STRUCTURE MID VALUE BRIEIITITIIIII III THE LIIIIE SCALE FARR IJIIGIIIIZITIIIIIS AND THEIII RELATIONSHIP, TI] IIIIII-‘IIIIIATIUNAL ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS THESIS III“; THE DEGREE 0f IIIICIBII 21f PIIILIISIII’HY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WAY NE CURRY ROHRER 1 9 5 B w .; ? ”IIIIIIZIIIII WWII: . II I II mt 8293296 _~ ; \I: q 1 fl'. l ‘. v. -1 i I; ‘ ‘ (-3:- I. '.'.i.".‘li.f ‘5'; I I: ' , 7 ; , Hug) 3 “L. — - ‘3 '1 It ‘ ?: This is to certify that the thesis entitled Structure an? Value “rjorfqtihn Cf the Large Scale ' Form '“r'fa” "I17 .3 and '3.“ it“ PQIati’rrsfih to .311- .‘ r VocationaL PIHII Ii174 presented by I'Ia:.’1"‘.€ C. iiohrer has been accepted towards fulfillment I of the requirements for Ph.D. degree in Soci 013:7! Hi?" ropolfify‘ Major professor Date Sorter‘ber 161 LT“; 5.; .-. at ‘F‘ " i. ‘ . J..- . . ‘2‘ ‘7"; ‘6'"1“ -’-"‘-‘~""' ' 3' .-. . find! ..-..7741 _~,; Q'" _ . A— ,- ._ ‘ ,A .. ,‘ . __ . _"I, ,, _;, .4.__ 7&74‘7‘5‘ dngu'fi 7!": ’l ' .. ‘J j l .> .; I, , ‘, \J I I I I“ I . STRUCTURE AND VALUE ORIENTATION OF THE LARGE SCALE FARM ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR RELNTIONSHIP TO NON-VOCATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS By wayne Curry Rohrer A THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Sociology and AnthrOpology 1955 “:‘HFTSIS ACKNOWLEDCEMENI'S The author wishes to acknowledge the invaluable assistance, advice and criticism rendered by Dr. J. Allan Beegle in this study. Two admin- istrators of academic departments--Dr. Charles P. Loomis, Head, Department of SociOIOgy and Anthropology, Michigan State University, and Dr. Harold C. Hoffsommer, Head, Department of SociOIOgy, University of Maryland."provided support at crucial phases of the study. Dr. Carl C. Taylor encouraged study of the farmers' movement and in so doing stimulated interest in this area of sociological investigation. The author is indebted to the following persons who acted as Judges: Mrs. Barbara A. Anderson, Dr. Frank G. Anderson, Mr. Herbert Cohen, Mr. David Lewis, Dr. Bruce L. Melvin, Dr. Annabelle Motz, Dr. John F. Schmidt, Mr. Taylor C. Scott, Mr. William Tomlin and Miss Constance Turney. Miss Katherine Sampson and Miss Carol Isaacson accomplished their typing tasks, often under great pressure of time, with skill and under- standing. Without the cooperation of members and employees of the farm organizations and. cooperatives and the sponsorship of the Fund for Adult Education of the Ford Foundation this study would not have been possible. The author aclmowledges his indebtedness to these persons and the Ford Foundation. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l The Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Elements of the Large Scale Organization . . . . . . . . . 8 The Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 II. METHODS OF THE STUDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Methods of Data Analysis on Structure of the Large Scale Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Method of Analyzing Value Orientations of the Large Scale Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 III. STRUCTURE OF THE FARMERS? LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS . . . . 35 The Grange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Structure of the Grange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Procedural Relationships in the Grange Structure . . . . hO Structural Conditions for Action . . . . . . . . . . . . he Establishing Policy in the Grange . . . . . . . . . . . 5O Organized Action in the Grange . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 The Farmers' Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Structure of the Farmers"Union . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Procedural Relationships in the Farmers' Union . . . . . 59 Structural Conditions for Action . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Establishing Policy in the Farmers' Union . . . . . . . 66 Organized.Action in the Farmers"Union . . . . . . . . . 68 CHAPTER IV. The American Fam Bureau Federation . . . . . Structure of the Farm Bureau . . . . . . . . Procedural Relationships in the Farm Bureau Structure ............. Women's activities . . . . . . . . . . Youth activities . . . . . . . . . . . Structural Conditions for.Action . . . . Establishing Pblicy in the Farm.Bureau . Organized Action Within the Farm Bureau Comparative Summary of the large Scale Organizations VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF THE LARGE} SCALE ORGANIZATIONS Value Orientation of the Grange . . . . . International Understanding for Peace . Strengthening of Democracy . . . . . . . Strengthening of the Economy . . . . . . Other Dominant Values of the Grange . . Value Orientation of the Farmers' Union . International Understanding for Peace . Strengthening of Democracy . . . . . . . Strengthening of the Economy . . . . . . Other Dominant Values of the Farmers' Union Value Orientation of the Farm Bureau . . . . . International Understanding for Peace . Strengthening of Democracy . . . . . . . . . iv PAGE 69 69 7o 76 77 77 8h 86 9o 93 93 9h 96 98 100 103 103 105 107 110 Ill 1114 CHAPTER PAGE Strengthening of the Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Other Dominant Values of the Farm Bureau . . . . . . . . 116 Summary of value Orientations of the Large Scale Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 V. ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES AND VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Quantitative Analysis of Responses Received from Lower Level Units in the Large Scale Organizations . . 121 Program Content in the Three Ford Areas of Interest: Intra- and Inter-Organization Comparisons . . . . . . 133 Comparative Analysis of the Value Orientations of the Large Scale Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . lhl VI. AMERICAN FARMERS' COOPERATIVES: STRUCTURE AND VALUE ORIENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Structure of.American Farmer COOperatives . . . . . . . . 150 Structure of Farm Cooperatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Procedural Relationships Within the Cooperative Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,1 Structural Conditions for Action in.Farmer Cooperatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Establishing Pblicy Within the Cooperative Structure . . 162 Organized Action Within.the Cooperative Structure . . . 16h Value Orientation in Farmer Cooperatives . . . . . . . . . 169 Value Orientation of Producers' Cooperatives . . . . . . 172 vi CHAPTER PAGE International Understanding for World Peace . . . . . 173 Strengthening of Democracy . . . . .-. . . . . . . . . 17h Strengthening of the Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Value Orientation of Consumers' Cooperatives . . . . . . 176 International Understanding for Peace . . . . . . . . 176 Strengthening of Democracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Strengthening of the Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Program.Content of the Farmers' Cooperatives in the Ford.Areas of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 VII. CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Interpretations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Suggestions for Further Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 APPENDIX A. Mailed Questionnaire Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 APPENDIX B. Sampling Procedures and List of 263 Sample Counties . 212 APPENDIX C. Itinerary of Field.Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 APPENDIX D. Standard Interview Fonm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 .APPENDIX E. Additional Statistical Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 ‘APPENDIX F. Abstracted.Expressions‘Used in.Judging Situation . . 230 APPENDIX G. Instrument Used in Judging Situation . . . . . . . . 237 .APPENDIX E. Tabulation of Judgments on Value Orientations . . . . 2A2 TABLE I 0 II. III. V. VII. VIII . LIST OF TABLES Total Grange Memberships, November, 1951 . . . . . . . Total Farmers' Union Memberships, November, 1951 . . . Total Farm Bureau Memberships, November, 1951 . . . . . Number and Per Cent of Responses Received from Local and County Units of the Large Scale Organizations inthe26300untySample .............. Number and Per Cent of Responses Received from Local and County Units of the large Scale Organizations Positively or Negatively Reporting Efforts in AdultEducation................... Number and Per Cent of Responses Received from Local and County Units of the large Scale Organizations Reporting Adult Education Efforts in the Ford Foundation Areas of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . Number and Per Cent of Respondents at Two Levels of the large Scale Organizations Reporting Extra Organiza- tion Involvement in Adult Education . . . . . . . . . Number of Choices Given by Respondents at Two Levels of the large Scale Organizations to Organizations or Classes of Organizations with Which Their Unit Worked in Carrying on Adult Education . . . . . . . . . . . Number of Organizations Local and County Respondents in the 263 County and Taylor Samples Reported Working with in Carrying on Adult Education . . . . . . . . . PAGE 39 58 71 122 121+ E5 126-7 128 131 TABLE X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XVII. Number and Per Cent of Respondents at Two Levels of the Large Scale Organizations Reporting on the Use offiMass Media in Adult Education . . . . . . . . . Program.Content in the Ford Areas Listed by Grange Respondents in the 263 County Sample . . . . . . . Program Content in the Ford.Areas Listed by Union Respondents in the 263 County Sample . . . . . . . Program Content in the Ford Areas Listed by Bureau Respondents in the 263 County Sample . . . . . . . Totaled Judgments Given by Seven Judges in.Ranking Abstracted Statements Chosen from Documents of the Large Scale Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . Judgments Made by Seven Judges in Ranking Expressions Chosen to Represent the Large Scale Organizations . Judgments Made by Seven Judges in Ranking Expressions Chosen to Represent the Grange and Farm.Bureau . . Program Content in.the Ford.Areas Listed by Cooperative Respondents in the 263 County Sample . viii PAGE 132 135-6 137 138-9 1A3 1A6 1h8 180 CHAPTERI INTRODUCTION This study concerns the structure and value orientation of the general farm organizations and their adult educational programs or activities. Three areas of adult educational effort--international understanding for peace, strengthening of democracy, and understanding and strengthening of the economy--serve as the focus. I. TH: SETTING The interest of American farmers in education through their own organizations began during the first half of the 19th century. The early efforts directed toward education took the form of autonomous local groups where demonstrations aimed toward improving crops and livestock were presented. Later farmers organized 1yceums, reading circles, and discussion groups centered around agricultural subjects. This consti- tuted the early organization for adult education among American farmers.l So long as the farmer's interests were local and living was relatively self-contained in the local neighborhood large scale organiza- tion of farmers did not develop. However, after the Civil War the American farmer was cast in a new role. Industry had been encouraged to expand to meet the demands for war production. Following the Civil War l'Paul H. Johnstone, "Old Ideals Versus New Ideas in Farm Life," 1910 Yearbook of Agriculture (Washington, D.C.: United States Department of AgricultureT-I9EO), pp. 11h-116. 