THE DEPTH OF THE FURROWS
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
--_Julius Caesar._
Because it was the logical and primary source of redress for the abuses
which led the Western farmers to organize, the Grain Growers from the
first have concerned themselves seriously with legislation. It took
them a little while to discover that instead of being an all-sufficient
panacea, mere legislation may become at times as flat and useless as a
cold pancake. But by the time the farmers had come to close quarters
with their difficulties their vision had widened so that they were able
to look ahead, clearing the path for the next step forward. So
frequently have they besought the Governments, both Federal and
Provincial, that occasionally they have been accused by harassed
politicians of "playing politics and nothing else."
As their organizations grew and acquired knowledge it is true that
these "petitioners" who "did humbly pray" began to straighten their
backs a little, the while they wrestled with the kinks that were
bothering them from too much stooping. It was a sort of chiropractic
process for the alleviation of growing pains--the discovery of the
proper nerve to ask and receive, to seek and find. As the People grew
more accustomed to the sound of their own Voice it was only natural
that the quaver of timidity began to disappear from the tones of it and
that their speech grew stronger in the Legislative Halls dedicated to
government "of, by and for" them. The "Backbone of His Country" set
out to prove that he was not spineless, merely disjointed. And as he
gained confidence in his vertebrae the Farmer began to sit up and take
notice--began even to entertain the bold idea of getting eventually
upon his feet.
The intention was laudable. To make it audible he assembled a
platform, stood up on it, and argued. His protests could be heard
clean to the back of the Hall. Like the young elephant whose trunk was
being stretched by the crocodile, he said: "You are hurting me!" In
the nose-pulling game of Party Politics as it too often has been
played, it sometimes takes a lusty holler to make itself heard above
all the other hollering that is going on; if getting a hearing is
"playing politics," then the Grain Growers have run up a pretty good
score.
They began with various amendments to the Grain Act. These included
the famous "car distribution" clause, the farmer's right to a car and
his procedure to obtain it and additional cars as he needed them, the
provision of penalties for the purchase or sale of car rights, etc.
Opposition to some of these amendments was keen and the farmers had to
fight constantly; when they were not fighting for necessary amendments
they were fighting to retain those already secured. Constant vigilance
was required. Many delegations of Grain Growers visited Ottawa from
time to time to plead for improvement of conditions in handling grain,
more equitable inspection methods, government ownership and operation
of terminal facilities and so on.
Each year the annual conventions of the various associations in
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta grew in size and importance; each
year the Grain Growers' knowledge expanded, much of it gained by
marketing experience. From these "Farmers' Parliaments" and the pages
of the _Grain Growers' Guide_ they drew inspiration for many radical
ideas and threshed them out into well defined policies. By the time
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then Premier of Canada, ventured West in 1910 the
farmers were pretty well posted on national topics. Everywhere he went
he faced thousands of ruddy, big-fisted men who read addresses to him
and did a lot of extemporaneous talking which was no less forceful and
complete than the prepared briefs.
Six or eight hundred of them followed him back to Ottawa in December of
that same year and laid siege to the Government on its own
stamping-ground. It was the most remarkable red-seal record of the
Voice from the Soil that hitherto had been known thereabouts. In order
that there might be no doubt as to the planks on which they stood, the
Grain Growers assembled a platform in full view of the audience.
"We want reciprocal Free Trade between Canada and the United States in
all horticultural, agricultural and animal products," declared the
farmers; "also in spraying materials and fertilizers; illuminating,
fuel and lubricating oils; cement, fish and lumber.
"We want reciprocal Free Trade between the two countries in all
agricultural implements, machinery, vehicles and parts of each of
these. We want it carried into effect through the independent action
of the respective Governments rather than by the hard and fast
requirements of a treaty.
"We want the duties on all British goods lowered to one-half the rates
charged under the general tariff schedule, whatever that may be. Also,
we want any trade advantages given to the United States in reciprocal
trade relations to be extended to Great Britain.
"We want such further gradual reduction of the remaining preferential
tariff as will ensure the establishment of complete free trade between
Canada and the Mother Land within ten years. We're willing to face
direct taxation, in such form as may be advisable, to make up the
revenue required under new tariff conditions."
"This bunch wants the whole earth!" cried the Canadian Manufacturers
indignantly.
"Sub-soil and all!" nodded the Railways.
"Certainly they're plowing deep," commented the Banks.
