24 THE STORY OF THE U.F.O. 



came on, all the Patron members of the Legisla- 

 ture save one were beaten as well, and that 

 marked the practical end of the Patrons as an 

 organized force. But the seed sown remained, 

 and never since has partyism regained the hold 

 it had on the masses of the people before the 

 period when Patronism was in flower. 



Some time after the Patron collapse another 

 effort was made in the line of farm organization. 

 This resulted in the formation of the Farmers' 

 Association which, although short-lived, per- 

 formed a most useful service during the period 

 of its existence. The Grange was then well nigh 

 dormant, and moreover such work as it con- 

 tinued was mainly along social, educational and 

 commercial lines. The Farmers' Association 

 was intended to be purely political but not 

 partisan. Its declaration of purpose was 

 simplicity itself: 



"That, while deeming it inadvisable to estab- 

 lish a political party, we believe it is for the 

 welfare of the country that there should be an 

 organization ready to bring its influence to bear 

 to secure and promote the interests of the 

 farmer in matters of legislation and otherwise." 



The meeting, at which this organization was 

 effected, was held in the Temple building in 

 Toronto while the Canadian National Exhibition 



