Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-27
CANADIAN FARMERS MOVE
%NTS. )

from the Ottawa river to the ROCKY
mountains there is in progress a more
or less we'll defined movement on the
part OF the farmers to participate in
an organized and direct way in h
shaping OF governmental pollctes'
particularly in provincial affairs. Gem
cral attention became focused on TINS
movement some, months ago when at
the Ontario provincial elections the
dominant position in the provincial
parliament was won by the L. Il. o,
which is. the abbreviated title Of the
United Farmers of Ontario. AS t9e
house is at present constituted no one
party controls a majority of the votes,
but the U. F. O.. is the most numerous
of the several groups, and. by means
of cooperation with the moderate
elements in the other parties, itsslead-sl
clts have been able to organize and,
maintain a working administration.
In the more western provinces
there are the U: F. NJ. L. F. S., and
L. F. A., representing the agricul-
tural element respectively in the
provinces of Manitoba, Saskatche-
wan and Alberta. and in each case
the farmers have won substantial rec
ignition which they hope will be in
creased at subsequent elections. IN
all Of the western provinces the legis-
latures, while not representing dis
t%inctively the Farmers Union, are
distinctively agricultural in member
ship, tendencies and outlook, and s.
Iery$considerablc share of the legisla-
ton enacted lis intended in one way
or another. to improve farming con
ditions. ,
Throughout the progress of this
movement the Nonpartisan league has
been conspicuous by it's absence as
an Influential force, This is not be-
cause no effort has been made to
carry the league into Canada, nor
because h league managers on this
side have recognized in the Unite'
Farmers AN organization similar to
their own under a different nan
carrying on a similar work along
parallel lines. for emis=aries of the
league which had its birth in North
Dakota have worked assiduously to
include in their organization the
farmers Of Canada, particularly those
of the prairie provinces. For some
time this work was prosecuted with
yigor, n with some appearance of
success but rather suddenly the
movement appeared to collapse, and
now little Is heard Of it.. There still
remain in sections OF the northwest
remnants Of former league organ;za-
lions IN there may be two or three
members in each of the three north
western parliaments who are known
as Nonpartisan leaguers. Serious eff
forts to increase the membership
seem to have been abandoned. and
there appears to exist nowhere an
expectation that the league will at
any time become a factor in Cana
dian affairs.
What is the explanation Of the COL
lapse in Canada of a movement
which has reached SO much greater
proportions in certain sections on this
side of the line. and whose prospects
In the northern country were AT enc
time thought to be equally promi.ing?
h question has been asked OF aev-
cral men familiar with the condi-
tions. and while some, features have
been advanced by one respondent not
covered by others. there are some
points on which there appears to be
common agreement.
G The i'm prey,;or % ;e 80 uA
among Canadians that the Nonparti-
san league, in the spirit which ami
mates It's, management, is if not dis
: loyal, uuloya1 to- the country in which
It may happen to be. League organ.
izcrs We're at work in the Canadian
provinces during the years when Can.
ada was beginning to feel the stres.
OF war. when the best Of Canada's
manhood was presenting itself fol
service under the flag around which
: are gathered so many hallowed asso.
Citations. The Canadian is probabl,
as much given as is the citizen of an,
other country to the free discussion
Z sofs the shortcomings Of his govern
n1ent. but. when he was going at +:
3obs which he regarded as Of sufii.
& eteyit simportance to warrant the sac
rtfice Of everything that this worIt
contains. he was inclined to look witt
scant favor or men who, in their ha
.raus,ulrs either expressed or impIie,
lack 81 appreciation OF Che sacred
mes Of the aus In which the countr.
swae enlisted or . contempt for tn