THE FARMERS' PUBLISHING CO. Ill 



phenomenal success of the Farmers' Movement 

 in Ontario is in no mean measure due to the 

 influence of The Farmers' Sun. Through its 

 columns, democratic principles have been per- 

 sistently advocated, and readers have been given 

 an insight into economic conditions as presented 

 from the rural viewpoint. 



Through all this development a very curious 

 relationship has existed between the parent 

 organization and the owners of the paper. Who 

 are the owners and by what means do they exer- 

 cise the prerogative of ownership? As already 

 noted, the scheme was first mooted and further 

 promoted at meetings of the U.F.O. The 

 initial committee was appointed by the U.F.O. 

 But when the committee came to the point of 

 taking definite action and had to appeal for 

 funds there were two sources from which such 

 monies might come. Either the scheme could 

 be financed from the central treasury of the 

 U.F.O., or it could be financed separately by 

 individual men buying shares direct in a publish- 

 ing company. Since the central treasury pos- 

 sessed no more funds than were required for 

 organization and educational purposes, the com- 

 mittee was forced to appeal to individual mem- 

 bers, and thus the Farmers' Publishing Company 

 was formed, and shares were offered at twenty- 

 five dollars each. This, in a sense, leaves the 



