. - Mayor Cornell presided at a meeting last night, to consider the cause of the existing depression and how to remedy it. Dr. Crawford, in the course of an excellent address, referred to the railway monopoly and the urgent need of competition; the low price of grain on account of the high freight rates; the high prices of all the goods imported; the obstruction offered by the Canadian Pacific Railway to any competing railway lines; the high tariff on agricultural implements, which was a ruinous taxation on the farmers, while the manufacturers of the older provinces were being built up at our expense. He strongly advocated the building of the Hudson Bay Railroad, even if the province had been taxed for so doing. This province must insist upon equal rights with the other provinces, and upon the acquisition of its public lands. We know better how to administer them, and what would be a benefit to the province, than they do at Ottawa. If monopoly could not be done away with otherwise, let the Dominion Government buy off the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and allow free competition. If we are allowed to be trodden down by the other provinces he would advocate seccession. If there was not a change in the administration of our affairs soon we would have to go over to Dakota in a body.
Resolution similar to those passed in the meeting at Brandon were unanimously adopted by the meeting, and delegates appointed to attend the meeting in Washington. ___________________________________
Brandon.
BRANDON, Dec. 7. - At a meeting of the citizens held last night to second the views of the farmers’ convention the following were adopted:-
1st. That this meeting hereby endorse the action of the farmers’ Union, as expressed in the in the resolutions passed by them at their meeting in the city of Brandon. 2nd. That in the opinion of this meeting the present movement of the people of Manitoba to secure redress of well understood grievances in highly commendable, and we pledge our co-operation with it to secure all rights properly due this province, that can be secured in a legal and constitutional manner. 3rd. That a deputation consisting of the mayor, Messrs. Christie, Johnston, Daly, Smart, Sifton, Russell, Dr. Fleming and Dr. Shaw, attend the forthcoming convention in Winnipeg, to represent the views of the citizens of Brandon.
Addresses were delivered by several prominent citizens, and Conservatives vied with Liberals in advocating measures for the redress of grievances, preferring annexation to the present state of affairs. They believed that justice should be forced from the present Government, that their grievances would be placed before it, and that justice must be had at any price. It was clearly a non-party gathering, intense enthusiasm prevailing. The advocating of extreme measures called forth repeated cheers. Every one here is thoroughly aroused to the importance of the undertaking. The feeling is gaining ground wonderfully fast.

This article is found at http://library.usask.ca/northwest/db/html_docs/organ.html