"To eradicate weeds," admitted the Farmers.
"Damn it all, anyway!" worried the Politicians.
To show that they were talking neither Tory nor Grit, the Western
farmers proceeded to waylay the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. R. L.
Borden, the following year when he in turn decided to "Go West." He,
too, came face to face with thousands of ruddy, big-fisted men and
listened to their equally plain-spoken addresses, prepared and
extemporaneous.
And what came of it all? Did these farmers get what they wanted?
Not yet!
But while all this agitation of the Grain Growers one time and another
seldom has resulted in assent to their full requests, certain
compliances have been made on different occasions with beneficial
results. For instance--to mention three--the Royal Grain Commission of
1906, the permanent Grain Commission, and the Government Terminal
Elevators are an outcome of various requests and delegations of the
Grain Growers.
Certainly the organized farmers of Western Canada have attained a
measure of self-confidence which enables them to declare themselves in
definite language. While seeking wider markets and the real value of
their products, they have been opposed always to any scheme which
accomplishes higher prices at the expense of the consumer or of the
British workman. They do not believe in import duties on food stuffs,
clothing, fuel or building material. Rather do they favor bringing
closer together the producer and consumer to the advantage of both.
They believe in cheaper money for the development of agriculture and
other industries and in such utilization of natural resources that the
homes of the people may be improved.
They have stood consistently behind woman suffrage and the abolition of
the liquor traffic. They would adopt direct legislation through the
Initiative and Referendum. They believe in the principles of
Co-Operation in buying and selling. They have urged extension of the
parcel post system, the reduction of traffic charges to a reasonable
basis, Government control of waterways and all natural resources that
they may be developed only in the public interest.
Does a creed like this spell class legislation? Does it indicate that
in his eagerness to improve the conditions surrounding his own life the
Grain Grower is forgetting the general welfare of the Dominion of
Canada? Listen to the doctrine which the leaders have inculcated on
every occasion--to President T. A. Crerar before the War:
"You have a very clear-cut and distinct responsibility in supporting
the whole movement of the organized farmers in Western Canada; for this
means that you are improving not alone your own environment and
condition, but also creating the conditions and influences that will
develop a higher and purer ideal of public service upon the part of our
people than we have in Canada to-day. It should be a source of great
satisfaction that upon all important matters the policies adopted and
supported by the organized farmers in the past have been formed upon
what in their judgment would benefit the country as a whole and not
from the narrow view of selfish interest.
"During the past ten years the people of Canada have mortgaged the
prosperity of the future to far too great an extent. Our total
borrowings as a nation, for public and private purposes, have run into
such a colossal sum that it requires about $160,000,000 annually to pay
interest on the amounts borrowed. This constitutes a very heavy task
on a country with about eight millions of a population. Manufacturing
industries have been built up with a view of developing home industry
and furnishing home markets, but often at a very heavy cost to our
agricultural development, with the result that we have been travelling
in a circle, reaching nowhere, rather than along the road that leads to
Progress.
"We hear considerable nowadays of the necessity of a 'Back to the Land'
movement. It is necessary, however, to do a little more than get
people located on the land with a view of increasing agricultural
production. It is necessary to free agriculture from the burdens now
resting upon it and make it the first business of the country.
"Much of our natural resources has been recklessly handled, and as a
people we are faced with the necessity of overcoming the evil effects
of our unbusinesslike methods as a nation in administering resources.
If we are to surmount our shortcomings in this respect and pay our
obligations as a nation to the outside world, we must place agriculture
throughout Canada upon a thoroughly sound and profitable basis. The
creation of wealth from our wonderfully rich natural resources, in
which agriculture stands in the forefront, is the essential thing and
should receive most consideration from our Governments--both Dominion
and Provincial.
"We must learn to respect each other's differences and, if we do, with
the development of that democratic spirit which is now day by day
becoming more manifest in Western Canada, we need have no fear of our
usefulness as an agency in bringing about the ultimate triumph of the
principles of justice between man and man."
Listen to President J. A. Maharg, addressing the Saskatchewan Grain
Growers' Association in 1914:
"What is wanted is the general recognition by all classes of the
importance of Agriculture and an honest desire by them to assist in
placing it on a basis equal to that of any other industry--making it an
occupation that will draw people to it instead of driving them away.
