FIRST SHOT IS FIRED 51 %^ 



This was the big barrier which would have to be 

 surmounted in the beginning if battle were to be waged 

 successfully against present oppressive conditions. The 

 right kind of organization was the key that would unlock \ 

 a happier future. The farmer was as much a producer 

 as any manufacturer who made finished articles out of 

 raw material; but his was the only business in which 

 full energies were expended upon production of goods 

 to sell while the marketing end was left for the " other 

 fellow " to organize. That was why he was obliged to 

 do as he was told, take what was given him or haul his 

 wheat home and eat it himself. 



Like all such meetings, it was not without its few 

 pails of cold water. These were emptied by some who 

 hinted dark things about "political reasons," and it 

 was easy to make the trite statement that history 

 repeats itself and to predict that the formation of such 

 a farmers' association as was proposed would be riding 

 only for the same fall which had overtaken former 

 attempts. The enthusiasm refused to be dampened 

 and it broke out in unmistakable accents when without 

 waste of words Angus McKay nominated W. R. Mother- 

 well as provisional President of the " Territorial Grain 

 Growers' Association." John Millar as provisional 

 ~ Secretary and a board of directors* were quickly chosen 



When it was all over and Senator William D. Perley 

 rose slowly to his feet, it was to deliver a parting mess 

 age of confidence that the farmers were taking the right 

 step in the right manner. There were few men who 

 covld be listened to with greater respect than the 

 elderly Senator and as the silence of his audience deep- 

 ened it was almost as if the white-haired gentleman's 

 dignified words were prophetic. He had been familiar 



* See Appendix Par. 1. 



