these events took the liberal party by surprise and caused some consternation amongst them. their initial view of the fsa had been positive—federal member for swan and former premier (1890–1901), sir john forrest, believed the movement "would be of great use to the producers, add to the strength of liberalism and prove advantageous in every way". the fsa's first meetings were at the liberal league's clubrooms in perth, and its executive was dominated by well-established families from the established farming districts around york and beverley, epitomising the conservative values of pre-1890s western australian society. the executive was staunchly opposed to the labor party, and was concerned about the support labor was able to attract in the newer districts, but at the same time wished for a more considered land settlement policy than the liberals were offering, and opposed protectionism. the emergence of a three-party contest with a new country party remaining "entirely distinct from and not allied with any other party" and representing the political interests of farmers, a compromise that both the executive and the membership wholeheartedly supported, resulted in sharp criticism from key liberals such as forrest, who engaged in a two-month correspondence with monger until april 1914 attempting to convince him to rejoin the fsa to the liberal cause, and state opposition leader frank wilson. an invitation from the liberal league for an exchange of preferences in the legislative council had been rejected by the executive on the ground that "our constitution does not permit the council to comply with their request".