In soliciting the aid of other classes I am not asking them to assist
us in gaining any special favors whatever; all we ask is that they
assist us to have Agriculture placed in the position its importance
entitles it to."
Hear the President of the United Farmers of Alberta, H. W. Wood:
"This is the day of class co-operation. That means inter-class
competition. In this competition of class against class ours is the
losing class at every turn because we have been the least organized,
the least co-operative; consequently the weakest. Before we can hope
to hold our own in this struggle we will have to bring our full
strength, thoroughly organized, to bear in protection of our rights.
"I have an abiding faith that the organized farmers will receive that
strength, not selfishly but unselfishly in the defence of the rights of
all and for the spoliation of none. The highest ambition I have for
our organization is that it may develop along the lines of safety and
sanity, that we may hold to a steady determination to go forward
unwaveringly in our efforts till the door of hope and opportunity is as
wide open to the farmers as to any class in the world, that we may
zealously cultivate unselfish co-operation and learn to treat fairly
and justly every man and every class that is giving a useful service to
society."
And this from the Presidential address of R. C. Henders at the last
Manitoba Grain Growers' convention:
"In order to have legislation that will be equitable to the different
interests concerned, all of these interests should be somewhat equally
represented in the passing of such legislation. We do not desire to
minimize in any way the great commercial interests of our people, yet
we feel that the work of our associations is educational and
legislative in its character. Democratic rule requires that the
average citizen be an active, instructed and intelligent ruler of his
country and therefore the success of democracy depends upon the
education of the people along two principal lines--first, political
knowledge; second, and what is of far more importance, political
morality. Ideal government is found when we have righteous rulers
governing a people of character and intelligence. Right education is
right thinking and right thinking can only come through accurate
information."
Now, is all this preaching of the men who are leading the farmers just
so much talk?--chaff?--prairie wind?
If not, what lies back of it? The farmers have an organization which
meets every so-often to harmonize and crystallize the thought among
their various associations and business units. It is that same
Canadian Council of Agriculture which has been mentioned already. It
consists of the executive committees of eight farmers' co-operative,
business and educational institutions, to wit: The United Farmers of
Ontario, The United Farmers' Co-Operative Company of Ontario, The Grain
Growers' Association of Manitoba, United Grain Growers (of the entire
West), The Grain Growers' Association of Saskatchewan, The Saskatchewan
Co-Operative Elevator Company, The United Farmers of Alberta, and the
_Grain Growers' Guide_, the official organ of the whole movement.
At a meeting of this influential body in Winnipeg in December,
1916--representing an affiliation of 60,000 farmers--a "National
Political Platform" was adopted to embrace economic, political and
social reforms not alone in the interests of the farmers but of
Canada's citizens generally. The farmers are looking for the support
of all who live in cities and towns as well as the rural districts; of
organized Labor as well as organized farmers.
This platform was referred to the provincial organizations which stand
behind the Canadian Council of Agriculture. It was considered by each
of the provincial boards and by them referred in turn to the three
thousand local community associations into which the members are
organized. Each Local was asked to call a meeting to consider the
platform and vote upon its adoption. The next step was for the members
to give their votes and financial support only to such candidates for
the House of Commons as would pledge support of this National Platform
in its entirety and who could be relied upon as Members of Parliament
to live up to their pledges.
