In 1921, the United Farmers of Alberta decided to run candidates in the July election. The founder and leader of the UFA opposed this and he quit as leader.

He was opposed because he thought the cause of agriculture and the cause of the farmers in Alberta would be diluted by farmers running the government, and therefore, being saddled with all sorts of other responsibilities like the coal industry and manufacture of other goods and supplies and the building of ferries and railways. He wanted the UFA to concentrate strictly on farm issues.

With the boldness that can only come from naivity and hope, the UFA headed into the election without a leader and an agreement to not instruct their candidates how to vote in the Legislature.

As a result, to the horror of many people, they swept the polls. And they took a grand total of thirty-nine of fifty seats. And the Conservatives, which had earlier formed the Official Opposition, were totally wiped out. The Conservative party seemed to stand for eastern interests above those of the western farmer.

The UFA was overwhelmed by its success in the election. They pleaded with Henry Wise Wood to run in a bye election and be Premier. He refused. They even asked the defeated Liberal Premier to stay on. He also refused.

Finally a farmer from Westlock Alberta named Herbert Greenfield did decide to run in a bye election in Peace River and he would agree to become Premier. And after a month after the election, we finally did get a Premier. But he did so only with the promise of very close cooperation and help from the chief lawyer of the UFA, whose name was John Brownlee.

And so the farmers? party stumbled into power, suddenly faced with the stark realities of running a provincial administration.

On the Heritage Trail, I?m Cheryl Croucher.