Retention aids

A method of improving the first pass filler retention of a papermaking pulp slurry comprising adding a filler to said slurry, providing at least 0.01% based on the weight of said pulp in said slurry of an organic cationic fixative in said slurry, said organic fixative being selected from the group consisting of polyethylene amides, poly-dialyl-dimethyl amonium chlorides, polyethylene imines, providing a promoter consisting of phenol formaldehyde resin, in said slurry and screening said slurry, then adding polyethylene oxide to said slurry after said screening has been completed said phenol formaldehyde and polyethylene oxide being present in the range of ratios of 1 to 1 to 1 to 3 by weight and said polyethylene oxide being present in the range of between 40 and 300 grams per tonne of dry pulp in said slurry, and then forming said slurry containing said filler, said cationic fixative, said promoter and said polyethylene oxide into a sheet on a papermaking machine to increase the amount of first pass retention of said filler in said sheet.