DEPTH OF THE FURROWS 271 



first, political knowledge; second, and what is of far 

 more importance, political morality. Ideal government 

 is found when we have righteous rulers governing a 

 people of character and intelligence. Eight education 

 is right thinking and right thinking can only come 

 through accurate information." 



Now, is all this preaching of the men who are leading 

 the farmers just so much talk? chaff? prairie wind? 



If not, what lies back of it? The farmers have an 

 organization which meets every so-often to harmonize 

 and crystallize the thought among their various asso- 

 ciations and business units. It is that same Canadian 

 Council of Agriculture which has been mentioned 

 already. It consists of the executive committees of 

 eight farmers' co-operative, business and educational 

 institutions, to wit: The United Farmers of Ontario, 

 The United Farmers' Co-Operative Company of Ontario, 

 The Grain Growers' Association of Manitoba, United 

 Grain Growers (of the entire West), The Grain 

 Growers' Association of Saskatchewan, The Saskatche- 

 wan Co-Operative Elevator Company, The United 

 Farmers of Alberta, and the Grain Growers' Guide, 

 the official organ of the whole movement. 



At a meeting of this influential body in Winnipeg in 

 December, 1916 representing an affiliation of 60,000 

 farmers a " National Political Platform " was 

 adopted to embrace economic, political and social 

 reforms not alone in the interests of the farmers but 

 of Canada's citizens generally. The farmers are look- 

 ing for the support of all who live in cities and towns 

 as well as the rural districts; of organized Labor as 

 well as organized farmers. 



This platform was referred to the provincial organ- 

 izations which stand behind the Canadian Council of 



