22 THE STORY OF THE U.F.O. 



Grange to which effect has not yet been given is 

 the public ownership of long distance telephone 

 lines." 



As noted on a previous page, however, the 

 Grange had failed to keep pace with the demand 

 for aggressive leadership, and thus we find a 

 rival body, the Patrons of the Industry, arising 

 in 1890, through which the popular feeling found 

 expression. The Patrons, while having commer- 

 cial features in their organization, were formed 

 mainly for political purposes, and it was this 

 aggressive political activity which caused thou- 

 sands to drop the Grange in favor of the new 

 organization. 



The beginning of the Patron organization took 

 place at Sarnia in 1890. Ten counties were 

 represented at this preliminary meeting, and a 

 Provincial organization was formed with Fergus 

 Kennedy as the first President. The new move- 

 ment swept the Province like a prairie fire, and 

 soon enlisted the services of a corps of leaders 

 who have perhaps never been equalled in com- 

 bined power for stirring the farmers of Ontario 

 to action. Among these leaders were Caleb 

 Mallory, for many years President of the 

 organization, T. O. Currie, father of Harold 

 Currie of the U.F.O., J. L. Haycock, after- 

 wards leader of the Patrons in the Legislature, 

 and J. Lockie Wilson. 