2 industry achieved a national market protected by tariffs so that its ex- panded production facilities could be maintained. The farmer was thrust into a situation where he bought products whose prices were artificially controlled and sold his produce in a free world market. One writer characterizes the farmer's position in the post-Civil War days in this way: After the Civil War, American farmers began to experience their first serious, widespread economic trouble. Instinctively feel- ing their way toward association with fellow farmers in common distress, they were eager to Join together. Farm organizations of the time were local, social, and educational in character. . . Distressed farmers whose farms were their only sources of income were not attracted to these organizations.2 In 1867, President Johnson sent a government employee to the southern United States on a fact-gathering trip to report on possible means of ameliorating farm conditions. In line with Wing's observations on the needs of farmers, this government employee, 0. H. Kelley, reported: a remedy for the evils existent in farming . . . is . . . that they be given an opportunity for association. . . ; his plan embraced the union of the farmers of the entire country for social and educational purposes, as well as for the protection of their interests.3 It was Kelley along with six other government employees who set up a unit of what was to become the first large-scale American farm organization-- the Patrons of Husbandry. Local units of the Patrons of Husbandry were known as Granges, a name applied to the farm home in Britain. Through 2DeWitt C. Wing, "Trends in the National Farm Organizations ," 121w Yearbook g_f_‘ Agriculture (Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Agriculture, 191:0), p. 9111.. 3Edward W. Martin, Histo of the £33925: Movement (Philadelphia: National Publishing 00., 1873), pillow 3 usage, this name, Grange, came in time to be applied to the total large- scale organization. Following sections will devote more space to this organization. We find a proliferation of associations in the United States.h Ddl‘ocqueville observed that Americans chose mutual assistance and com- bination as a means of exercising influence in their 19th century society.5 The Grange fulfilled DeTocqueville's observations with reference to organization of farmers. This first large-scale effort ex- perienced great initial success by growing from one local unit to more than twenty thousand in a decade.6 Following this rapid growth, Grange memberships declined steadily for more than a decade. After this period of decline the number of members has steadily increased to the present. However, the decline of the Grange did not equate with the decline of farm organization activity. Various Farmers' Alliances and kindred organizations deveIOped in the decade of 1880-1890. These organizations, like the early Grange, emphasized business ventures. The lack of success in business, the lack of unity among the various Alliances, and the rise of the Populist political movement probably all contributed to the demise of the Alliances. All Alliances reported large numbers of members. For example, the Northern Alliance reported IIOO,OOO members in 1889 and at ARobin M. Williams, American Societ : _A_ Sociological Interpreta- tion (New York: Knopf, 1951}, pp. 1166 E69. 5Alexis DeTocqueville, emraoc in America (trans. by Henry Reeve) (New York: Oxford University Press, 19 777””— p. 322. 6Carl C. Taylor, _e___t al., Rural Life in the United States (New York: KnOpf, 1950), p- 513. I; one time the southern branch of the movement reported nearly 250,000 dues paying members.7 According to Lewis and Beegle, an Alliance of Negroes included 1,200,000 members.8 The origin of the American Society of Equity corresponded, in time, to that of the Farmers' Union. There were State and Region-wide Equity organizations. Schisms occurred within the Equity Societies so that ulti- mately several Equities were in existence. The Equity Societies empha- sized business ventures. The early growth of Equity occurred in the Middle West and eventually new members and Equity units were incorporated in the Farmers' Union. One regional marketing Equity society is still in existence. At no time did memberships in these groups reach the size re- ported for the various Alliances. '\ a Membership in the farm organizations is based on volunteer parti- cipation.9 Action taken in the name of the organization is ultimately subJect to membership approval. If no other means of control is avail- able the voluntary participant can withdraw his support of the organiza- tion by ceasing to contribute dues. The following quoted statements dmonstrate the volunteer characteristics of participation. In fact, 7Carl C. Taylor, The Farmers' Movement 1620-1920 (New York: American Book 00., 1953), p. 262. Chapters 9 through 16 deal with post- Grange farm organizations and those of the early part of this century and with their political activities. 8Charles P. Ipomis and J. Allen Beegle, Rural Social Systems (New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1950), p. 633. 9There have been instances of involuntary participation by mass sign-ups of sharecroppers who were not aware that they were members of the organization. Also, some cooperatives have practiced checking-off of members' dues. These instances are not widespread or common. (Conversa- tions with Carl C. Taylor) .“K’ I .I\ I ‘I w in! ‘l’ .n .vu (If! I, 5 participation, in some references, verges on obligation. In the Grange: Each member has a broad unobstructed avenue to make his or her social, economic, moral and political convictions on the per- plexing problems of the day known and felt. The Grange and all its membership cannot conscientiously shirk this obligation, nor dare'we neglect to do our best to use the Grange for the better- ment of the present world.lo A recent' resolution of the American Farm Bureau Federation states: The American Farm Bureau Federation is a volunteer, nongovern- mental general farm organization. . . we urge State and county organizations to develop programs that will make it possible to (l) insure that every farm family is given a personal invitation to Join Farm Bureau, (2) enable Farm Bureau members to make full use of the organization for educational, social, and legislative purposes , and (3) deve10p sound membership maintenance programs . . .11- A publication of a State Farmers' Union states: Rural people should run their own organization. The most effec- tive leaders in an organization are the voluntary leaders who are consecrated to the cause for which the organization was formed. The most effective local organization is the one in which members participate not only for what they get but also for what contribution they can make to the organization. . . Rural people must run their own organizations and build them in such a manner that they can participate in the making of policies that guide our nation.12 And finally from the annual report of a cooperative marketing associa- tion: As I stated before, this information Eadio, newspaper, house organ§7 work costs a tremendous amount of money. In fact, it is possible only because you farmers have learned to work 10.1. T. Sanders, "The Roots of Strength and the Weaknesses of the National Grange,” a prepared talk, 1951, p. 8.’ J"J'Resolutions, 32nd Annual Convention 93 the American Farm Bureau Federation (Chicago: American Farm Bureau Federation, 19507, p. 35. 12m, Seventh Annual Farmers Union Ladies Camp (Jamestown: North Dakota Farmers' Union, 19517, np. together, build your own marketing institution, and use part of its funds to carry on this intensive information program. We have no intention of discontinuing this war in the farmer's behalf, unless the stockholders here assembled order no to cease these large expenditures. I hope that in your resolu- tions you ,will give resounding approval to this type of in- formation service . . . Barber writes concerning voluntary associations that practically all are democratic associations. This in the sense that members have formal authority to decide policies.“ Barber goes on to illustrate that the danocratic aspects of voluntary associations develop by short terms of office, frequent and regular elections and involving as many members as possible in policy making. Local autonomy and democratic selection of representatives to non-local activities manifest their democratic charac- teristics.15 From Barber's characterizations and the materials cited for the farm organizations it appears that leaders of these organizations characterize them as democratic voluntary associations. "f The organizations which are the subject of this study are wide- spread and have quite large memberships. The National Council of Farmers Cooperatives represents 2,600,000 farm members who belong to affiliated cooperative organizations located in every state in the United States. The American Farm Bureau Federation has a membership of 1,500,000 farm families located in MI states. The National Grange has a membership of l3Twelfth Annual Report (St. Paul: Farmers' Union Grain Terminal Association, 19395, p. h7. lh'Bernard Barber, "Participation and Mass Apathy ," Alvin Gouldner (editor), Studies in Leadership (New York: Harper and Bros., 1919), p. l+87. l§Ibid., p. 1489. 7 880,000 persons located in 37 states. The National Farmers' Union has a membership of 185,000 farm families located in 2’} states. A common term, general farm organization, may be applied to these four national organizations. The term, in fact, is used by spokesmen for these organizations in characterizing their organization. Also the term indicates that any farmer may affiliate with the organization regardless of his type of farming enterprise, size of operation or location of residence.16 The National Farm Labor Union, Missouri Farmers Association, American Institute of COOperation, Farmers Equity Union do not qualify as general farm organizations. The National Farm Labor Union represents farm laborers and. not farmers. The Missouri Farmers Association qualifies as a general farm organization but restricted residence qualification applies to its membership. The American Institute of Cooperation includes non-farm groups among its members. The Farmers Equity Union does not qualify because it is "purely a business organization.“7 By limiting the analysis to national organizations of the same kind and to those whose members come predominantly frcn one occupational group control obtains in selecting organizations for observation. 16This does not intend to suggest that non-farmers may not Join these general farm organizations. For definitions of who may Join, see sections on "membership" in Chapters III and VI. 17Taylor, 339;” 32. 