The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-29
Farmers Point Out Differ
ences in Prices in the
Two Countries.
MONTANA GRAss, 'x "..1 ssss!5;E!Rs
BEAT CANADIAN GRAIN n. rs
American Market is the Silver Lining
that Canadian Farmers arc Looking
For in the Decentralization of Their
Prices of Farm Products.


Ottawa. March 29.--Turthcr evil
dence Of the desire Of the west for
the removal of trade restrictions was
presented to the senate committee Of
inquiry presided over by Senator Ed
wards today. The witnesses were f..
w. Green and j. A. Maharg. Saskat-
chewan; Hon. Duncan Marshall. min
lister of agriculture, Alberta; George
Lane. Calgary: ]. S. Wood and r.
Mckenzie. Manitoba; and E. C. Drury
Of Barrie, Ont. The latter stated that
reciprocity would have been boon to
the farmers of Ontario. He did not
know single way in which the Can
adian farmer or public would be hurt
by the passage of reciprocity. Hon.
Duncan Marshall said there was no
feeling for secession in Alberta, al
though the farmers were restless on
account Of their natural market be-
ing cut off.
F w. Green stated that the west
felt betrayed and sold by the eastern
majority.
The committee adjourned for the
present session. but will resume its
sittings when the next session COM
mences.
Mr.. Green put on record a great
deal Of documentary evidence to show
that the grain business Of the west
was under the control Of big interests.
Reciprocity with the United States
would have done away with this. as
1t would have brought the competi-
tion Of that country into the situation.
under present conditions for full pro-
duction meant glut on the local
market. There was. he said. a fear
full restlessness in the west, a feeling
that its interests have been bumped
and sold like chattels. The west felt
betrayed and sold from the eastern
majority; Saskatchewan felt that the
Withholding of her lands. the handing
OF them over to Manitoba. the shut
ting off Of its market without money
and without price was an imposition.
which 1t felt very keenly indeed.
Mr.. Green read several resolutions
passed by grain growers associations
illustrative Of the feeling Of unrest
and discomfort in the prairie PROV
inces. .,s-~
THAT is why we want reciprocity,
to bust, If possible, this fearful COM
bination that is saddled on the west"
Mr.. Green said. He thought the gov
ernment was desirous of maintaining
the integrity of confederation and Of
the empire. He was very insistent on
the need of manufacturing the great
raw material of the west wheat If
capital wanted to develop Canadian
It, otherwise burst the bars. he de-
clared.
what do you mean by burst the
bars?" asked the chairman.
well. We must have the omen mar
ket."
"Oh. 1 thought you meant ,,"rst the
constitution" Mr.. Edwards ~e'd
you don't need bonuses. all you
need is Canadians with nerve" Mr..
Green said in answer to a question
as to the assistance millers would
need before establishing their indus
tries.
Mr.. Green declared that the banks
were in league with the elevator in
terests.. The regular charge was ten
per cent on overdue accounts. and he
himself had paid as high as twenty
four per cent to bank. Banks had
refused to give a farmer an advance
on a bill Of lading in a car Of grain
on the tracks, but when the car got
to Winnipeg the hank would advance
on 1t to the dealer.
Hon. Duncan Marshall.
Hon. Duncan Marshall minister of
agriculture in the Alberta govern
fering as much in Alberta from the
failure of reciprocity with regard to
cattle as with regard to wheat" he
said.
This was particularly true last win
ter when the Montana grass-fed steer
brought a higher price in Chicago
than the granted Alberta steer
cattle could not be sent to England
and landed in q condition to bring
profit.
Speaking of butter. Mr.. Marshall
told of a creamery at Trocha Valley
In Alberta which had shipped butter
to Montana. paid the duty and made
q better profit than il 1t had been
sold in Canada.
$50 far as this talk of secession ID
concerned ! would like to say that
there is no such feeling in Alberta" !"
Mr.. Marshall asserted. "The people
in Alberta are in favor of reciprocity
and low tariff. but we are going to
fight it out on Canadian territory and
We are going to win"
J: A: Mahrag Of Moose Jaw. a
ence. was then called. I'VE are look
ing hard for the silver lining to the
cloud. but there's heavy foo." he de-
clared. He also declared that reci.
procity would have solved the trans-
portatton problem In the west. Mixed
farming was as big a desideratum
with the western farmer as it was
with his eastern adviser. but It would
not pay with the long hauls and no
markets. It looked to him as though
the western farmer would have to
come to the rescue of the eastern
farmer, 80 far as mixed farming was
concerned. for the easterner did not
appear to be making q brilliant sue.
cess Of 1t. -
George Lane Recalled.
George Lane, the rancher from
near Calgary. was recalled for a mo-
ment to give some information on
sheep. He testified that there was
enough damaged grain on the. prairie
provinces this year to feed million
sheep. Wool was 10 valuable in the
United States that II initiated against
the importation Of sheep from the
United States. Western sheep Inn
porters drove their sheep to the
boundary. sheared them, sold the
wool in the United States and then
drove the sheep across the border.
Screenings. tatlings. ETC.. from. the
-four mills. which were now burned.
would support 100000 sheep Sheep
raising In the west was falling of, az
WA. cattle and horse raising.
q -.