116 DEEP FURROWS 



charges of conspiring in restraint of trade and 

 when these gentlemen appeared in the Police Court it 

 was evident that the Exchange intended to fight the 

 case every inch of the way. The farmers discovered 

 that the legal talent of Winnipeg had been cornered; 

 for of the twenty lawyers to whom their solicitor, 

 R. A. Bonnar, K.C., could turn for assistance in the 

 prosecution every one appeared to have been retained 

 by the defendants. The case involved such wide 

 investigation that such assistance was imperative and 

 finally the Grain Growers secured the services of 

 ex-Premier F. W. G. Hanltain,* of Saskatchewan. 



The preliminary hearing in the Police Court proved 

 to be most interesting and at times developed consid- 

 erable heat among the battling legal lights. The 

 defendants and their friends were so confident that 

 commitment for trial would not be forthcoming at all 

 that when the Magistrate decided that he was justified 

 in so ordering, the grain men were shocked somewhat 

 rudely out of their complacency. 



Following up this preliminary victory, the Manitoba 

 Grain Growers turned to the Manitoba 



and demanded that the charter under which the Grata 



Exchange operated be B.rr\^f\M\ in 

 The deputation from the Grain Growers met the Com 

 mittee on Agriculture, the House being in session, and 

 asked that the powers of the charter be limited so that 

 business would be conducted on an equitable basis 

 between buyer and producer. They asked that the 

 Exchange be allowed to set no limit as to the number 

 of persons who might enjoylts privileges 1 the qtJfiOToifc 

 of the reputability of such persons to be decided^ J^a 

 majority of the members and that a seat purchased for 



* Now Chief Justice Haultain. 