And here is the National Political Platform on which the farmers stand
without equivocation:
THE CUSTOMS TARIFF
WHEREAS the war has revealed the amazing financial strength of Great
Britain, which has enabled her to finance not only her own part in the
struggle, but also to assist in financing her Allies to the extent of
hundreds of millions of pounds, this enviable position being due to the
free trade policy which has enabled her to draw her supplies freely
from every quarter of the globe and consequently to undersell her
competitors on the world's markets, and because this policy has not
only been profitable to Great Britain but has greatly strengthened the
bonds of Empire by facilitating trade between the Motherland and her
overseas Dominions--we believe that the best interests of the Empire
and of Canada would be served by reciprocal action on the part of
Canada through gradual reductions of the tariff on British imports,
having for its object a closer union and a better understanding between
Canada and the Motherland, and by so doing not only strengthen the
hands of Great Britain in the life and death struggle in which she is
now engaged, but at the same time bring about a great reduction in the
cost of living to our Canadian people;
AND WHEREAS the protective tariff has fostered combines, trusts and
"gentlemen's agreements" in almost every line of Canadian industrial
enterprise, by means of which the people of Canada--both urban and
rural--have been shamefully exploited through the elimination of
competition, the ruination of many of our smaller industries and the
advancement of prices on practically all manufactured goods to the full
extent permitted by the tariff;
AND WHEREAS agriculture--the basic industry upon which the success of
all other industries primarily depends--is almost stagnant throughout
Canada as shown by the declining rural population in both Eastern and
Western Canada, due largely to the greatly increased cost of
agricultural implements and machinery, clothing, boots and shoes,
building material and practically everything the farmer has to buy,
caused by the protective tariff, so that it is becoming impossible for
farmers generally to carry on farming operations profitably;
AND WHEREAS the protective tariff is the most wasteful and costly
method ever designed for raising national revenue, because for every
dollar obtained thereby for the public treasury at least three dollars
pass into the pockets of the protected interests, thereby building up a
privileged class at the expense of the masses, thus making the rich
richer and the poor poorer;
AND WHEREAS the protective tariff has been and is a chief corrupting
influence in our national life because the protected interests, in
order to maintain their unjust privileges, have contributed lavishly to
political and campaign funds, thus encouraging both political parties
to look to them for support, thereby lowering the standard of public
morality;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Council of Agriculture,
representing the organized farmers of Canada, urges that as a means of
bringing about these much needed reforms and at the same time reducing
the high cost of living, now proving such a burden on the people of
Canada, our tariff laws should be amended as follows:
(1) By reducing the customs duty on goods imported from Great Britain
to one half the rates charged under the general tariff and that further
gradual, uniform reductions be made in the remaining tariff on British
imports that will ensure complete free trade between Great Britain and
Canada in five years.
(2) That the Reciprocity Agreement of 1911, which still remains on the
United States statute books, be accepted by the Parliament of Canada.
(3) That all food stuffs not included in the Reciprocity Agreement be
placed on the free list.
(4) That agricultural implements, farm machinery, vehicles, fertilizer,
coal, lumber, cement, illuminating fuel and lubricating oils be placed
on the free list.
(5) That the customs tariff on all the necessaries of life be
materially reduced.
(6) That all tariff concessions granted to other countries be
immediately extended to Great Britain.
TAXATION FOR REVENUE
As these tariff reductions will very considerably reduce the national
revenue derived from that source, the Canadian Council of Agriculture
would recommend that in order to provide the necessary additional
revenue for carrying on the government of the country and for the
prosecution of the war to a successful conclusion, direct taxation be
imposed in the following manner:
(1) By a direct tax on unimproved land values, including all natural
resources.
(2) By a sharply graduated personal income tax.
(3) By a heavy graduated inheritance tax on large estates.
(4) By a graduated income tax on the profits of corporations.
OTHER NECESSARY REFORMS
The Canadian Council of Agriculture desires to endorse also the
following policies as in the best interests of the people of Canada:
(1) The nationalization of all railway, telegraph and express companies.
(2) That no more natural resources be alienated from the Crown but
brought into use only under short term leases, in which the interests
of the public shall be properly safeguarded, such leases to be granted
only by public auction.
(3) Direct legislation, including the initiative and referendum and the
right of recall.
(4) Publicity of political campaign fund contributions and expenditures
both before and after elections.
(5) The abolition of the patronage system.
(6) Full provincial autonomy in liquor legislation, including
manufacture, export and import.
(7) That the extension of the franchise to women in any province shall
automatically admit them to the federal franchise.
That is the official stand of the farmers and they point out that their
political platform[1] is constructive, not destructive. The farmers
are not trying to sidestep their fair share of the expenses in
connection with government and public institutions; where they have
torn down they have rebuilt.
Admitting that the prosperity of Western Canada is essential to our
national prosperity, it is not necessary to look far in order to
understand why the farmers have taken this definite action. Western
farmers and citizens generally are carrying extra burdens which offset
the advantages of cheap and fertile land. Interest on mortgages and
bank loans have been higher than in Eastern Canada. It is more
expensive to distribute commodities West than East. On account of the
lavish donations of Western lands to railway promoters the cost of
railway construction has borne heavily on the West. Freight rates are
about sixty per cent. higher and express rates about sixty-six per
cent. higher than in Eastern Canada. Thanks to the protective tariff,
Western people are paying high for everything they get without any
return compensation.
