EARLY FARMER ORGANIZATIONS 23 



The movement received a wonderful impetus ' 

 at a by-election for thejLegislature, held in 

 North Bruce in 1894. In^that by-election, in a 

 three-cornered contest, David McNaughton, 

 the Patron nominee, was triumphantly returned. 

 In the general Provincial election following, some vX 

 sixteen Patron members were elected to the 

 Legislative Assembly. The first set-back was 

 experienced in a by-election for Haldimand 

 made necessary by the unseating of Mr. Senn, 

 the Patron member for the Legislature, on a 

 technicality. The Patron was defeated 

 decisively on seeking re-election. This, however, 

 was offset through the election by acclamation 

 of the late David Rogers in Frontenac, in the 

 general election for the Commons which occurred 

 not long afterwards. The greatest set-back of* 

 all was sustained when L. A. Welch, secretary 

 of the Patrons, in a published speech, denounced 

 the leaders for their alleged action in lining up 

 with the Liberals. Another disturbing element 

 was introduced in the Manitoba school issue, 

 but the main injury was worked by the Welch 

 defection, and when the general polling day 

 in the Dominion election of 1896 arrived, all the 

 Patron candidates for the Commons, with the 

 exception of Mr. Rogers (who had been elected 

 by acclamation) went down to defeat. 



Still later, when the next Provincial election 



