The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-01-17
BY WALTER NOBLE BURNS.

OTTAWA, Canada.-Co-operativ farming in
the United States is still in the experimental phase
although it has secured firm foothold in the
Dakotas. Farmers in other states are awaking to
its possibilities a solution of ell their problems
and it is slowly spreading abroad like gospel
the American nation.
Cooperative farming in Canada has revolu-
tioniEed the farming industry. 1t has brought
Canadian farmers Unprecedented prosperity that IS
shared in by the landed proprietor and small
farmer alike. 1t has increased the farmers profits
1t has freed him from dependence on outside
financial interests and enabled him to market his
own products. 1t has set him in his true place in
the economic scheme of the nation 1t has made
every small farmer in Canada active participant
in q gigantic business whose markets are the wide
world.
Throughout their fight for independence, the
Canadian farmers have had the unfailing support
of the Canadian government. Canadas prosperity
rests upon its farms and the government has not
only helped the farmers to help themselves but has
done everything possible by legislation and direct
financial aid to improve farming conditions.
Though IS per cent of Canadas population
ecntered in towns and cities, Canada is a country
of farmers, and its government it may be said, is
= government of the farmer, for the farmer and by
the farmer.
Students of the farming situation agree that
what cooperative farming has done for Canada it
will do for the United States under proper leader
ship. The Canadian cooperative movement has
been fortunate in its leadership from the beginning
1t originated in spirit of revolt against intoerable
conditions which were robbing the farmer of the
rewards of his industry and inspired men of the
hour to direct its destinies through trials
victory. The prophets who have led it through the
dark of early struggle to the promised land number
such men as T. A. Crerar, Canadian Minister of
Agriculture; George Langley, Minister of Public
Works of Saskatchewan; Dr. J. G. Rutherford,
former Dominion live stock commissioner and
now western representative the Dominion Rail
WAYS Board; H. W. Wood, who came from Mis-
souri, dozen years ago and is president Of
the Canadian Council of Agriculture and Cecil
Rice Jones, president and general manager of the
Alberta Farmers Cooperative Company, upon
whose shoulders fell the executive cloak vice
president and general manager of the United
Grain Growers when Mr. Crerar entered the gov
eminent.
The cooperative movement began in Canada
eighteen years ago when small group of farmers
affiliated to fight the elevator interests. The Mani
toba Grain Growers, organized in 9O2, went into
business four years later in opposition to the Win
nipeg Grain Exchange. The United Grain Grow
ers an ANAL gamaton of the Manitoba and Alberta
farmer interests, and such subsidiary organizations
as the United Grain Growers Securities, Limited
msntained for the appraisal and sale of farm
lands, and score of kindred societies. today num-
Der 90 900 farmer shareholders. They operate 6O6
country elevators and four great terminal elevators