 Because of its Free Trade connection, it mainly attracted Liberals as members, but with the fading of both the Liberals as a national force, and of Free Trade as a popular cause, the club fell into decline in the 20th century.The popularity of Temperance reform among members also made it unappealing to potential recruits with the passing years.In 1958 the Cobden Club, by now moribund, was taken over by the classical liberal activist Oliver Smedley.