The purpose of the guild in each case was no doubt to protect and advance the interests of the trade, but little information for them exists until the age of Cicero, when they reappear in the form of political clubs ("collegia sodalicia" or "compitalicia") chiefly with the object of securing the election of candidates for magistracies. The political "collegia" were suppressed by a "senatus consultum" in 64 BC, revived by Clodius six years later, and finally abolished by Julius Caesar, as dangerous to public order.