3113., p. 515. II. ELEMENTS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATION The figures listed above demonstrate size but do not otherwise indicate whether the "large scale organization? name applies. There have to be inter-level relationships and some means of binding one level to the next level in order for a large scale (multi-leveled) organization to exist. The following six elements of a large scale organization, derived from sociological literature, have portrayal as their objective. By citing empirical data for the organizations under analysis we can establish if they are, in fact, large scale organizations. Maintenance of the Large Scale Organization is an Objective, an Impera- tive In a recent speech an official of the National Grange said: . . .As members of an organization of outstanding worth we should take a more constant and deeper interest in its expansion both within our own states and into the states and counties where no Oranges now exist. If we covered each state and county with a strong active membership of our Order, there is no telling how much our usefulness at all levels would be increased.19 The National Farmers"Union resolution on "organization" challenges . . .our'membership to double member rolls by our Golden.Jubilee convention in 1952. It can be done if all Farmers' Union offi- cers, leaders, and.members, will truly exert themselves to the utmost to do the job.20 l8Philip Selznick, "Foundations of the Theory of Organization," American Sociological Review, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 29-30. According to Selznick, one of the "needs" of a formal organization is security of the organization as a whole in relation to the social forces in.its environment. 1gsanders, _p, 213., p. ll. 20W. Union 222% for 1950-192 (Denver: The National Farmers' Union, 19507,— . 29. The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation's resolution on "Membership Acquisition" adopted by the organization's 16th Annual Convention states: with more and more complex problems facing Arkansas farmers it behooves each county Farm Bureau to forcefully drive toward in- creasing the state membership to at least 50,000 members in 1951. . . .He call on all volunteer leaders of Farm Bureau to continue their good work and to enlarge their effectiveness by recruiting a larger force of volunteer leaders thereby making it possible to contact more farmers and invite them to join Farm Bureau. The report of the Councils Division of the American Institute of Cooperation states: The undertakings and accomplishments of state councils and their possible attainments at state levels and at the National level through the National Council are challenging to us all. . . .I hope, your expressions may be heard and read by coopera- tive leaders throughout many states--especially those not yet having state councils of cooperatives»22 Specific Activities in a large Scale Organization Contribute to its Maintenance This element brings the first element down to concrete activities. In this sense it technically has the status of a sub-element. The fol- lowing citations will indicate how local and county activities operate to maintain the total organization. $1.32 9m Lecturer'sBandbook, _l9_h_8_, states: . . .as lecturer your office is a real challenge and an everlast- ing test of your ability. A real Grange Lecturer is a builder 21Resolutions, Ado ted at the 16th Annual Convention, Arkansas Lam Bureau Federation (Little— Rock: Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, 1950), PPo 1617 22'1“__h__e Organization, Financing” and Function of State Councils of Farmer Cooperatives (Washington, D. 0.: The National ”Council of Famer Cooperatives, 19517, p. 27. 10 and a booster for the order. As a leader and a faithful worker there is no limit to what can be accomplished. "Knowledge is Power" and so the Grange lecture Hour becomes the powerhouse of Grange growth, membership and usefulness.23 A National Farmers' Union pamphlet states in terms of "building the Farmers ' Union" : The Farmers' Union Program is based on the Triangle of EDUCA- TION, COOPERATION AND LEGISLATION, bound together with the Circle of ORGANIZATION. Each part is inseparable from the others. we dedicate our resources to our educational work, and now take steps to expand this work, in discussion, youth programs, leadership training . . . We urge that local, state and national educational work be on a uniform pattern, so that it shall have maximum nfluence in the developnent of Farmers' Union understanding.2 The Michigan Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives states the purpose of the organization: C. To carry on an educational program both in the rural and urban areas such as will present to the public the viewpoints and problems of the farmer and his cooperative institutions, 1. e.: l. Education-~Fully inform members and patrons of any attacks on cooperatives which, if unchecked, will seriously affect all cooperatives and the best interests of farmers and consumers. These facts should be promptly presented in a simple brief uniform manner at meetings of members of farm organizations and cooperatives.25 Kile's observations concerning the Farm Bureau include the follow- ing: 23E. F. Holter, The Gran Lecturer's Handbook, 191+8 (Washington, D.C.: The National Grange, , p. o. 21‘For These Things 12 Stand (Denver: National Farmers' Union, 19148), no. Farmer Cooperatives, 92. ii}, p. 17. 11 Nearly all the work of the AFBF could be classified as either educational or economic. The legislative work is primarily educa- tional--first, collecting information then educating the member- ship and finally Congress. Membership acquisition and maintenance is definitely based on education--constantly and forever informing present members and prospective new members of the objectives and accomplishments of the organization.2 The Lower Level Unit of the Large Scale Organization is the "Operative" Unit?! Again The Grange Lecturer's Handbook, 1948 states: Yours is the opportunity to lead a community by a program of education, inspiring messages and refined entertairment to heights and achievements that will arouse and awaken a new and entirely different realization of Grange Service. Create in your members a desire to study, to acquire new knowledge to search for truth, form opinions on current issues and to make reliable conclusions.28 A National Farmers' Union pamphlet develops the relevance of local activities and suggests specific issues which may be explored. Today, through the education departments of the state and national organizations, this program is carried on by action officials elected in each local, and constitutes one of the most important activities of Farmers' Union. It is the responsibility of these action officials to keep members informed and up-to-date on issues which affect farm people, such as state and national legislation, economic trends, operation of farm programs, the co-operative movement, improve- 260. M. Kile, The Farm Bureau Movement Through Three Decades (Baltimore: The Waverly Press, 191+8), p. 335. 27H. A. Simon, Administrative Behavior (New York: The MacMillan Co., l9h7), p. 2. According to Simon, the upper levels (non-operative) of an organization make decisions which operative level workers carry out. A private operates the machine gun under orders from an officer. Execu- tives decide on the mechanical designs which will be used in an automobile but a mechanic actually puts these designs into effect. 28Holter, 92. gi_t_., p. 6. 12 ment of rural schools and medical facilities.29 An annual report of the Michigan Farm Bureau specifies local action in its relationship to objectives of the over-all organization. During the past year the worth of our Couniunity Farm Bureaus has been tested and proved on numerous occasions. It was a year which called for action by the members on matters of legis— lation and citizenship. The fact that the members were organ- ized on the local level into units that were well knit into the organization made it possible to initiate this action when the need arose. Our Community Farm Bureaus are taking a more active part in the membership Roll Call work. They are a potent source from which come the leaders and workers. The people in the groups are Farm Bureau's best salesmen.30 The obligation of local cooperatives to perform educational activ- ities is stated in a section on "rural youth and farmer cooperatives" from the report of the 1919 meeting of the American Institute of Coopera- tion. Thus: Most rural youth are learning the fundamentals of how to produce farm crops and livestock efficiently, but in addition they should learn how to market farm products profitably. The farmer cooperatives, themselves, have a definite obligation to teach the fundamentals of agricultural cooperation to rural youth. . . Only a very few farmerccooperatives throughout the nation have what might be called youth education programs. In recent years, however, more associations are beginning to show definite interest and action in this field. 29Farmers' Union, Deep-Rooted in America's Past . . . Looks 1:2 the Future (Denver: National Farmers' Union, ndJ, hp. 30 2nd Annual Rep_ort (Lansing: Michigan Farm Bureau Federation, 1951), pp. l-H2. 31The Organization, Financing and Function 9_f_ State Councils 31’ Farmer COOperatives, _p. cit., pp. ll-l2. 13 Much of the Activity of a Lower-Level Unit Originates in Upper Lovel Units of These Organizations:L the Upper Level Unit Communicates the Activity-Content to the Lower Level Unitjg Sections in The Grange Lecturer's Handbook, 19148 document the communication relationship in existence between upper and lower levels. The Iecturer's Task 1. To plan and direct the "Program and Educational Wor " to the best interests of the Grange and the Communi ty . 8. Cooperate with other Lecturers (Juvenile, Sub- ordinate, Pomona, State and National). Equipment @seful to performing the task of Lecturefl 1. Copy of National and State Grange Proceedings, State and National Master's Address. 2. Copies of Grange Literature (National Grange Publicity Bureau). 3. Copies of literature published by National Grange Headquarters in Washington. h. Subscriptions to State Grange Magazine and National Grange Monthly. 5. State and National Lecturer's Handbook.33 The Handbook for Farmers' Union Locals describes not only how communication occurs in the structure but also how the various levels of the structure relate to one another in educational activities. There is a department of education within the Farmers' Union. The work of this department is directed within the State by the State Director of Education. The State Union gives help to the locals and counties. The National Department of Education, under the National Director of Education, integrates the work of all 32$imon, pp. 339., p. 3. 33Holter, pp. 213., p. 5. 1h the states, prepares materials that help maintain a uniform pattern of education, and gives help to the State Unions. Every local and county Farmers' Union should have a director of education to carry on this work in the community and county. The educational work is carried on in various ways. It brings information and help to people in the local who have the job of maintaining activity in'the Farmers' Union out in the country. A national and state paper is sent to each mem- ber every month. This contains current news important to farmers and Farmers' Union people. An Action Letter and Progrgg Service for all local action officials, to be used in plann the meeting, goes out regularly from the national office. h An annual report of the Michigan Farm Bureau, in the section devoted to public relations, shows great similarity to the Farmers' Union position outlined above. Supplementing these activities [development of resolutions and their incorporation into organizational policy7 is the equally important matter of furnishing information to members and farm folks generally. This is done through articles in each issue of the Michigan Farm News, in the County Farm Bulletins, the Michigan Farmer, various radio reports and confidential infomation sent to the 1050 Farm Bureau Action Committeemen. These Action Committeemen keep themselves especially well informed on legislative deve10pments and pass that information along to members of their Community Farm Bureau Discussion Groups and stimulate them to prompt and appropriate act ion. 35 The Ohio Council of Farm Cooperatives seeks to integrate activities of the local farmer cooperatives and the farm organizations. The activi- ties of this Council "which provide for the joint action of farm groups and agencies have included": A state-wide plan for the distribution of the new publication of the Institute, "Agricultural America," has been developed 3"Handbook for Farmers' Union locals, 92. 