UNEQUAL FIGHTS 



must combat if they were to win to a measure 

 of freedom. 



The farmers of Manitoba, who suffered in 

 a less degree from such conditions as made 

 farming unprofitable in North Dakota, united 

 to form the Grain Growers' Grain Company, a 

 purely co-operative concern, to handle on the 

 Winnipeg market the produce of its members. 

 It sought a seat on the Winnipeg Exchange, 

 which is for Manitoba what the Chamber of 

 Commerce is for our Northwest. The seat 

 was finally obtained for twenty-five hundred 

 dollars, and the farmers, having it, were able 

 to do business on the Exchange — for the space 

 of one week. Then incontinently and without 

 other proceedings they were ejected from the 

 place. Whereupon the banks made war upon 

 it and the grain-dealers refused to handle its 

 grain. The farmers did not tamely submit to 

 this, but took the matter first into the courts. 

 Mr. John J. McHugh was at that time secre- 

 tary of the MinneapoHs Chamber of Com- 

 merce and a member of the Winnipeg Ex- 

 change. He and others were indicted ^ for 

 conspiracy in connection with the ejection of 



^ Mb. Cantrill. — You say he was indicted. Was he convicted? 



Mr. Drake. — He was not convicted. 



Mr. Cantrill. — He was acquitted? 



Mr. Drake. — I do not know whether he was acquitted or noi,. . . . 

 It is my understanding that after the restoration of the Grain 

 Growers' Grain Company to the Board of Trade in the manner I 

 have outlined, the charges against McHugh were dcopped— Hearing 

 before Rides Committee, National Hoiise of Representatives, Sixty-third 

 Congress. Testimony of Benjamin Drake. 



139 



