CANADIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE 



305 



dates to public office. The Knights of Labor disappeared entirely 

 as a labor organization. The American Federation of Labor for 

 nearly forty years has gained steadily in strength and power, and 

 has at the same time kept out of politics. This Federation seeks 

 to secure legislation by asking for it, not by nominating and 

 electing candidates to public office. The Federation speaks for 

 two million or more organized dues-paying laboring men, and 

 hence its voice is heard by the national and State lawmakers. 

 This statement concerning the American Federation of Labor may 

 help to make clearer the aim and methods of the Canadian Council 

 of Agriculture. 



The Canadian Council of Agri* 

 culture is a Parliament of the 

 farmers, by the farmers, and for 

 the farmers (Fig. 53) . It holds two 

 regular sessions a year at Win- 

 nipeg, where it maintains per- 

 manent offices in charge of a paid 

 secretary (Fig. 54). The Council is 

 composed of four representatives 

 from each important province- 

 wide farmers' organization. In 

 the year 1919 the membership was 

 36, representing four educational 

 and propaganda organizations, 

 three cooperative commercial 

 organizations, one farmers' news- 

 paper, and one association of 

 women, as follows: (1) United 

 Farmers of Alberta, (2) Saskatche- 

 wan Grain Growers' Association, 

 (3) Manitoba Grain Growers' Association, (4) United Farmers of 

 Ontario, (5) Saskatchewan Cooperative Elevator Company, (6) 

 United Grain Growers, (7) United Farmers' Cooperative Company 

 of Ontario, (8) Grain Growers' Guide, (9) Canadian Farm Women's 

 Interprovincial Association. The Council began, in 1909, solely 

 as the representative body of the educational organizations. But 

 it lacked funds with which to finance any important activities or 

 services. Accordingly, in the year 1916, the great cooperative 

 trading companies of the grain growers were admitted to member- 

 ship, and a per capita fee of 25 cents charged. These trading 

 companies, of course, included almost the identical farmers who 

 20 



FIG. 54. Roderick McKenzie, one of the 

 organizers of the United Grain Growers, the 

 Grain Growers Guide and the Canadian 

 Council of Agriculture. First Secretary of 

 the Canadian Council of Agriculture. 



