THE FARMER IN POLITICS 153 



sentatives to their constituents have been freely 

 discussed by U.F.O. speakers at meetings and 

 picnics, women and men alike taking a keen 

 interest in all that was said. Thus there hasv 

 developed in the rural electors a vision of their 

 personal responsibility to the state, party ties 

 have been weakened or destroyed, and success 

 at elections, so often regarded hitherto as an end 

 in itself, is now taken merely as the means to an 

 end. Since the association is generally con- 

 sidered, and quite rightly so, to be the active 

 force that has made such progress possible, 

 the net result has been a marked impetus to the 

 U.F.O. 



One of the most unique features of the v 

 political procedure of the United Farmers is 

 their method of forming their platform. Being ^/ 

 ultra-democratic in spirit and in doctrine they 

 attempt to carry this principle into all their 

 efforts. Resolutions from the various local* 

 clubs relating to public matters are sent to Head 

 Office and laid before the delegates assembled in 

 annual convention. Here they are discussed, 

 and if endorsed, they are placed in a tentative 

 platform and sent back to all the clubs for 

 discussion. Failing serious criticism, the result 

 is the provincial platform, or in the case of the 

 National Platform it is passed on to the 

 Canadian Council of Agriculture. The Council 



11 



