Sentence:  As the more conservative <WSD>group</WSD> with strong backing from wealthy businessmen , the U.M.C.I.A. was generally favored against the more progressive , labor based U.N.F.P. The newer party campaigned heavily , while the older , more confident party expected the Moroccan merchants and small businessmen to support them as they had done for many years . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  any number of entities (members) considered as a unit