THE FARMER IN POLITICS 151 



procedure. The first was to form a group 

 government by giving Cabinet representation 

 according to elected numerical strength. Such 

 an arrangement would have given two seats 

 each to Liberals and Conservatives, one to Labor, 

 and the rest to the Farmers. Thus a govern- 

 ment in which all parties would have their fair 

 share of responsibility would have had an 

 opportunity to function. Another plan was to 

 refuse to form a government on the ground that 

 as no party had a working majority over the 

 combined opposition it was unfair to ask any 

 leader to take the responsibility. This would 

 necessitate an immediate appeal to the people. 

 The third plan was to form an alliance with 

 Labor, not a fusion but simply a working 

 alliance. 



All these alternatives were discussed at length 

 and each had its adherents. The last named 

 plan was finally adopted, two cabinet seats fall- 

 ing to Labor as their just share. Then began 

 the difficult undertaking of forming a cabinet 

 and getting a grip of the public business. Some 

 idea of the greatness of the task can be gained 

 when it is stated that only two of the elected 

 farmer members had ever sat in parliament 

 before and hardly any one membe r was person- 

 ally known to any other. Of the long negotia- 

 tions entered into it is not within our province 