333., pp. h-5 3532nd Annual Report, pp. c_1_1_:_.. pp- 51-52- 15 through the Council to co-ordinate the effort of cooperatives, county extension agents and farm organizations within the counties to provide maximum distribution. . .36 There is a Specialization of Tasks for Carrying on Activities at Every Unit Leve157 The _C;r_a_n_g_e_ Lecturer's Handbook, 191+8, states: Soon after the new officers are elected a conference including at least Master, lecturer and Secretary, but more properly all of the officers and including Youth Chairman, Home Economics Committee Chairman, Juvenile Matron and other important committee heads, should meet at a time other than the regular meeting to discuss the year's work and the re- lationship of the officers to each other and the need for team work and cooperation. The resgonsibilities and duties of each should be brought out. . .3 On the same theme a Farmers' Union publication cites: There are many things to do if a Farmers' Union local is to have good meetings, be active and be effective. There are many more jobs in a local than the three elected officials can per- form. No one person should have so many jobs in the Farmers' Union that being an official becomes a burden. And when one person has too many things to do, he or she is unable to devote sufficient time to all the jobs waiting to be done. . . other officials in the Farmers' Union . . . are the appointed action officials. By spreading the work among more people, there will be more people active, more people attending meetings, and better work will be done by those who can specialize in one part of the Farmers' Union program. . .39 Local organization of Women's Committees in the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation features specialization of educational roles. For example: Each county committee and township committee to appoint 36'I‘he Organization, Financipg and Function 93 State Councils 93 Farmer COOperatives, 92. £_i_t_., p. 7 37Simon, _op. cit. , p. 9. This specialization refers to the division of labor among persons who carry on an organized activity. 38Holter, 22. 212., p. 6. 39Handbook 39; Farmers' Union Locals, 92. 9333., pp. 9-10. 16 county and township Health, Library, International Relations, School, Music and Recreation chairmen to carry out the prOgram as needed in the county and township. A publication of Consumers Cooperatives Association of Kansas City cites the value of wide participation in addition to the value achieved by specialization of tasks in local affairs. Effective educational work takes organization, time and effort. Some one ought to be made responsible to get things done. Unless or until the co-op hires someone on a full or part time basis to do it, a committee of workers is a sound alternative. A committee has the added advantage of giving more people an opportunity to participate in building the co-op . . . Local boards and managers feel they have their hands too full of other co-op duties to give proper attention to educational work. Therefore, a special comittee to initiate and follow through would appear to be the best way to get the work done. 1 There is a "Vertical" Specialization of Tasks Within the Organization"2 Relationships betwoen the Pomona and Subordinate Granges as speci- fied in The Gm Lecturer's Handbook, 19h8 follow: The Subordinate Granges will serve as source of material for the Pomona Programs. In the Pomona program . . . much . . . material can come from Subordinate programs. The Pomona being composed of the Subordinate members in their respective jurisdictions, has the opportunity to develop contests among the Subordinates . . . It also has the oppor- tunity to develop programs for civic betterment on a county- wide basis. . . . The Pomona should function actively in legislative programs . "3 1'Olowa Farm Bureau Women's Ccmmittees (Des Moines: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, 1953, p. 7. "' “Working Together, Bulletin for Educational Comnittees (Kansas City: Consumers Cooperatives Association, 1951): p. 1 "281mm, _p. 333., p. 9. h3Holter, 92. g_i_t_., pp. 21-22. 17 The following abstracted statements characterize the formal rela- tionship existing between County and State Farm Bureaus in Michigan. 1. The "County Farm Bureau" will assume responsibility for carrying on a program designed to maintain a County Farm Bureau organization in County, and will retain therefore three dollars for each paidup membership in said county. The program to be conducted by the "County Farm Bureau" to include: a. The holding of an annual "County Farm Bureau" meeting. b. The sending of delegates to the Michigan Farm Bureau annual meeting. 7. The "Bureau" [Michigan Farm Baroag agrees that it will carry on an educational, legislative and business program agreeable to the general membership of the Michigan Farm Bureau. The prOgram to be conducted by the "Bureau" to include: a. Assisting the "County Farm Bureau" through a field force which will contact said "County Farm Bureau" to advise, correlate and help organize and to assist in every other way as is desired and feasible; said field force to be maintained within the limits of finances available. Further assistance will be given through pamphlets, speakers, education, projects, etc. b. The furnishing of necessary membership agreement blanks and cards. eeeeeeeeeeeeeoeeeee g. The maintenance of a general administrative office. h. The distribution throughout the year of a c0py of the 'Michigan Farm News" to each "Bureau" member in 800d Sta-nu“ e 8. The "Bureau" further agrees that it will assume within the scope and limitations of the "County Farm Bureau" program, supervisory responsibilities over the work of the county organization and information director and that such activities as are carried on have the approval of the County Farm Bureau, all this for the purpose of better accomplishing the objectives of the county and state program and to correlate all county programs within the state to a common purpose.Mi MCount Farm Bureau Relationships (Lansing: Michigan Farm Bureau Federation, n.d.)", pp. l-3. 18 Different unit levels in the Farmers' Union participate in dif- ferent ways in the programs of the organization. The following quoted statements are from publications of the National Farmers' Union. Action Officials . . . specialize in their particular pro- gram. They take the time to become informed so they can report to the Local. At the Local meeting they present ideas and suggestions for specific action.1'5 Relationships between organization levels and division of labor in the Farmers' Union are further elaborated: Fieldwork Helps State Unions. . . . no Union can endure and accomplish what it is set up to achieve without unity. One of the ways of achieving unity is the building of a uni- fied pattern of education, which carries through in each state and. makes of the Farmers Union a truly national organization. When a state needs help in setting up a camp, a leadership training school, handling a convention exhibit, carrying on a series of meetings in its counties, or when an instructor or speaker is needed, an Education Fieldworker from the Nat onal office is sent out to assist the state staff in the job. Discussions and deliberations of Iowa cooperators illustrates the rationale for developing spheres of influence. For example: Local--on an area or county basis. Here there is a great need for our cooperatives to work together, planning their individual and joint educational programs through a central planning committee, to avoid duplication and the possibility of conflicting information to overlapping membership, and in order to make the funds spent for educational purposes in an area achieve the maximum in terms of results. On a state-wide basis. We agreed that we must have a state- wide organization for cooperative education, which can speak l‘thational Union Farmer (Denver: National Famers' Union, January 1951), p. 15. hélbid. l9 educationawise to and for all cooperatives in Iowa if we are to make real progress in.building the general level of coopera- tive understanding of our>members. . . . The educational program of such a state organization should probably be carried out through the county or area planning committees mentioned above, which would.be made up of local cooperative leaders and educa- tors within the county or area."7 The preceding abstracted statements serve the purpose of document- ing certain elements of the units under observation. We do not consider whether these statements are widely accepted or "believed" by every participant in.an organization. The concern here is with the manifest content of statements or positions held which, made in the name of the organization, characterize them as large-scale organizations. We may assume that the statements have, at the minimum.forma1 acceptance by members and/or leaders of these organizations. In summary we can say that from the data presented the large- scale organizations are concerned with.maintaining the organization. No organization is preparing for eventual "withering away". IA specific activity--education--contributes to the maintenance of the organization. The lower level units are the "operative units": the locus of carrying out specific educational activities. Lower level units are not autono- mous in selecting activities inasmuch as upper level units have a role of originating and communicating activities to the operative units. Within the operative unit--the lower level units-~a specialization of tasks exists fer carrying on activities. Different unit levels in the _ 1"(Report_ of the Second.Annua1 Iowa Cooperative Directors Conference (Des Moines: Iowa State Council of Cooperation, 1951), pp. 9-10. 