New-York tribune., 1918-05-26

Of the Canadian West for nearly four
years, until eventually the Mounted
Police persuaded him to return.
Task Complicated
By a New Religion
The. development of the West
brought many problems. The rush
of immigration, once it began after
the construction of railways, brought
a great number of undesirable char.
acters after the Indians had been
reduced to state of comparative
quiet. These parasites and camp
followers had to be eliminated. An.
other Of the problems that con-
fronted the Mounted Police, and not
the least delicate, was the proper
treatment of that sincere, but pecul-
iar-sect of Russian Quakers who pass
by the name of Doukhobors. These
religionists hold everything On a
communistic basis; strongly anti
militarist, they are especially ex-
empted from Canada's present con.
scription law in virtue of the agree.
ment made between them and the
Dominion Government at the time
Of their immigration, that they
would never be called upon to render
military service. They disbelieve in
education, and will not send their
children to school, even under com
pulsion. But their most peculiar
quality is to have periodical Mesy
siahs arise in their midst, command.
ing their followers to commit various
infractions Of the law in the name
of God, one Of which is to diyest
themselves of every vestige of
clothing.
The records of the force are full
of instances of unexampled heriosm,
of patrols" running into thousands
of miles, cf enormous distances
travelled and periods of time con-
sumed for the apprehension of crimi-
mails. To impress upon the wrong
doer that the arm of the law is
long one, even though the crime
were only a comparatively minor
one, was from the first function
that particularly fell to the lot Of
the Mounted Police. Some of their
exploits were SO extraordinary as to
have become almost legendary, and
have, indeed, frequently formed the
basis of startling fiction; but with
out selecting an invidious example
mention can be made of the famous
journey made by Constable Pedley,
stationed at Fort Chippewyan, inthe
extreme northern end of Alberta.
Lost His Reason
Saving a Madman
An evangelist striking into the
Peace River country on missionary
work among the Indians and half
breeds was forced to winter in q
very bleak remote spot, with only a
half-breed guide who did not un-
derstand English. The isolation
drove him mad. Pedley was dis
patched, found the missionary, and
brought him to the post, then
started with him to the nearest SET
tlement for medical attention. They
left Fort Chippewyan the second week
in December, and travelled over the
snow by dog team for 500 miles
During the journey the temperature
ranged from 20 to so degrees below
zero. Their journey took then
through a country infested BY
wolves; at one time the madmar
burst his bonds, and escaped. Or
another occasion they encountered I
blizzard that lasted two days, thl
whole time of which they wer'
lashed to a tree. They reached For
Saskatchewan after almost month
on the road. The missionary wal
saved, but-and here Was the tragi'
part-Constable Pedley, himself, los
his reason.
The best tribute to this splendl'
forGesis that it commanded the re
spect of all the diverse communitie
among whom it worked. Since tn
seventies, the greatest change tina
has taken place in the then unknown
, West has been the big thrush of set
. tiers. Thousands of immigrants
farmers, industrialists, business men
, have peopled the once silent prairi
Immigrants from every country u
the world, speaking scores OF Ian
/ guages and inheriting political insti
tutions and laws vastly dlfferen
from Canada's. That these peopl