tion.

(3) Direct legislation, including the initiative and referendum and the
right of recall.

(4) Publicity of political campaign fund contributions and expenditures
both before and after elections.

(5) The abolition of the patronage system.

(6) Full provincial autonomy in liquor legislation, including
manufacture, export and import.

(7) That the extension of the franchise to women in any province shall
automatically admit them to the federal franchise.

That is the official stand of the farmers and they point out that their
political platform[1] is constructive, not destructive. The farmers
are not trying to sidestep their fair share of the expenses in
connection with government and public institutions; where they have
torn down they have rebuilt.

Admitting that the prosperity of Western Canada is essential to our
national prosperity, it is not necessary to look far in order to
understand why the farmers have taken this definite action. Western
farmers and citizens generally are carrying extra burdens which offset
the advantages of cheap and fertile land. Interest on mortgages and
bank loans have been higher than in Eastern Canada. It is more
expensive to distribute commodities West than East. On account of the
lavish donations of Western lands to railway promoters the cost of
railway construction has borne heavily on the West. Freight rates are
about sixty per cent. higher and express rates about sixty-six per
cent. higher than in Eastern Canada. Thanks to the protective tariff,
Western people are paying high for everything they get without any
return compensation.

"Something has to be done to lift some of these unjust burdens," say
the farmers, "if a prosperous country is to be developed West of the
Great Lakes."

Hence this platform. The Western farmers believe in it earnestly. It
is their politics. They believe that the results which would follow
its support in the House of Commons would be of untold benefit to the
Canadian people as a whole. They will continue to believe it.

When the crisis arose which brought about the last election, in which
Union Government swept the West, the farmers saw the gravity of the
situation and were prepared to forego immediate discussion of tariff
amendments to concentrate on winning the war. Some of the farmers'
candidates even withdrew in favor of Union candidates. All those who
remained in the field were elected.

After the war is won--what?