CHAPTER IV 

 THE FARMERS' PUBLISHING COMPANY 



The Farmers' Publishing Company, like the 

 other institutions of Ontario's organized agricul- 

 ture, was the outcome of long-ripening condi- 

 tions. For many years farmers had felt that 

 their interests were being inadequately treated 

 in the columns of the press. As has been men- 

 tioned in a previous chapter, almost from the 

 beginning of the U.F.O. there had been talk of 

 establishing an official paper, but year after 

 year went on during which committees were 

 appointed, without much visible progress being 

 made. Something was required to crystallize 

 into action the widespread yet hesitating in- 

 clinations of the farmers. The occasion which 

 precipitated such action was the pilgrimage of 

 Ontario farmers, to Ottawa, in May, 1918, to 

 protest against a violation of a solemn under- 

 taking by the government of the day, largely on 

 the strength of which it had been returned to 

 power. 



The proceedings of that memorable day, and 

 the position taken generally by the organized 

 farmers, were so inadequately reported in the 



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