"Something has to be done to lift some of these unjust burdens," say
the farmers, "if a prosperous country is to be developed West of the
Great Lakes."
Hence this platform. The Western farmers believe in it earnestly. It
is their politics. They believe that the results which would follow
its support in the House of Commons would be of untold benefit to the
Canadian people as a whole. They will continue to believe it.
When the crisis arose which brought about the last election, in which
Union Government swept the West, the farmers saw the gravity of the
situation and were prepared to forego immediate discussion of tariff
amendments to concentrate on winning the war. Some of the farmers'
candidates even withdrew in favor of Union candidates. All those who
remained in the field were elected.
After the war is won--what? Reforms of breathtaking sweep are taking
place as the natural outcome of current conditions. The liquor traffic
has been tossed aside like a useless boot. Woman has stepped forth to
a sphere of active worth without upheaval. Just where lie the
boundaries of the impossible and who shall define them?
It is a far-seeing, clear-thinking New Farmer who has come forward in
the last decade. Through his associations, his marketing experiences,
his contact with railways and banks and manufacturers and governments
he has become a student of economics. At the same time he has
strengthened his thews and sinews for whatever may face him on the path
ahead.
And his eyes are wide open to the fact that there are "lions in the
path!"
Wait a minute, Mr. Business Man! Before condemning this Western farmer
out of hand, put yourself in his place and try for a moment in all
fairness to forget your own viewpoint. It may be that you have not
even seen the prairies. Have you ever been at sea with not a thing in
sight but water, sky, horizon? Imagine the water to be land, and
yourself living in a one-room shack or a little low sod hut bewhiskered
with growing grass. The nearest railway was fifty miles away and you
got so lonesome that the howl of a coyote or the cry of owls in the
night nearly drove you crazy. Neighbors so scarce your social
pleasures were cut off by distance and you reared your family on that
homestead twenty-five miles from a doctor, a church or a school.
When you made the long trip in for supplies in those early days you
found you had to pay anywhere up to twice as much as their market value
while for what you had to sell you had to take from twenty-five to
fifty per cent. less than the market value. The implements you simply
had to have for your work you bought on the instalment plan with
interest at ten and twelve per cent. for the privilege.
When you had survived three years of this and with high hopes took your
patent to the mortgage company to raise a loan at ten per cent. you
found you couldn't get accommodation. Thereupon in marched your
implement and other creditors with a chattel mortgage on everything you
had--except the missus and the kids and the baby's bottley-by!
Then in the beautiful hot month of August it blew up black one day and
the chickens scurried for shelter and you and the wife stood with your
noses flattened against the window-pane--unless it was only oiled
paper--and watched the big ice-marbles bouncing and heard the hail
drumming flat in a few minutes the acres of wheat you had worked so
hard to produce.
Or perhaps you escaped that time only to have your wheat frozen later
on and when you took three days on purpose to haul in a wagonload to
the elevator you couldn't get a decent offer for it. So that you
pulled off your mitts and clenched your frost-cracked hands as you
prepared to turn homeward with but a pitiful portion of the food and
clothing you had promised the family you would bring. As you spread
across your chest, inside your sheepskin coat, the old newspaper
somebody had given you would your soul expand with the joy of living
while you headed out into the snowy waste at forty degrees below zero?
And if after you got home and the crying young ones had been put to bed
in the corner behind the canvas curtain and your wife came and sat
beside you, her own tears bravely dried--if then you read in the paper
that the Government had decided you farmers were so prosperous you
should contribute from your easily gained wealth a free gift to
manufacturers, financiers, railway magnates or others--then would you
say with a great booming, hearty enthusiasm and shining eyes: "I tell
you, Wife, this is the life!"--would you?
Or would you just proceed to swear--naturally, successfully, in what is
known as "flowing" language?
By just such pioneer hardships were the farmers of Western Canada
driven to organize in self-defence. It has ever been the history of
revolt that its wellspring was the suffering of the people. Pioneer
hardships it was that caused the various movements which agitated the
farmers of the Western States in earlier days. When fingers become
hardened and crooked from unceasing toil that achieves nothing but
premature old age; when hope withers in a treadmill that grinds to the
very soul--then comes rebellion.
[1] Since the formation of the organized farmers' National Political
Platform several of its planks have been adopted as legislation at
Ottawa, notably the abolition of the patronage system, extension of the
franchise to women, total prohibition, and personal income taxation.