EVOLUTION OF THE A.O.S. 91 



classes represented at the conference should present an 

 undivided front to the country, it was desirable that discus- 

 sions on questions which, like Protection, were certain to 

 cause strong division among those classes, should be deferred, 

 and that those questions in respect of which agriculturists 

 were practically unanimous should be pressed forward 

 instead. The amendment was, however, defeated by a 

 large majority, and the carrying of the Protection resolution 

 was greeted with loud cheers. Another of the resolutions 

 passed by the conference endorsed the principle of Bi- 

 metalism. Still another, proposed by Lord Winchilsea, was 

 as follows : 



" That, in view of the present crisis, it is imperative forthwith 

 to establish an Agricultural Union, composed of all persons of 

 different classes who are interested in the land of the United 

 Kingdom, in order (i) to give effect to such resolutions as may be 

 passed by this conference ; (2) to frame such measures as may 

 from time to time be needful in the agricultural interest ; (3) to 

 organise its members into a compact body of voters in every 

 constituency pledged to return without distinction of party 

 those candidates agreeing to support such measures ; (4) to 

 promote the co-operation of all connected with the land, whether 

 owners, occupiers or labourers, for the common good." 



If, said Lord Winchilsea, in proposing his resolution, the 

 agricultural interest were organised in the way he advocated, 

 he believed they would be able to return a member for every 

 county constituency in the United Kingdom. 



The formation of a National Agricultural Union on the 

 lines advocated by Lord Winchilsea was the one practical 

 outcome of this altogether unique National Agricultural 

 Conference, the story of which deserves to be now recalled 

 because it shows so clearly what were the ideas then prevalent 

 as to the way in which agricultural conditions could best be 

 met ; though a leading article in The Times of December 8th 

 warned the conference that it was " not by such means " as 

 Protection and Bimetalism that the British agricultural 

 classes could hope to recover any portion of their prosperity, 

 saying, further : 



They are confronted with a great economic crisis largely 