20 structure perform different kinds of tasks in carrying on activities. Finally, element 6 shows how "spheres of influence" develop for the various unit levels. To this point we have established (on the verbal level) that the organizations being dealt with are voluntary democratic associations and large scale organizations. III. THE PROBLEM The unit under observation in this study is the large scale organization whose members voluntarily support the organization. The organizations are made up of American farmers. One can know and under- stand a specific organization by viewing its structure, its value- orientation, and the historic context within which it advanced. But one cannot leave the simple level of description if one does these alone. When, however, one is permitted to view large scale organizations which have similar structural forms, appeal to a single occupational group, and have persisted over a period of time, then one is presented with the possibilities of comparative analysis. Further, when members, non- professional workers, and professional workers of these large scale organizations give verbal and written accounts of the carrying on of a specific activity one is permitted to focus on content within the struc- ture of the organization. The preceding statements portray the unit of observation and the last statement mentions a content within these large scale organizations to which analysis is directed. This activity is non-vocational adult education programs or activities in the three areas of international understanding for peace, strengthening of democracy, and understanding 21 and strengthening the economy."8 For the purposes of this study Landis' statement of the objectives of adult education is adequate: The term adult education is as variously defined as the tern education itself. Among the objectives of adult education as defined by those identified with the movement are: to improve skills and knowledge; to promote tolerance and Openamindedness; to develop democracy; to improve the social order; to integrate personality; to develop a philosophy of life; to promote social efficiency; to give opportunities for self-expression; to develOp capacity for the enjoyment of human experience; to broaden interest.h9 At this point it is relevant to point out that only the three general farm organizations, not the farm cooperatives, appear to be the most appropriate units for systematic comparative analysis. This is true for these reasons: (1) The general farm organizations are structurally comparable in that each has at least local, county, state, and national units throughout much of its area of operation. Cooperatives are only now beginning to develop county level units and this development is extremely limited. (2) The general farm.organizations are integrated structures from local to national level and all farmer cooperatives are not part of an integrated structure. Stating this in another way: a local farmer c00perative may exist without having ties to another cooperative organization but a local unit of the Grange, Farmers' Union, or’Farm.Bureau becomes something different if it relinquishes its ties haThe three areas of non-vocational adult education are herein- after referred to as the "Ford areas" or "Ford fields." The word "Ford" is attached because the Ford Foundation financed the Social Research Service project. The project was jointly sponsored by the Association of Land-Grant Colleges and.Universities and the Fund for Adult Education of the Ford.Foundation. thenson‘Y. Landis and J. D. Willard, Rural Adult Education (New York: The MacMillan Co., 1933), p. x. 22 to the organization. (3) Data frm the general farm organizations indi- cate that these three large scale organizations actively promoter. programs and activities in non-vocational adult education to a greater extent than do the farmer cooperatives. The reasons listed above, however, do not discharge the obliga- tion to make an.analysis of the structure and value orientation of farmer’cooperatives. Also their adult education programs and activities in the three fields of interest will be indicated. Specifically the dimensions of the problem include two areas termed intro-organization and inter-organization. The first dimension concerns position in the organization and whether conformity with or variance from adult education activities reported by upper level person- nel characterizes operative units' adult education activities. This comparison.involves arraying data obtained from written.materia1s of the organization and those obtained from interviewing upper level personnel against responses received from county and local level non-professional workers. Thus, if what the interviews and analysis of written.materials attribute to the three fields of interest is included in.the question- naire returns we may assume respondents at different levels of the large scale organization agree on the scope of these fields. A.second.intra- organization problem.involves comparison of the adult education efforts of the two lower level operative units. Such an.analysis will be con- cerned again.with:materials in the three fields but in addition compara- tive data on form and procedures will be made. . The inter-organization analysis will compare data for the large 23 scale organizations. Materials in.the three fields and data on unit levels will be used. Part of the analysis will concern this question: What accounts for the situation that American farmers may ally with three different farm.organizations? One way to approach this problem lies in making a comparative analysis of value orientation. Still another comparative analysis is available. This may be termed a comparison of the structures of the farm.organizations. The quantitative data Obtained in the mailed question phase (described later) of the data collection will be used in this analysis. Hypotheses concerning intro-organization conformity or variance I. Because upper level personnel of the three large scale organizations unanimously said their organizations carried on adult educap tion in.the three fields no disagreement with this will appear in the empirical data received from.local or county units. II. Because upper level personnel and.written.materials of the organizations indicate definite interest-areas in the three fields, no disagreement with these interest areas will appear in the empirical data received from local or county units. III. Because upper level personnel and.written materials of the organizations indicate extra-organization affiliations for pursuing adult educational activities, no disagreement from these affiliations will appear in the empirical data received from local or county units. Hypotheses concerning inter-organization comparative analyses IV. Comparative analysis of a comparable written.document of each of the large scale organizations will not objectively indicate differing 2h value orientations. V. Comparative analysis of the structural characteristics of the large scale organizations will indicate no difference among the organizations. This research has a pgst factum aspect in that the data were "in" before these hypotheses were established. The data, too, had been analyzed within the framework of the Social Research Service report on rural adult education.50 Thus the writer had some prior knowledge of distributions and relationships. However, the hypotheses of this work were established prior to analysis of the data at hand; the empirical evidence has had strictures placed on it which did not apply in the Social Research Service report.51 £223.:2232E analyses appear warrantable under certain conditions even though this kind of analysis does not develop "compelling evidence." If the following conditions prevail post factum.ana1ysis appears warranted: (1) a sizable amount of empirical quantitative and qualitative data lies at hand; (2) hypotheses precede analysis; (3) established concepts or systems of analysis are used in designing the analysis; and (h) the analysis db- serves conservative conventions. The "plausible" characteristic of post 50Charles P. Loomis, 23 21., Rural Social Systems and Adult Educa- tion.(East Lansing: The Michigan State College Press, 1953). 5liFor instance, activities of the two lower level units are here distinctively treated; the empirical data obtained from mailed question- naires and used in quantitative analyses reported here were limited to those received from the 263 counties and "first wave" responses. The rationale fer these is explained in Chapter II. The 263 county sample is also explained in Chapter II. 25 §_a_ct___um analysis notwithstanding, this kind of analysis can have the bene- ficial effects which Merton attributes to empirical research in its relationship to sociological theory.52 Because of lacunae existing with especial reference to the independent variable--large scale organization-- this study has an exploratory characteristic.53 That the lacunae exist, at least with reference to administering large organizations, appears well documented. 5" The extent of large scale organization in America demonstrates the pertinence of studying large scale farm organizations. We concern our- selves here more with members than with industrial workers or clerical employees; with the non-professional worker rather than the foreman or middle bureaucrat. In view of the predominant number of studies to do with governmental, industrial or economic large scale organizations it appears that study of large scale organizations which may differ in structural characteristics, kinds of participants and source of financial support will contribute to our understanding of this phenomenon. 52Robert K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure (Glencoe: The Free Press, 1919) , Chapter III, "The Bearing of Empirical Research on Sociological Theory." 53Marie Jahoda, Morton Deutsch and Stuart W. Cook, Research Methods in Social Relations (Part one) (New York: The Dryden Press, '1'9'51), p3? 32-3a 51"Simon, op. cit. See especially Chapter II, "Some Problems of Administrative Theory." Simon suggests that in administration many "principles" are actually concepts or definitions. CHAPTER II METHODS OF THE STUDY I. DATA COLLECTION Data collection in this study falls into four phases: (1) A mailed questionnaire sent to 263 counties (see Form 1 in Appendix). This ques- tionnaire was used in common throughout most sections of the study con- ducted by the Social Research Service.1 Considerations of the project as conceived in terms of the interests of the Ford Foundation were dominant in designing the questionnaire used in this phase of data collection. The design of the sample used in this mailed questionnaire phase of the study is outlined in Appendix B. The 263 counties included in this sample are also identified in Appendix B. Personnel of the fam organizations were provided with a list including the names of the 263 counties and were asked to supply names and addresses of members who would be qualified to report on their local or county program in adult education. All units of the farm organizations in a sample county were contacted. (2) Data collection was accomplished by means of another mailed questionnaire which was sent to members of the fam organizations outside the 263 sample counties (see Ferm 9, Appendix A) .2 Fom 9, or, as it is hereinafter JThis study was done by the Social Research Service of Michigan State College under the co-sponsorship of the Md for Adult Education of the Ford Foundation and the Association of land-Grant Colleges and Univers it is s . 