CHAPTER V 



THE UNITED FARM WOMEN 



In the autumn of 1918 there went out to a 

 number of representative farm women from the 

 head office of the U.F.O. a communication 

 inviting an answer to the following question, 

 'What in your opinion will be the greatest 

 benefit of the U.F.W.O. to the farm women of 

 Ontario?". From the many answers received 

 the following are selected as typical, "It will 

 broaden and deepen their interests and help them 

 to think for themselves," "It will give oppor- 

 tunity to develop individuality and natural 

 gifts," "It will educate them along the line of 

 what they ought to want and how to get it," 

 and "It will bring farm women together in 

 pleasant and profitable relationship." Such 

 was the vision which inspired the women who 

 became leaders in the movement. How far the 

 vision has been realized we are now to inquire. 



The history of the United Farm Women of 

 Ontario is still very short. Three years only 

 have passed since the inaugural meeting, years 

 during which reaction from the stress of war 

 activity has been most marked, and yet in 



115 



