OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 37 



After a few years of teaching he moved to Toronto where he 

 engaged in daily newspaper work, later acquiring farm paper 

 interests. At one time he owned several weekly papers in Ontario, 

 and became a sufficiently prominent figure to stand for Parlia- 

 ment in one election, but was unsuccessful. In 1905 circum- 

 stances seemed ripe for him to locate on a farm, an ambition he 

 had cherished throughout the years, hence he removed with his 

 family to Alberta. Unusual conditions prevented his immediate 

 realization of his ideal, however, and for three years he acted as 

 managing editor of the Edmonton Daily Bulletin. During this 

 period he completed the purchase of a farm near Olds that is 

 now his family home, and he built up on the raw prairie a most 

 attractive homestead, with thoroughly modern improvements, an 

 exceptionally strong her4 of Shorthorn cattle and a notable stud 

 of Clydesdales. 



Four years after his arrival in Alberta he was offered the nomi- 

 nation to the Alberta legislature for the constituency of Olds, but 

 was no sooner elected than he was asked by the Prime Minister 

 of the province to become Minister for Agriculture in his gov- 

 ernment. This position he has held ever since, his work being 

 of a most aggressive nature, both as regards the building up of 

 the livestock industry and the spread of agricultural education. 

 In the latter he has founded something entirely different from 

 the conventional scheme of agricultural schools by establishing 

 separate institutions at different points in the province, for the 

 education of fanners' sons and daughters. These schools are 

 capable of handling about 150 students, and the six thus far 

 established have been a signal success. 



His work has surpassed that of any Minister of Agriculture in 

 the Canadian provinces, John Dryden (14) only excepted. Dur- 

 ing his term of office he has promoted the introduction of pure- 

 bred sires to Alberta, and has formed a large number of coop- 

 erative sire associations which have imported animals both from 