2The ?Taylor" questionnaire, wherein it differed from the Fan 1 questionnaire, was the work of Dr. Carl C. Taylor, the then Head, Divisicn of Fan Population and Rural Life, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 27 referred to, the "Taylor" questionnaire, was sent to respondents located in counties outside the 263 county sample. Respondents were asked to supply more specific data on Ford area programs and activities than were obtainable from Form 1. The sample of persons to be contacted in this phase was drawn by personnel of the national or state levels of the large scale organizations. They were asked to randomly select these names but we do not know whether random or non-random selection prevailed. (3) Data collection accomplished by field interviewing done by Dr. Carl C. Taylor and the author. (For a listing of the itinerary of field work and organi- zations visited see Appendix C.) In order to select the organizations to be visited for personal interview, professional workers in the national offices of the three large scale organizations were asked to suggest two state organizations where they Judged 8. good program of adult education was being carried. These professional workers were specifically asked not to select states in which the level or quality of activity was a- typical of the total organization. The states selected by professionals of the National Grange were Massachusetts and. Ohio; the Farmers' Union professionals selected North Dakota and Arkansas and the Farm Bureau selections were Iowa and Arkansas. Field work was undertaken with other fans organizations in these states as time and routing allowed. Thus, representatives of the Grange in Colorado, the Farm Bureaus of Ohio and North Dakota were interviewed during this phase. Also employees of co- operatives were interviewed as time and routing pemitted. (h) Data collection by means of library research. The author read literature on the farm organizations with particular emphasis on achieving an under- standing of the structure and value-orientation of the large scale 28 farm.organizations. Because the study fecused on selected characteristics of these large scale organizations certain historic materials were not deemed relevant. The field interview method obtained information "on the ground." In view of time and expense this phase of data collection sought reasonably specific information. The standard interview fonn used.by other field workers in the Social Research Service project was generally followed in this phase (Appendix D). In addition to the standard form.we obtained somewhat more detailed information.on the deve10pment of policy within the structure of the farm organization and information regarding content, techniques, and interrelationships by.means of which adult education efforts were prosecuted within the organization. Also, in the field phase of data collection, certain.meetings of an organization were attended wherever possible. By attending a Farmers"Union.Local.meeting, a County Farm Bureau annual meeting, a meeting of an Ohio Farm Bureau Neighborhood.Advisory Council, and the New York State Grange annual meet- ing, a "feel" for the organization developed. II. METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS ON STRUCTURE OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS Both quantitative and qualitative data are used.in this analysis. The quantitative data used here come from the mailed questionnaire responses received from the 263 sample counties. Only responses used include those received as a result of the first.mailed request made of respondents. This became a necessity because of the non—contact of one sub-class of respondents at a time comparable with other sub- 29 classes.3 To have contacted this sub-class with a second.mailing of the questionnaire would have extended the time span of this phase of data collection at least an additional month. Responses received as a result of second.mailinge to the 263 sample counties and as a result of the mailing of the "Taylor" questionnaire may be used to enhance selected analyses. In addition to these quantitative data, the field interviews, contemporary written materials of the organizations, and historical materials included.data relevant to structural analysis. Structural analysis, in quantitative terms, is limited to the local and county units of the large scale organizations. The presence of data suitable for structural analyses is only quantitatively adequate at these levels. Another stricture placed on the 263 county sample data has relevance here. Although the large scale organizations have local, county, state, and national levels they do not have active units at both lower levels in all parts of the country. Therefore, the only responses used include those received from counties in which the organization 3Personnel of the National Farmers‘ Union insisted on administer- ing the distribution of questionnaires to respondents in the 263 sample counties. A communication failure of unexplained origin occurred with the result that only county level units of the Farmers"Union.were con- tacted.by mailed questionnaire in.the first mailings. This did not became apparent until the second.mailing of questionnaires from.East Lansing had begun. During March, 1952, the National Farmers' Union offices were sent sufficient questionnaires to contact local units. The time span between the first mailing from.East Lansing and that of the National Farmers' Union to its local units was nearly three months. It was therefore Judged that a second.mailing would.be too far removed in time so the second.wave to Farmers' Union.Locals was not accom lished. Table A, Appendix E, presents information relevant to use of irst wave responses. 30 reported both local and county units. The rationale for this stricture follows: To test the hypothesis concerning both lower level units in the large scale organization, it seemed advisable_that the reporting units be located in counties including the other lower level unit. A local unit which operates without a relationship to a county unit probably has different Operating characteristics than do locals in counties including a county level unit. In the mailed questionnaire method of data collection the non- respondent presents a problem in validity. This occurs because it is assumed that answering the questions and returning the questionnaire involves a selection of the population. This problem does not occur with reference to the data used in this study. An assumption of this study is that respondents more likely than non-respondents qualify as non-professional workers ("active minority" according to Barber follow- ing). In this study representing the membership of an organization does not have the relevance that obtaining data frmm non-professional workers has. III. METHOD OF ANALYZING-VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS Robin Williams' delineation of the major American value-orienta- tions provided a useful classificatory tool in this phase.’4 Because the Ford.Foundation areas of interest-einternational understanding for peace, strengthening of democracy and understanding and strengthening the economy--involve value-areas it was believed that Williams' classificatory "Williams, op. cit., pp. 388-hh2. 31 scheme had applicability. Not all of Williams' major orientations are relevant because his delineation has specific references and in this case selected values represented others Williams identified. Thus an estab- lished rationale and a tool existed but an objective method of analysis did not. Then the idea developed for classifying an organization's value orientations by use of judges who would rank the organizations with respect to values expressed in their written.materials. To obtain as much commonality as possible the search for suitable written.mate- rials narrowed down to documents fulfilling the following criteria: representativeness of the large scale organization and a reasonably close origin in time. The resolutions of the large scale organizations enacted during the winter 1950 and winter 1951-52 provided documents fulfilling the criteria. Printed copies of national resolutions represent the publicly-proclaimed values of the organizations and therefore constitute useful units of analysis. Obtaining abstracted statements from the printed resolutions presented the next problem. The total cepy of an organization's resolutions included too lengthy, detailed, and often, too specific content to have judges rank this information. Therefore, within an organization's resolutions only certain items judged pertinent to the Ford areas were chosen for abstraction (see Appendix F). Item.headings in the printed resolutions provided the means by which abstracted state- ments were grouped for judging. Thus all organizations had resolutions identified.as applying to the United.Nations, Point IV, and taxation, inflation or economic controls. In some instances just two organizations 32 developed resolutions which clearly related to a given subject matter. In such a case just these two abstracted statements were used in the ranking procedure. Exact copies of the resolution item were placed on index cards. When material was deleted this was indicated by a series of periods. Most statements were complete. When repetition of ideas, highly specific references to agricultural conditions or affairs, were made these were deleted. The writer's addition of notes to the abstracted statements were clearly set off by the use of brackets. Selecting judges for the ranking procedure also posed a problem. In view of the substantive content of Williams' delineated values it was judged that knowledge of sociological subject matter constituted a virtual necessity. It was decided therefore to select for judges only persons who had at least an undergraduate major in sociology. Six of the values delineated by Williams appeared meet readily adaptable to the Ford areas of interest. Thus the value of nationalism- patriotism and the value of humanitarian mores dealt with international understanding for peace.5 Expressions from the printed resolutions on the United Nations, and the Point IV program constituted the means by which organizations value orientations were ranked. Williams' achieve- ment and success and the individual personality values most clearly dealt with econanic matters. His freedom and democracy values dealt most clean 1y with concerns relative to government. Some of these values have 5‘Eechnically the resolution content more nearly dealt with inter- national affairs than with the Ford area. 33 ' reference to more than one of the Ford areas. In some cases this multiple reference resulted in using multiple items for ranking an expression on a single subject matter. In addition to the use of Williams' delineations respondents were asked to rank expressions in respect to economic and political attitude. These additions supplied judgments with more specific reference to the Ford areas. The instrument used to classify the organi- zations value orientations appears in Appendix G. The instrument was pie-tested with three subjects. On the basis of this pro-testing some questions were re-designed and the judging situation was made less tedious. For instance, in the pre-test respond- ents were asked to rank three expressions on a given question. In the final judging situation they were asked to rank two expressions and after- wards add the third for judging, or, if they preferred, to deal with all three expressions at one time. All seven judges had sociological training. One had a B.A., two were working toward the M.A. degree, one was working toward the Ph.D. degree and three had completed Ph.D. degrees. Males and females, con- servative Republicans and liberal Democrats and a range of ages were represented. The seven judges whose judgnents provide the analysis of value orientations did not include the three persons who pre-tested the instrument and expression content. As a result of the pre-test one area- termed "basic orientation"--including expressions only from the Bureau and the Union was excluded from the final judging. The exclusion occurred because pro-test judgnents showed a wide range in variation and judges frequently made judgnents only with great difficulty. Further, it was determined the two expressions were not on the same level of abstraction. 31+ The longest time taken in judging was one hour and five minutes and the shortest Wenty-five minutes. The other five judges needed from 3545 minutes to complete the judging. CHAPTER III STRUCTURE OF THE FARMERS' LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS In this chapter the formal structures of the large scale farm organizations constitute the focus of study. Within the structures the concern is with members, non-professional workers, and professional workers, communication channels, policy development and the organized efforts by which the organization achieves certain programsor activi- ties. Each of the three large scale organizations has a membership group. Among the members there are some who are active in working for organizational objectives and others who are "just members." The first category has been termed non-professional workers in this study. They correspond to the "active minority" in Barber's analysis.:L These members occupy formal positions in units of the large scale organiZation--the Master and other officers of Granges, the President and other officers of Farmers' Unions, the President and Directors of Farm Bureaus. McKee draws the distinction between professional and non-professional workers in agriculture with respect to their different sources of income. The professional worker has employment with the organization; the non- 2 professional has an avocational interest in the organization. The non- professional and professional workers with whom this study will be most 1Barber, op. cit., pp. 1+8h, M39. 