Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-17
THOUSAND SAD.
Canadian Farmers Receive
Answer 10 Demands
For Free Trade and Government
Ownership and Control.
Premier Laurier Says These Radi.
cal Measures Are Not Practical.

ottawa, Ont, Dec. 16.-Thc aeleSii-
ton of 1860 Canadian farmers presen It
ell their demands to the Canadian gov
ernmen: today and received their an
swer. AS Il result there are a thousand
rather disappointed strangers il the
Canadian capital tonight. The reply ot
the government made by the premier.
Sir IVilfrid Laurier, did not come up TO
the expectations of the delegation.
The farmers asked for the imnedi-
ate revision of the tariff downward; for
free trade on agricultural implements,
cement, lumber and fish and natural
products Of Canada and the United
States; for a larger measure Of pref
crcncc to Great Britain and pro-
gram which would lead to free trade
with England in 10 years and finally
for direct taxation.
They also asked for government own
ership and control of the terminal eic-
vators; tor a government built and
operated railroad to Hudson Bay; for
the establishment by the government
of a chilled meat industry in Western
Canada; for amendments to the rail-
way law which would tcnd To lower
rates and compel companies I" ray Tor
stock killed on tracks under any cir
cunstanceS: for q bill to facilitate the
formation Of cooperative societies and
that Dank charters should not be re-
newed for more than one year.
Each demand was presented in the
form OF a resolution adopted by the
Canadian council of agriculture and
supported by formal arguments WHICH
c,,1,
The members OF the Canadian GOV
eminent were present in n body and
the reply was made by Sir Wilfr1d
Laurier. He referred only TO the tar
if. the Hudson Bay Railroad and the
elevator proposals. OF the tariff, the
premier said it would not be wise to
make the extensive revision asked Tor
until reciprocity negotiations now IN
prooress with the United States were
concluded. The goal of the government
was in the direction in which the farm
crs were moving. he added.
On the elevator proposal, the prime
minister declared that the remedy pro
posed would not b: effective. 1of Il
Canada owned tho elevators on the
Great Lakes there would be still trans
shriments' Mt Port Colbolne and at
Montreal where mixing frauds could
he perpetrated. He said:
If we can SO improve the carriage Of
grain on the st. Lawrence route that it
will not be possible to divert grain t"
American channels. or to break bulk IN
the trip to Montreal. the problem will be
solved. This can only be done by the en-
largement of the Welland and st. Law
renee canals or the construction of the
Georgian bay ana Ottawa river canal
When we have accomplished this | think
we viii have solved the problem in a bet
ter way than you suggest
Of the Hudson Fay Railroad he said
1.-THE government is prepared to so on
with the construction of the road at this
moment. l am not supporter OF GOV
crnmcnt ownership, but to that | may be
persuaded; to government operation
ma, be persuaded also, but with greater
difficulty"
OF the general question of administra-
ton Sir Wilfrid referred to the claim
that the delegation represented $500, 100000
in property wealth.
IF the farmers who have been in the
West for less than 20 years have been
erty it does not, after all, argue q very
bad condition of things in Canada" he
continued. 1T has been stated that all
the farmers in the West have accumulat-
ed wealth TO the amount of sl,5oc,o0ooo
Things might be better in Canada, but |
repeat that after all they are not Sc very
bad"
The reply Of the prime minister occu-
pied 20 minutes. The leaders of the del
egation state that while they did not ex
pect the government to grant all of their
demands, the prime minister had not
gone as far as they think he should on
the tariff. the elevator question aud re-
spect:ng the HUDSON Bay Railroad. They
declared that the farmer movement Is
only commencing in Canada and that
they will be at, Ottawa next year and
every year thereafter with demands
which eventually must be satisfied. To-
night they are scattering throughout
eastern Canada and the United States to
visit relatives. The executive committee
will have a conference with Sir Wilfrid
Laurier on Monday on the Hudson Bay
Railroad the tariff and the elevator lnes- |