The Non-Partisan League conducted extensive meetings with interested farmers across rural Alberta and was socialist in inclination under the influence of William Irvine.

[1][2] In the 1917 provincial election, four League members stood as candidates: Louise McKinney in Claresholm, James Weir in Nanton, J.E.

This decision was made at a 1917 convention in Calgary, when the Non-Partisan Political League of Canada was founded.

The league continued organizational efforts for the next few years, gathering a sizeable campaign fund, holding town hall meetings, and increasing its membership.

The work of the NPL organization was recorded in the pages of the Alberta Non-Partisan, edited by William Irvine.