THE FARMER IN POLITICS 145 



determined to register their complaint before 

 the members of Parliament. Therefore, in a 

 letter addressed to Hon. E. N. Rhodes, the 

 speaker of the Commons, they requested a hear- 

 ing before the bar of the House. This being 

 refused by the Premier, the farmers formed in a 

 huge procession and marched to the doors of 

 the House, where they were denied admission. 

 (Several days later, Mr. Vien succeeded in having 

 the text of the remonstrance placed on Hansard. 

 For a copy of this text and also of the cor- 

 respondence see appendix.) 



This literal shutting of the door in their faces 

 did more than any one thing to cause the 

 political upheaval which has since taken place. 

 Liberals and Conservatives alike denounced the 

 Government, and threatened that when oppor- 

 tunity offered they would not forget the recep- 

 tion tendered them at Ottawa on May 14th, 

 1918. On June 7th, at the huge convention 

 of over three thousand farmers held in Massey 

 Hall, future activities formed the theme for 

 discussion. Bitter reproaches were hurled at 

 the autocratic cabinet, while many pleasant 

 references were made to "our fellow farmers of 

 Quebec." As speaker after speaker advised 

 political action as soon as opportunity offered, a 

 feeling of entire unanimity took possession of 

 the meeting. 