2McKee, 9_p_. _c_i_§., p. 105. 36 concerned are those whose roles deal with educational programs or activi- ties. Thus the concentration will be on lecturers in the Grange, educa- tional workers in the Farmers"Union, organizational-educational workers in the Farm Bureau. .A large scale organization maintains certain.media of communica- tion by which organizational matters are brought to members. Descrip- tion of the media used by these large scale organizations will be a concern of this chapter. Means of achieving participation in organizational activities and formulation of policy will be treated for each organization. According to Barber this is a constant objective in the democratic association.3 The final section in this analysis will treat the ways by which a specific organization obtains organized action.within the structure. The concern in this section will be on how professional workers and non- professionals are drawn into interactive situations, the kinds of group- ings which occur and the content of these efforts. I. THE GRANGE Structure of the Grange The lowest level of the Grange structure is the Subordinate Grange. Membership in this unit is open to men, women, and youth over the age of fourteen years. There are more than 7700 subordinate Granges in the ‘United States. The Subordinate Grange is described as a local community 3Barber,‘gp.‘git., p. #88. 37 or neighborhood organization. More than hOOO of these units own their halls which often serve as community halls. In many rural communities in the northeastern United States this is the only "public" building.)4 A Subordinate Grange may become a "community" institution with the aspect of good works for the community having higher or equal value with works for the Grange.5 This level of the Grange Structure is "subordinated" to other levels within the organization with respect to ritualistic requirements. A unit parallel to the Subordinate Grange is the Juvenile Grange which serves Grange members of less than 16 years of age. This unit ties directly to the Subordinate Grange by the participation of adults in activities of the Juvenile Grange. The second level in the formal structure of the Grange is the Pomona Grange. There are 7M5 Pomona Granges in the United States. This level of the Grange structure ordinarily encompasses a county. The original reason for organizing Pomonas was to provide an integrating agency for economic and educational activities of the scattered Granges. With the decline of Grange cooperative activity during the 1880's the emphasis on economic activities lessened and the province of Pomona Granges came more to deal with educational and ritualistic activities. The Michigan State Grange began in 1951-52 to strengthen this unit by establishing for Pomonas a kind of supervisory reporting relationship hPersonal interview with C..M. Hall, op. cit. 5Holter,lgp. cit., p. 7; MdKee, op. cit., p. 38; and Martin, op. cit., p. h6h. 38 over Subordinates. According to the Overseer of the Michigan State Grange Pomonas have been the weakest link in the Grange structure.6 Thirty seven State Granges are organized in the Uhited States. These tend to concentrate in the northeastern, middle western, and.Pacific Coast states Cfable I). The national level of the Grange is the National Grange with head- quarters in.Washington, D. C. At one time the Grange was an international organization with units in Canada but at the present time it is confined to the continental limits of the United States. Granges in.Alaska, the Phillipines, and Canada have jurisdictional ties to State Granges in the United States. The Grange structure may be portrayed as a single vertical line. Only on the Pacific Coast are cooperatives important as a Grange sponsored activity.7 The early emphasis of Granges in cooperation.was stifled be- 8 cause this activity pitted Grange members against small town businessmen. In a national sense the Grange does not incorporate cooperatives into its structure. 6Personal interviews with Overseer Verne Stockman and.Deputy Master 'William.J. Brake, Michigan State Grange, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, April A, 1952. 7The Grange in the western tier of states constitutes an enclave or cultural island with reference to the total large scale organization. Chambers cites a document which states: ". . . the Grange, instead of growing more conservative as its parent organization in the East has tended to become since the original crusading zeal of the powerful 'Granger Movement' died out has all along the Pacific tended to become the refuge of the more discontented farmers. . ." See Clarke A. Chambers, California Farm.Organizations (Berkeley and.Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1952), p. 19. 8Personal interview with Verne Stockman, _p. cit. TABLE I TOTAL GRANGE MEMBERSHIPS, NOVEMBER 1951* ll State Members State Members Total 857 .008 Arkansas 798 New Jersey 20,980 California “.5586 New York lh3,11+3 Colorado 11,788 North Carolina 11,135 Connecticut 30,1+20 Ohio lh7,52l+ Delaware 2,153 Oklahoma 2,789 Idaho 12 , 196 Oregon 30, 650 Illinois 9, 731 Pennsylvania 80, 688 Indiana 5,988 Rhode Island 7,977 Iowa 3,080 South Carolina h,836 Kansas 16,952 South Dakota 359 Maine 62 , l+89 Tennessee 501+ Maryland 3 , 2149 Texas 2 , 292 Massachusetts 50, 62h Vermont 19 , 051 Michigan 28, 6h0 Virginia 2 , 202 Minnesota 3,576 Washington 50,9142 Missouri 2,829 West Virginia 9141 Montana 1 , 888 Wiscons in 3 , i495 Nebraska 1 , 1&2 6 Wyoming 1, M 3 New Hampshire 33,3“ *Loomis, et al., 22. cit., p. 82. 1+0 Procedural Relationships in the Grange Structure 0. H. Kelley, a principal founder of the Grange, had been a member of the Masonic order and thought that a fraternal. organization of farmers would integrate all farmers of the United States into a single organiza- tion.9 According to Martin the emotional content of Grange ritual activities developed internal "extension and unity."10 Following the organizational scheme wherein ritual content was to be an important element, the founders of the Grange established seven degrees. Four conferred by the local, one by the State and the two highest by the National Grange.11 Formal offices within a unit of the structure were established as pro-requisites to advancement to higher units within the structure . Buck states: The state grange was to confer the fifth degree, on masters and past-masters of the subordinate granges, and their wives . . The National Grange would confer the sixth degree . . . on masters and past-masters of the state granges and their wives};2 The method by which offices in the structure and control of the structure were integrated was achieved in the following fashion: Members of the sixth degree would constitute the National Council and after serving one year therein might take the seventh degree and become members of the Senate, which body had control of the secret work of the order.1 gBuck, _p. cit., p. 1+1. loMartin, 92. 333., p. A20. llBuck, _p. 93.2., p. 1&3. 1222;2- 13Ibid. Al This procedure was not accepted by the more militant members of the Grange and. they agitated for democratization of the degree procedure. Their agitation instituted the change whereby the. higher degrees were accessible to any member while control of the organization was retained by delegates to the national meeting. The Constitution of the Grange is a highly specific document in assigning duties and functions to units in the Grange structure. Selected Articles state: Article I. Section 1. The officers Of a Grange, either National, State, or Subordinate, consist of and rank as follows: Master, Overseer, Lecturer, Steward, Assistant Steward, Chaplain, Treasurer, Secretary, Gatekeeper, Ceres, Pomona, Flora, and Lady Assistant Steward. It is their duty to see that the laws of the Order are carried out. Article III . Laws The National Grange, at its annual session, shall frame, amend, or repeal such laws as the good of the Order may require. All laws of State and Subordinate Granges must conform to this Constitution and the laws adopted by the National Grange. Article IV. Ritual The Ritual adopted by the National Grange shall be used in all Subordinate Granges, and any desired alteration in the same must be suhnitted to, and receive the sanction of, the National Grange . Section 9 . After a State Grange is organized, all applications for charters 1h must pass through the same and be approved by Master and Secretary. The citations from the Constitution demonstrate the formal definitions made governing officers and channels of communication. Also illustrated 11‘T. C. Atkeson, San-Centennial History of the Patrons of Husbandry (New York: Orange Judd Co., 1916), pp. 52 ff. ' ' ' A2 is the finality of decision which rests with upper level units in deter- mining the fitness of action in lower level units. The By-Laws tO the Constitution add depth to the finality Of decision and definitely spell out the locus of decision in the National Grange: .Article IV. Questions of administration and jurisprudence arising in and between State Granges, and appeals from the action and decision thereof, shall be referred to the Master and Executive Comp mittee Of the National Grange, whose decision shall be respected and obeyed until overruled by action of the National Grange.15 Defining spheres of influence with specificity did.not occur until the 1910 annual session of the National Grange. In 1910 the Committee on the Good of the Order ruled that the units of the Grange had spheres of influence which corresponded to the political area or community of Opera- tion, Hence, within the vertical structure unit levels were defined as authoritative in their territory of Operation. This had reference to educational and legislative concerns.16 The foregoing citations spell out the method of ordering unit activities in the Grange hierarchy. The hierarchical structure has fundamental importance to the system of fraternal degrees. These de- grees constitute rites of passage for access to higher levels in the structure and to decision-making on organizational affairs. Structural Conditions for Action All.members Of the Grange are members of a Subordinate Grange. 15Ibid., p. 56. 16Ibid., p. 267. l+3 Membership in the Grange, according to Article V Of the Constitution, is so defined that "any person interested in agricultural pursuits" may be admitted to manbership.l7 A recent publication implies that Grange membership is more loosely defined now. The Grange is composed of courageous, determined fighting souls, who are confident that rural conditions can be improved; who know how to improve them; and who invite all interested in agriculture, in rural welfare, in village and town improvement, to get into th Grange and build it into a still stronger organization.)