In 1870 Ueland died, and the loose leadership of the alliance of peasants went over to Søren Jaabæk (1814–1894), an economically extremely conservative politician, whose views hardly exceeded the most primitive cutting of every part of the budget, even if the money in question would be used to the furthering of democracy and education, two of his most important topics. Such negative policy-making (Jaabæk's name was changed by the ministerial adherents and press to "Neibæk" after the Norwegian word "nei" 'no' contrasting with "ja" 'yes') would never produce great results, which Sverdrup clearly foresaw. He did not hesitate to acknowledge Jaabæk as the formal leader and organizer of this budding party, based on the "Bondevenforeninger" (peasant friend associations) that Jaabæk managed to spread throughout most of the country. However, in parliament Jaabæk often bowed to Sverdrup's more advanced political strategies, when they were not too expensive.