CHAPTER XVII 



NEW FURROWS 



Fishes, beasts and fowls are to eat each other, 

 for they have no justice; but to men is given 

 justice, which is for the best. 



Hesiod. 



THE situation was changing indeed for the Grain 

 Growers in Western Canada. In spite of all 

 opposition the farmers had made themselves a 

 factor in the grain trade and had demonstrated their 

 ability to conduct their affairs on sound business prin- 

 ciples. Co-operative marketing of grain no longer was 

 an untried idea, advocated by a small group of 

 enthusiasts. The manner in which the farmers' pioneer 

 trading agency had weathered the stormy conditions 

 of its passage from the beginning and the dignified 

 stand of its directors these gradually were earning 

 status in the solid circles of the business world. 



Out in the country also things were different. Those 

 farmers who at first had been most certain that the 

 trading venture would crumble away like so many other 

 organized business efforts of farmers in the past, now 

 were ready to admit their error to admit that a 

 farmers' business organization, managed by farmers, 

 could succeed in such ample measure that its future as 

 a going concern was assured. Instead of hovering on 

 the outskirts of its activities, like small boys surround- 

 ing a giant fire-cracker on Victoria Day waiting for the 



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