New-York tribune., 1910-12-17
SIR W|LFR|D'S REPLY,
D|SAPPO|NTS FARMERS
Canadian Premier Says That Ex-
tensive Tariff Revision Asked
For Is UnWiSe.
WOULD AWAIT NEGOTIATIONS
Elevator Proposal Not Effective
Ready to Start Hudson
Bay Road-Farmers
to Fight On.

Ottawa Dec 1s.-The delegation OF one
thousand Canadian farmers presented
their demands to the Canadian govern
ment to-day and received their answer. As
a result there thousand rather dis
appoined strangers in the Canadian CAPT
tai tonight. The reply of the government
made by the Premier Sir Wilfrid Laurier,
delegation.
The farmers asked for the immediate re
vision 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 preference to Great Britain
and a programme which would lead 10 free
trade with England in ten years and finally
for direct taxation.
They asked for direct government owner
ship and control of terminal elevators; ior
q 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 railway law which would teno 10
lower rates and compel companies TO pay
for stock killed on tracks under any cir
cumstances; for q bill to facilitate the
formation of cooperative societies. ana
that bank charters should not be renewed
for more than one year.
Arguments Carefully Prepared.
Each demand was presented In the form
of a resolution adopted by the Canadian
Council of Agriculture and supported oS
formal arguments which had been care
fully prepared.
The members of the Canadian govern
ment were present in & body, and the re
ply was made by Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He
referred only to the tariff, the Hudson Bay
Railroad and the elevator proposals. OF
the tariff the Premier said it would not De
wise to make the extensive revision asked
for until the reciprocity negotiations no"
In progress with the United States We're
concluded. The goal Of the government
was in the direction in which farmers were
moving, he said.
OF the elevator proposal the Prime Min
lister declared that the remedy proposed
would not be ffecetive, for If Canada owned
the elevators on the Great Lakes there
would be still transshipments at Port Col
borne and at Montreal, where mixing
frauds could be perpetrated.
.'If we can so improve the carriage of
grain on the ST. Lawrence route that 1t
will not be possible to divert grain to
American channels, or to break bulk in the
trip to Montreal, the problem will be solved
This can only be done by the enlargement
of the Welland and ST. Lawrence canals
Or the construction of the Georgian Bay
and Ottawa River Canal. When we have
accomplished this I think We will have
solved the problem in a better way than
you suggest"
Ready to Go on with Railroad.
OF the Hudson Bay Railroad Sir Wifrid
said:
The government is prepared to go on
with the construction of the road at this
moment. l am not a supporter of govern
ment ownership, but to that ] may be per-
suaded; to government operation [ may be
persuaded also, but with greater dlffi-
Guilty.
OF the general question Of administration
Sir wiIfrid referred to the assertion that
the delegation represented $500, 100000 In
property wealth.
"If the farmers who have been In the
West for less than twenty years have been
able to accumulate that amount of prop
erty it does not after all, argue a very
bad condition of things in Canada, he
continued. 1T has been stated that all the
farmers in the West have accumulated
wealth to the amount of $500, ,00o, 600
Things might be better in Canada, but
repeat that, after all, they are not so very
bad
The reply of the Prime Minister occupied
twenty minutes. The leaders of the deiega-
ton say that, while they did not expect 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 and respecting the Hud-
son Bay Railroad. They declare that the
farmers movement is only beginning In
Canada, and that they will be at Ottawa
next wear and every year thereafter with
demands which eventually must be salts
fed.
Six hundred of the farmers accepted the
invitation of the Governor General and
took tea at Rideau Hall with Earl Grey
and the Countess Grey.
Tonight they are scattering throughout
Eastern Canada and the United States to
visit relatives The executive committee
will have a conference with Sir Wilfrid
Iaurier on Monday on the Hudson Bay
Railroad. the tariff and the elevator ques-
tons.