HOW SECURE ECONOMIC REFORMS? 307 



is silent in the face of real or imagined wrongs, he becomes grad- 

 ually more bitter and rancorous in his heart, ready to follow any 

 demagogue or radical leader who can recite to him the story of 

 his wrongs, until, finally, like a giant blindfolded, he strikes out 

 wildly and madly at he knows not what. And monopoly, or the 

 semblance of monopoly in high places, whether economic or politi- 

 cal, is to the farmer an intolerable tyranny. The Canadian Council 

 of Agriculture has furnished farmer leadership for the rank and 

 file of the farmers themselves. Under this leadership, the farmer 

 feels that he counts in the state, that he is significant, that he has 

 a voice that not only is heard but is heeded. A member of the 

 Council summed up its achievements in these words: "There 

 can be no doubt that the Council has become an important factor 

 in moulding the public life of Canada. And we confidently look 

 forward to its exercising an ever increasing influence in all that 

 makes for the well-being of the people." 



Problems to Face. Farmers' organizations have done enough 

 experimenting thus far to bring out in sharp outline some very 

 definite problems. Assuming that we are to have more rather 

 than fewer farmers' organizations in the future, an early consider- 

 ation of the problems and a policy towards them are necessary 

 for the farmers and for all others interested in a broad way in a 

 permanent and prosperous agriculture. This chapter is therefore 

 concluded with a brief statement of a few of these problems. 



(1) How Secure Political Reforms? Shall the farmers imitate 

 the Knights of Labor, and enter directly into political action as a 

 class? Or shall farmers imitate the American Federation of Labor, 

 leaving the nomination and election of candidates to existing 

 parties, but standing for a definite program of legislation? In 

 American political evolution class parties have been considered 

 inimical to the general welfare, and have, thus far, accomplished 

 but little. 



(2) How Secure Economic Reforms? In the labor world, the 

 farmer may study various efforts at economic reform, such as 

 "direct action," the strike, syndicalism, socialism, limitation of 

 output, and the collective bargain. 



Already in several cases farmers' organizations have used the 

 strike with success. 9 Syndicalism is roughly paralleled in those 

 cases where the farmers have secured the collective ownership 

 and operation of certain enterprises. Collective action (coopera- 



9 This is notably true in the so-called "milk war" in the Chicago District 

 in 1915, and in the New York District in 1916 and in 1919. 



