The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1919-01-10
companies and their total annual turn.
over amounts to something like $780,
OOO. 600.

100000.
The first grain growers association
was organization in Saskatchewan in
1902 and was followed few months
later by similar association in Mani
toba. w. r. Motherwell. now Minister
Of Agriculture for Saskatchewan, was
one Of the founders of the movement.
Before this the farmers had complained
Of their treatment by elevators and
railroads. A law was passed in Mani
toba, IN 1900 to give the producers q
square deal. but it was ignored, and
this as much as anything started the
growers on the cooperative warpath.
The movement spread like wlldfire.
Before anybody knew the farmers were
organized. they had drawn first blood
from leading railroad, hanling it into
court and compelling it to furnish cars
for shipments.
When the company got going it was
short more than half the price of $500
seat on the Winnipeg Grain Exchange.
Five men dug into their pocketbooks
and made up the sum. By the end OF
September, 1908, the new company was
handling 100 carloads Of grain week.
Splendid! Just then brick fell. This
was notice of expulsion from the
Grain Exchange and ostracism Of the
farmers company because it was guilty
of the crime of cooperation.
The Graingrowers Association filed a
complaint with Manitoba government
resulted in notice being served on the
members of the grain exchange to open
their doors to the Graingrowers Associa.
or lose their charter. The doors were
opened.
'Our movement said a Canadian
otficial,"is more democratic than the
Nonpartisan League, for every officer in
our local. provincial and federal organi.
cations is elected annually by the dele.
gates in open meeting. The unit of the
grain growers is the local organization
with membership varying from Is to
200, each with its president, secretary
and board of five directors. There are
220O such locals in the three provinces
This gives broad and stable founda.
tion to the entire movement. The local
bodies send delegates-one delegate fol
every ten members, to the annual con
vention held in each province in Janu-
ary or February each year. At these
conventions the policy of the ASSOCIATION
is determined and the officers are elect
ed. The discussion at annual conven-
tlons covers all topics and there is the
greatest freedom of speech.
awhile the Nonpartisan League is
directed from the top down, the Cana
dian movement is governed from the
bottom up. The grain growers have nc
self-appointed leaders, and especially
they have no dictator like Townley oi
Minnesota. While we elect our officers
the Nonpartisan League has its officers
thrust upon it. Furthermore, while the
Canadian movement works in full
pu ublicity and makes complete reports Of
it's financial operations, the Nonpartisan
League publishes no financial figures
and gives no accounting for the money
that rolls into headquarters. You look
in vain in the Leagues official organ
for the annual statements of finances
such as are given IN the Grain Growers
Guide, which cover every operation of
our companies and associations.
I'm the effort to invade Canada, Nom
partisan League agents figured they
could use the grain growers organ, and
being without sense OF humor, served
notice as to the serious consequences of
refusal to do their bidding. The pict-
ure they had IN mind was an anaconda
persuading jack rabbit TO lubricate
itself before being swallowed, but on
close approach the jack rabbit loomed
up to the proportions of mountain
lion, and the would-be diner backed
away"
Amember of the Grain Growers is
never asked as to his political faith. but
man has to be right with their associ-
alton to receive the support Of its mem
bers at the polls. If he runs for office.
Members Of the Nonpartisan League
Of North Dakota have paid more money
to the League fund since its organiza-
ton than the Grain Growers of Canada
have contributed to theft ASSOCIATION.
The former have not . dollar to show
for their investment while the latter has
assets worth millions of dollars. One
believes in rule Or ruin while the other
goes about attending 70 its own affairs
and is reclarlug divicens.
-------- ----------------:==--
ma. !. Y !. =, ~