"THAT MAN PARTRIDGE!" 67 



Matt. Snow and copies of the constitution and by-laws 

 upon which the Territorial Association was founded. 

 With this assistance a strong local association was 

 formed at Virden on January 9th, 1903, with capable 

 officers* and a first-year membership of one hundred 

 and twenty-five. 



The same difficulties that faced the farmers farther 

 West were being experienced in Manitoba and the 

 newspapers were full of protesting letters from country 

 points. As President of the Virden Grain Growers' 

 Association, J. W. Scallion wrote letters to every place 

 where complaints were being voiced and urged organi- 

 zation. At every opportunity it was advocated through 

 the press that from the eastern boundary of Manitoba 

 to the Rocky Mountains the farmers should organize 

 themselves for self-defence against oppression, present 

 OP possible, by "the interests." In about six weeks 

 over fifteen local associations had been formed in 

 Manitoba and Virden began calling for a Provincial 

 association. Accordingly, on M^rch 3rd a H 4-f h : ,1903, 

 the Jfanitoba grain growers held their first convention 

 at Brandon with one hundred delegates present, repre- 

 ^genting twenty-six local associations. Great enthusiasm 

 marked the event and the officers** chosen were all men 

 of initiative. 



The members of the parent organization watched the 

 rapid expansion on all sides with sparkling eyes. Their 

 own second annual convention at Indian Head revealed 

 considerable progress and the promise of greater things 

 to come. On the invitation of the delegates from the 

 Regina district it was decided to hold the third annual 

 convention at the capital and the rousing gathering 



* See Appendix Par. 2. 

 ** See Appendix Par. 3. 



