62 THE STORY OF THE U.F.O. 



was held in Toronto, at which was formed the 

 United Farm Women of Ontario, the distinctive 

 women 's arm of the movement. 



It was only natural that the delegates in their 

 discussions, at the special convention on June 

 7th, should pay a good deal of attention to 

 politics. Less than a month before, many of 

 them had been at Ottawa, and they were still 

 smarting under their rebuff, and under the 

 abusive criticism of the press. A great feeling of 

 disappointment in their elected representatives 

 was expressed on all sides. Somehow a great gulf 

 had arisen between the parliamentary repre- 

 sentatives and their farmer constituents, and a 

 demand was then and there voiced at this conven- 

 tion that at the earliest opportunity there should 

 be elected to Parliament a number of men from 

 the farm who would understand the farmers' 

 needs, and who would not refuse to listen to 

 their constituents, if they came to wait upon 

 them with some important petition or repre- 

 sentation. While no definite policy in regard 

 to political action was adopted, there seems 

 little doubt that a majority of the delegates 

 went home convinced that any effort to work 

 through the old parties was almost hopeless 

 and that the one alternative was independent 

 action. 



During the summer months, organization went 



