South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-02
AGRICULTURE
Farmers Dominate Onta-
rio Legislature = Polit-
ical Upheayal in Cana
dian Province Has More
than Local Significance.


A new political movement has
developed in the Canadian province
Of Ontario. At a recent election the
United Farmers organization re-
turned 81 active farmers TO the leg
stature out OF a total membership
~ III. against a former representa-
tion OF II A farmers administra-
ton Is not unlikely. OF the 81 only
] 2 were elected on old party tickets.
so strong has been the feeling that
a agriculture has not been receiving
"a fair share in the government.
1T was truly a peoples move
ment," writes r. N. Chapman. editor
OF the Farmers magazine 10 the FL
nancial Post OF Toronto. The ur-
ban centers swung of from their ac-
custOned mOorings and labor is
Joining hands with the farmer. The
movement is one that will commend
itself 20 many lovers Of sound gov
eminent and the stability Of capital
and property. The farmer is essen
tally a believer in property rights
His views are capitalistic rather
than socialistic. The elected mem
bers are OF the rugged honest type"
Favor Public Ownership.
The 4. r. o. OF Ontario favors
public ownership Of certain public
utilities under efficient and economic
control such as will stabilize invest
ments and encourage and protect
legitimate private enterprise. The
party condemns granting class adj
vantage The members-elect be-
lieve they have the ability and
broad -mindedness 10 form a cabinet
and 10 give all interests Of the
province due attention. No body Of
electors could be more disinterested,
hey maintain, in answer to the
criticism OF class control; none
could be freer from unfair discrim-
ination or handle affairs with more
Intelligence.
The Canadian farmers movement
gains added significance from the
overtures made 10y labor TO the
farmers in this country. Whether
labor ultimately seeks dual poll
tical control. or merely wishes to
enlist support for collective bar
gaining and the "inalienable right"
TO strike. perhaps even the labor
leaders themselves could not say.
Certainly the farmer and the labor
ing man have no real affinity except
as pursuing vacations that requires
manual labor. Their viewpoints
are essentially different. Between
the farm and factory hands there
IS. OF course, a direct community Of
interest.
Resentment Flames High.
The farmers resentment toward
speculation and price manipulation
on the grain exchanges has famed
high during the recent sensational
decline in corn. But it should be
remembered there are bulls as we'll
as bears. Just as the latter depress
prices artifcially, the former un-
duly elevate them. In general the
exchange performs a service by
providing an open market for grain,
subject to worldwide influences of
production and consumption, which
nnalIy determine all prices and by
protecting the farmer against ar
btrary price fixing by country ele-
vatOrS.
Contrary TO prece lent and revers-
ing conditions hitherto prevailing.
hog prices I'm Dominion yards have
quoted at a premium Of as much as
y cents pound over American hogs,
which they usually follow. Re-
relpts have been unusually light and
competitive buying held prices firm.
The Canadian farmer has not crowd
ID the market