, 



EARLY FARMER ORGANIZATIONS 29 



by the Association's delegates at Toronto was 

 endorsed. Support also came from importers, the 

 evidence of Sir James W. Woods, of the Gordon, 

 McKay Company in Toronto, and of the late G. 

 B. Ryan of Guelph, being particularly effective. 

 Before the Fielding Commission began its 

 rounds all available evidence pointed to a tariff- 

 increase. But when revision occurred in 1907 

 the tariff was not increased. 



The Association also maintained an active 

 educational campaign until the Lancaster Cattle 

 Guard Bill and the Cowan Drainage Bill were, in 

 effect, enacted into law. The former measure 

 made railway companies responsible for animals 

 killed on their tracks where negligence of owners 

 of the same could not be proved. The latter 

 compelled railways to bear that part of the cost 

 of farm drains across their property made 

 necessary by the railways' existence. 



The creation of the Farmers' Association 

 rendered still another service. The Grange was 

 stirred into greater activity in regard to questions 

 of public policy, and soon there were two 

 organizations in the Province serving the same 

 purpose. It was then wisely decided that the 

 two should unite, and at a joint meeting, when 

 J. G. Lethbridge was Master of the Grange and 

 James McEwing President of the Farmers' 

 Association, amalgamation was arranged for. 



