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〃Yes；　I　knew　quite　well　it　would　give　us　a　better　market　for　our　grain　here；　and　it　would　give　us　cheaper　machinery　too；　butdo　you　really　care　to　know　why　I　switched？〃

〃Sure　thing；　I'd　like　awfully　to　hear　if　you　don't　mind。　　We　are　not　discussing　politics；　you　understand。〃

〃No。　　Well；〃　said　Monteith；　〃two　things　made　me　change　my　party。　In　the　first　place；　to　be　quite　frank；　I　was　afraid　of　American　domination。　　We　are　a　small　people　yet。　　Their　immense　wealth　would　overwhelm　our　manufacturers　and　flood　our　markets　with　cheap　stuff；　and　with　trade　dominance　there　would　more　easily　go　political　dominance。　　You　remember　Taft's　speech？　　That　settled　it　for　me。　That　was　one　thing。　　The　other　was　the　Navy　question。　　I　didn't　like　Laurier's　attitude。　　I　am　a　Canadian；　born　right　here　in　Alberta；　but　I　am　an　Imperialist。　　I　am　keen　about　the　Empire　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　I　believe　that　our　destiny　is　with　the　Empire　and　that　with　the　Empire　we　shall　attain　to　our　best。　　And　since　the　Empire　has　protected　us　through　all　of　our　history；　I　believe　the　time　has　come　when　we　should　make　our　contribution　to　its　defence。　　We　ought　to　have　a　fleet；　and　that　fleet　in　time　of　war　should　automatically　be　merged　with　the　Imperial　Navy。　　That's　how　I　felt　at　the　last　election。　　This　autonomy　stuff　of　Laurier's　is　all　right；　but　it　should　not　interfere　with　Imperial　unity。〃

〃It's　a　funny　thing；〃　replied　Ross。　　〃I　take　the　opposite　side　on　both　these　points。　　I　was　born　in　the　Old　Country　and　like　most　Old　Country　people　believe　in　Free　Trade。　　So　I　was　keen　to　wipe　out　all　barriers　between　the　United　States　and　ourselves　in　trade。　　I　believe　in　trading　wherever　you　can　get　the　best　terms。　　As　for　American　domination；　I　have　not　the　slightest　fear　in　the　world　of　the　Yankees。　　They　might　flood　our　markets　at　first；　probably　would；　but　they　would　certainly　bring　in　capital。　　We　need　capital　badly；　you　know　that。　　And　why　should　not　factories　be　established　on　this　side　of　the　line　with　American　money？　　Pennsylvania　does　not　hurt　New　York；　nor　Illinois　Dakota。　　Why　then；　with　all　trade　barriers　thrown　down；　should　the　United　States　hurt　Canada？　　And　then　on　the　other　side；　we　get　a　market　for　everything　we　grow　at　our　doors。　　Reciprocity　looked　good　to　me。　　As　for　imperilling　our　Imperial　connectionsI　do　not　mean　to　be　offensive　at　allof　course　you　see　what　your　position　amounts　tothat　our　financial　interests　would　swamp　our　loyalty；　that　our　loyalty　is　a　thing　of　dollars　and　cents。　　My　idea　is　that　nothing　in　the　world　from　the　outside　can　ever　break　the　bonds　that　hold　Canada　to　the　Empire；　and　after　all；　heart　bonds　are　the　strong　bonds。　　Then　in　regard　to　the　Navy；　I　take　the　other　view　from　you　also。　　I　believe　I　am　a　better　Canadian　than　you；　although　I　am　not　Canadian　born。　　I　think　there's　something　awfully　fine　in　Canada's　splendid　independence。　She　wants　to　run　her　own　ranch；　and　by　George　she　will；　and　everything　on　it。　　She　is　going　to　boss　her　own　job　and　will　allow　no　one　else　to　butt　in。　　I　agree　with　what　you　say　about　the　Empire。　　Canada　ought　to　have　a　Navy　and　quick。　　She　ought　to　take　her　share　of　the　burden　of　defence。　　But　I　agree　here　with　Laurier。　I　believe　her　ships　should　be　under　her　own　control。　　For　after　all　only　the　Canadian　Government　has　the　right　to　speak　the　word　that　sends　them　out　to　war。　　Of　course；　when　once　Canada　hands　them　over　to　the　Imperial　Navy；　they　will　fall　into　line　and　take　their　orders　from　the　Admiral　that　commands　the　fleet。　　Do　you　know　I　believe　that　Laurier　is　right　in　sticking　out　for　autonomy。〃

