Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-18
'LGURIER ANSWERS FARMERS
Premier's Reply DisappOints Canadian
Council Of Agriculture.
TAKES UP ONLY THREE DEMANDS
Leaders OF Delegation Say Prime
Minister Did Not 60 ss Far
rs they Thought ne
should.

! OTTAWA ont. Dee. f7.-Lrhe delegation
Of ore thousand Canadian farmers pre-
sented Their demands to the Cnuad'a7 Cow
eminent TODAY and received their answer.
As result there are a thousand rather
I disappointed strangers IN the Canadl n
capital tonight The reply Of the govern
nent made by the premier Sir wHfud
Laurter did not come mp to the cNpecta-
tons OF the 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 20 Great
Britain and a program which would lsad
to free trade with England in ten years
and finally direct taxation
They asked for government ownership
Z and control Of terminal elevators; for
government built and operated railroad to
Hudson bay; for the establishment by the
government OF a chilled meat industry IN
Western Canada. for amendments 10 the
railway law which would tend TO lower
rates and compel companies 10 pay for
stock killed on tracks under any circum-
stances; for a bill to facilitate the for
nation Of cooperative societies and that
bank charters should not be renewed for
more than one year.
Resolutions adopted.
Each demand was presented in the form
of resolution adopted by the Canadian
Council Of Agriculture and supported by
formal arguments which had been care
fully prepared.
The members of the Canadian govern
ment were present in a body and the reply
was made by Sir wfrid Laurler He
referred only to the tariff the Hudson
bay railroad and the elevator proposals
OF the tariff. the premier said Il would not
be wise to make the extensive revision
asked for until the reciprocity negotiations
now IN progress with the United States
were concluded. The goal Of the govern
ment avs in the direction in which the
farmers were moving he added
OF the elevator proposal the premier
said the remedy proposed would not be
effective. for II Canada owned the eieva,
tors on the Great Lakes there would still
be trans-shipments at Port Colborne and
at Montreay. where mixing frauds could
be perpetuated. OF the Hudson bay rail-
road he said:
1.-THE government Is prepared to go on
with the construction of the road at this
moment I am not a supporter OF govern
ment ownership. but to that I may be
persuaded. to government operation l may
be persuaded also but with greater DIFF
ficulty.r
Refers to Farmers wealth.
OF the general question Of sdministra-
ton Sir wffrid referred to the claim that
the delegation represented ss00oO0,OOo in
property wealth.
'H the farmers who have been in the
west for less than twenty years have been
able to accumulate that amount of prop
erty Il does not. after all argue a very
bad condition Of things in Canada" he
said
1T has been said the whole Of the
farmers in the west have accumulated
wealth to the amount of si.bOo.OOoOOO
Things might be better in Canada, but 1
repeat that after all they are not so very
bad"
The leaders of the delegation say that
while they did not expect the government
TO grant all their demands, the prime
minister did not so as far as they think
he should on the tariff, the elevator Ques-
ton and the Hudson Bay railroad. They
say the farmers movement Is only begin
ming in Canada and that they will be at
ottawa next year and every year there
after with demands which eventually must
be satisfied. 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 rela-
tives. The executive committee will confer
with Sir wilfrid Laurler on Monday on the
Hudson Bay railroad, the tariff and the
elevator questions.