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276 DEEP FURROWS 



(5) The abolition of the patronage system. 



(6) Full provincial autonomy in liquor legis- 

 lation, including manufacture, export and import. 



(7) That the extension of the franchise to 

 women in any province shall automatically admit 

 them to the federal franchise. 



That is the official stand of the farmers and they 

 point out that their political platform* is constructive, 

 not destructive. The farmers are not trying to side- 

 step their fair share of the expenses in connection with 

 government and public institutions; where they have 

 torn down they have rebuilt. 



Admitting that the prosperity of Western Canada is 

 essential to our national prosperity, it is not necessary 

 to look far in order to understand why the farmers 

 have taken this definite action. Western farmers and 

 citizens generally are carrying extra burdens which 

 offset the advantages of cheap and fertile land. Interest 

 on mortgages and bank loans have been higher than in 

 Eastern Canada. It is more expensive to distribute 

 commodities West than East. On account of the lavish 

 donations of Western lands to railway promoters the 

 cost of railway construction has borne heavily on the 

 West. Freight rates are about sixty per cent, higher 

 and express rates about sixty-six per cent, higher than 

 in Eastern Canada. Thanks to the protective tariff, 

 Western people are paying high for everything they 

 get without any return compensation. 



" Something has to be done to lift some of these 

 unjust burdens," say the farmers, " if a prosperous 

 country is to be developed West of the Great Lakes." 



* Since the formation of the organized farmers' National Political Platform 

 several of its planks have been adopted as legislation at Ottawa, notably 

 the abolition of the patronage system, extension of the franchise to 

 women, total prohibition, and personal income taxation. 