〃I　am　awfully　interested　in　what　you　say；　and　I　don't　believe　we　are　so　far　apart。　　It's　a　thousand　pities　they　did　not　keep　together　in　the　Commons。　　They　could　easily　have　worked　it　out。〃

〃Yes；　it　was　a　beastly　shame；〃　replied　Ross。

〃But　isn't　it　rather　queer；〃　said　Monteith；　〃and　isn't　it　significant；　too？　　Here　I　am；　born　in　Canada；　sticking　out　against　reciprocity　and　anxious　to　guard　our　Imperial　connection　and　ready　to　hand　our　Navy　clean　over　to　the　Imperial　authorities；　and　on　the　other　hand；　there　you　are；　born　in　the　Old　Country；　you　don't　appear　to　care　a　darn　about　Imperial　connections。　　You　let　that　take　care　of　itself；　and　you　stick　up　for　Canadian　autonomy　to　the　limit。〃

〃Well；　for　one　thing；〃　replied　Ross；　〃we　ought　to　get　together　on　the　Navy　business。　　On　the　trade　question　we　represent；　of　course；　two　schools　of　economics；　but　we　ought　not　to　mix　up　the　flag　with　our　freight。　　This　flag…flapping　business　makes　me　sick。〃

〃There　you　are　again；〃　said　Monteith。　　〃Here　I　am；　born　right　here　in　the　West；　and　yet　I　believe　in　all　the　flag…flapping　you　can　bring　about　and　right　here　in　this　country　too。　　Why；　you　know　how　it　is　with　these　foreigners；　Ruthenians；　Russians；　Germans；　Poles。　Do　you　know　that　in　large　sections　of　this　western　country　the　foreign　vote　controls　the　election？　　I　believe　we　ought　to　take　every　means　to　teach　them　to　love　the　flag　and　shout　for　it　too。　Oh；　I　know　you　Old　Country　chaps。　　You　take　the　flag　for　granted；　and　despise　this　flag…raising　business。　　Let　me　tell　you　something。　I　went　across　to　Oregon　a　little　while　ago　and　saw　something　that　opened　my　eyes。　　In　a　little　school　in　the　ranching　country　in　a　settlement　of　mixed　foreignersSwedes；　Italians；　Germans；　Jews　they　had　a　great　show　they　called　'saluting　the　flag。'　　Being　Scotch　you　despise　the　whole　thing　as　a　lot　of　rotten　slushy　sentimentality；　and　a　lot　of　Canadians　agree　with　you。　　But　let　me　tell　you　how　they　got　me。　　I　watched　those　kids　with　their　foreign　faces；　foreign　speechyou　ought　to　hear　them　readGreat　Scott；　you'd　have　to　guess　at　the　language。　　Then　came　this　flag…saluting　business。　　A　kid　with　Yiddish　written　all　over　his　face　was　chosen　to　carry　in　the　flag；　attended　by　a　bodyguard　for　the　colours；　and　believe　me　they　appeared　as　proud　as　Punch　of　the　honour。　　They　placed　the　flag　in　position；　sang　a　hymn；　had　a　prayer；　then　every　kid　at　a　signal　shot　out　his　right　hand　toward　the　flag　held　aloft　by　the　Yiddish　colour　bearer　and　pledged　himself；　heart；　and　soul；　and　body；　to　his　flag　and　to　his　country。　　The　ceremony　closed　with　the　singing　of　the　national　hymn；　mighty　poor　poetry　and　mighty　hard　to　sing；　but　do　you　know　listening　to　those　kids　and　watching　their　foreign　faces　I　found　myself　with　tears　in　my　eyes　and　swallowing　like　a　darn　fool。　　Ever　since　that　day　I　believe　in　flag…flapping。〃

