THE FARMER IN POLITICS 143 



cancellation took place right at the commence- 

 ment of seeding when hours meant bushels, and 

 when every farmer was keyed up by the exhorta- 

 tion of the Government to produce to the limit. 



Work practically ceased on hundreds of farms 

 and the office of the U.F.O. was deluged with 

 letters asking what could be done. From early 

 morning till late at night angry men sought the 

 office asking that some action be taken to impress 

 upon the Cabinet the view of agriculture that a 

 mistake had been made. 



The executive of the U.F.O. had no other 

 alternative than to tender its best services to the 

 rural people. They assisted in organizing a 

 delegation of farmers to Ottawa to voice rural 

 opinion. A circular letter was sent to all 

 township clerks, notifying them that if their 

 municipality wished to give expression to their 

 views they should send representatives to Ottawa 

 on May 14th, 1918. About the same time a 

 letter was received from Quebec, over the 

 signature of Jean Mason, secretary of the 

 Comptoir Co-operative de Montreal, asking 

 what action Ontario was taking. Reply was 

 made that a delegation was being sent, but that 

 if Quebec decided on action they should deal 

 directly with the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. 

 T. A. Crerar. In a few days, a letter from Mr. 

 Crerar notified Head Office that arrangements 