〃Maybe　you　are　right；〃　replied　Ross。　　〃You　know　we　British　folk　are　so　fearfully　afraid　of　showing　our　feelings。　　We　go　along　like　graven　images；　the　more　really　stirred　up；　the　more　graven　we　appear。　　But　suppose　we　move　over　to　the　platform　where　the　speechifying　is　to　be　done。〃

In　front　of　the　school　building　a　platform　had　been　erected；　and　before　the　stage；　preparations　had　been　made　for　seating　the　spectators　as　far　as　the　school　benches　and　chairs　from　neighbours'　houses　would　go。　　The　programme　consisted　of　patriotic　songs　and　choruses　with　contributions　from　the　minstrel　company。　　The　main　events　of　the　evening；　however；　were　to　be　the　addresses；　the　principal　speech　being　by　the　local　member　for　the　Dominion　Parliament；　Mr。　J。　H。　Gilchrist；　who　was　to　be　followed　by　a　local　orator；　Mr。　Alvin　P。　Jones；　a　former　resident　of　the　United　States；　but　now　an　enthusiastic；　energetic　and　most　successful　farmer　and　business　man；　possessing　one　of　the　best　appointed　ranches　in　Alberta。　　The　chairman　was；　of　course；　Reverend　Evans　Rhye。　　The　parson　was　a　little　Welshman；　fat　and　fussy　and　fiery　of　temper；　but　his　heart　was　warmly　human；　and　in　his　ministry　he　manifested　a　religion　of　such　simplicity　and　devotion；　of　such　complete　unselfishness　as　drew　to　him　the　loyal　affection　of　the　whole　community。　　Even　such　sturdy　Presbyterians　as　McTavish；　the　Rosses；　Angus　Frazer　and　his　mother；　while　holding　tenaciously　and　without　compromise　to　their　own　particular　form　of　doctrine　and　worship；　yielded　Mr。　Rhye；　in　the　absence　of　a　church　and　minister　of　their　own　denomination；　a　support　and　esteem　unsurpassed　even　among　his　own　folk。　　Their　attitude　was　considered　to　be　stated　with　sufficient　clearness　by　Angus　Frazer　in　McTavish's　store　one　day。　〃I　am　not　that　sure　about　the　doctrine；　but　he　has　the　right　kind　of　religion　for　me。〃　　And　McTavish's　reply　was　characteristic：　〃Doctrine！　　He　has　as　gude　as　you　can　expec'　frae　thae　Episcopawlian　buddies。　　But　he's　a　Godly　man　and　he　aye　pays　his　debts　whatever；〃　which　from　McTavish　was　as　high　praise　as　could　reasonably　be　expected。

The　audience　comprised　the　total　population　of　Wolf　Willow　and　its　vicinity；　as　well　as　visitors　from　the　country　within　a　radius　of　ten　or　fifteen　miles。

Mr。　J。　H。　Gilchrist；　M。　P。；　possessed　the　initial　advantages　of　Scotch　parentage　and　of　early　Scotch　training；　and　besides　these　he　was　a　farmer　and　knew　the　farmer's　mind。　　To　these　advantages　he　added　those　of　a　course　of　training　in　Toronto　University　in　the　departments　of　metaphysics　and　economics；　and　an　additional　advantage　of　five　years'　pedagogical　experience。　　He　possessed；　moreover；　the　gift　of　lucid　and　forceful　speech。　　With　such　equipment　small　wonder　that　he　was　in　demand　for　just　such　occasions　as　a　Dominion　Day　celebration　and　in　just　s