- Membership alone does not establish a member as a non-professional worker. A member is a potential non-professional worker. Non-profes- sional workers are the active minority; those who are active in pursuing the organization's ends while occupying a position in the organization. TO further limit our analysis, we shall deal with the Office of Lecturer because the Lecturer has chief responsibility for educational activities at all levels in the Grange. For instance, Buck illustrates the way the "literary society" aspect Of the Grange developed and indicates the Lecturer's role in this development.19 At a later date the educational activity carried on by the Lecturer and its import for the organization was documented by Landis and Willard. They stated "locals dwindle and die if the lecture hour is not interesting."20 Grange literature Of recent date (l9h8) states that content of this activity may be influential '17Buck, 22. 93.2., p. 1&8. 18Gardner, pp. 933., p. 5. 19Buck, pp. 333., p. 285. 20Landis and Willard, pp. 933., pp. 126-127. Ah beyond the membership. The educational program becomes in this sense a means of increasing membership and the general "usefulness" Of the Grange.21 In terms Of action within a structure we see the role of the Lecturer evolve from one of specifically directing energies within the lower level unit itself to a role contributing not only to the organiza- tion but to the community as a whole. This thought then is expressed in terms Of the activities of the Lecturer of the Pomona Grange. Thus the lecturer at this level has a role which is specific but not so narrowly conceived as the Subordinate Lecturer's role. Among the suggestions to Pomona Lecturers we find: Certainly the Pomona Program should be on a higher level than the Subordinate programs. The Subordinate Granges will serve as sources Of material for the Pomona Programs. In the Pomona program probably more outside speakers would be used than in the Subordinate, but working through the Subordinate Lecturers, much Of the program material can come from Subordinate programs. The Pomona Lecturer should hold conferences with the Sub— ordinate Lecturers to help coordinate the work of the Subordinates with each other and with the Pomona, State and National Grange programs. . . . Some Pomona Lecturers will find it possible to maintain a loan library Of materials Of help to the Subordinate Lecturers . - The Pomona . . . also has the Opportunity to develop programs for civic betterment on a countygwide basis. . . . The Pomona should function actively in legislative programs. . . . The Pomona is particularly suited to perform this function and should ever be alert to act on subjects which come up in the legislative field.22 At the State level Of the Grange the Lecturer is a professional educational worker. This is true, however, with qualification: The elHolter, pp. pip, p. 6. aznide’ ppe 20-210 1+5 State Lecturer in Ohio (the state having the largest membership) has only part-time employment and works in the State Headquarters only one day Of each week.23 However, the factor Of part—time employment actually imbues the holder of this Office with the quality of professionalism. This aspect of the Grange does not comply with Weber's characterization of the rational-legal system Of organization whereby separation Of home and Office and private and organization property occur.2h At the national level in the Grange structure the same condition exists. The National Lecturer is not located permanently in the National Headquarters and does not receive full-time reimbursement for his activity as Lecturer. The National Lecturer commutes to the headquarters on specific days to fulfill Obligations incident to his Office.25 Another category Of professional worker who does some educational work is the Master Of upper level units. .Also State Deputy Masters are active in organizing lower level units. In Michigan the State Deputy Master and 16 District Deputies engage in organizing lower level units. In Ohio there is a Deputy Master in every county.26 23Personal interview, Mrs. L. P. Auck, Ohio State Grange Lecturer, Columbus, Ohio, October 29, 1951. Personal interview with Mrs. Marion Johnson, Lecturer, Massachusetts State Grange, Lowell, Mass., Nov. h, 1951. Mrs. Johnson.also is a part-ttme employee of the Grange. She does her work as Lecturer at her home and receives a small salary and reimbursement for travel expenses incident to her work as Lecturer. Both these Lectur- ers when asked their occupation replied "housewife." 21‘Robert K. Merton, at 31., Reader _i_r__1 Bureaucracy (Glencoe: The Free Press, 1952), p. 20. 25Personal interview with Lloyd C. Halvorsen, Economist, National Grange, Washington, D. C., November 2, 1951. 26Personal interviews with Verne Stockman, o . cit., and Mrs. L. P. AuCk’ cl. Cit. A6 The office of Deputy Master was created during the early days Of the Grange. The plan of work . . . was to get a few active Subordinate Granges started, and out of them.to organize a temporary State Grange, the master of which would appoint deputies tO carry on the work Of organizing Subordinate Granges in the different parts of the State.27 It is significant that in organizational activity, especially as special- ists were needed to perform this role, the office was and still is appointive rather than an elective Office. In the Grange organization the other professional workers that give time to educational activities are typically the directors of the juvenile work and the youth director. The Ohio State Grange has four employees who devote part-time to non—vocational adult education-~the Master, Lecturer, Youth worker, and the Juvenile Matron.28 The Massachusetts State Grange has three part-time professionals--the State Master, State Lecturer and State Overseer (Vice President)--and one full- time professional worker who contribute to adult educational activities.29 For the purposes of this report we shall not describe the activities of all professional workers because their specific activities are not direct- ly related to education efforts in the three fields of interest. One statement concerning action in the Grange comes from the daily report Of the New York State Grange meeting of 1951. The National Master 27Buck, 22. cit., p. h8. 28Personal interview with Mrs. L. P..Auck,‘gp. cit. 29The full-time professional has employment with the National Grange publication agency at Springfield, Mass. He is available to the State Grange. Personal interview with Mrs. Marion.Johnson, 2p. cit. A”! mentioned to the delegates at the New York State Grange meeting, ". . . the Grange has been criticized for its slowness, but I hope we never see the time when the program of the Grange is put in the hands Of a hired technical staff."30 In acquiring a professional staff other considera- tions than.expertism.pg£ pg are important. Gardner cites the relevance of long-time experience in Grange affairs as a desirable attribute of anemployee.31 Atkeson cites the relevance of this attribute with reference to establishing a staff for the National Grange house organ.32 Loyalty, knowledge Of Grange requirements and standpoint were cited by Atkeson as desirable attributes Of employees. Knowledge and proficiency in specialized subject matters are de- sirable. But it appears that if a person has these abilities and does not have experience as a Grange member he is less desirable. The principal media Of communication in the Grange structure is the organizational newspaper. This media made its appearance when: The leaders of the order wanted to get into closer touch with the membership, partly perhaps with the idea this could be done through the press. As a result official Grange organs were established in nearly every state in which the order existed. Sometimes the Officers of the State Grange them- selves edited and published a monthly paper.33 However, the fermal establishment of a newspaper by the National Grange 3ORemarks of Herschel Newsom, Master, National Grange, reported in The Grange Gleaner, New'York State Grange Convention, Syracuse, November 1, 1951, p. l. 3lGardner, pp. p3_t_., pp. 91+-95. 32Atkeson, pp. p_i_p., p. 251. 33Buck, pp. p_i_p., p. 289. A8 did not occur until 1910 when a Committee on the Official Organ recom- mended that a newspaper be established. This committee recognized the need for a national level organ with a mission Of disseminating informa- tion on legislation. The national Lecturer served on the board Of management of the paper. The committee recognized the educational relevance Of the paper.3h The above citations refer to the educational content of this organization's newspaper. The "National Grange Monthly" in 1951 was sent to 250,000 members. subordinate Granges use issues Of the paper in discussion programs.35 Other printed.materials supplied by the upper level units of the Grange are discussion materials, dramatics, and tableaux materials. Rather early in the existence of the Grange materials published by State Granges were used in programs of lower level units. According to Buck the Iowa Grange prepared questions on agricultural concerns for discus- sion in local programs.36 And according to Martin the National and State Granges disseminated infonuation on "improvements" and "needs" of the agricultural system. He cited "the discussion is of infinite value to all concerned in it."37 The content of the materials mentioned by Martin was apparently vocational in that they were directed toward 3L‘Atkeson,‘9_p_. cit., p. 270. 35Personal interview with c. M. Hall, pp. c_i_p. 36Buck, pp. 213., p. 286. 37Martin, pp. _c_i_p., p. A6A. 2+9 improving farming. According to the editor of the "National Grange Menthly" this paper is subscribed to "principally by use Of the club plan in local Granges." .Articles and the Lecturer's column provide discussion.materia1 for local programs.38 The National Grange also uses the media of the legislative report. MacCune cites the National Grange as an agency which sponsors a legisla- tive reporting service available to subscribers.39 The Grange uses radio rather sporadically. For instance, the Master Of the Ohio State Grange speaks on radio programs in.which he presents the Grange viewpoint. The New'York State Grange, in cooperation with nine other general farm organizations or farmer cooperatives, spon- sors the Rural Radio Network, a thirteen station radio network whose programs are specifically directed to the rural audience. The New York State Grange maintains one program a week over this network. The Michigan State Grange in 1950 carried on a regular weekly program.over the Michigan State College radio station. Nowhere does the Grange own and Operate a radio station. The lower level units of the Grange use motion pictures in their educational prOgrams. Professional workers contacted stated that motion pictures "are very popular. Many Granges Open their halls to nonpmembers 38Personal interview with C. M. Hall, _p. cit. 39Wesley MacCune, The Farm Bloc (New York: Doubleday, Doran and Company. 1918). pp- 156-157- 50 when motion pictures are shown."1+0 Granges, particularly Pomonas, are encouraged to obtain motion picture projectors and.make these available to other Granges and community groups. However, neither Of the contacted State Granges nor the National Grange maintains a film library. Some of the sources Of fihns used by the Ohio State Grange are International Harvester and Standard Oil. The suggested sources of fiDms in the Grange Lecturer's Handbook are either industrial or governmental. Establishing Pelicy in the Grange To make a thorough analysis of the structure of a large scale organization and action in the structure, it is fruitful to analyze the way policy is developed; the ways participation in affairs of the organization is obtained, and the contexts in which these activities are based. For instance, a professional worker of the National Grange noted in a recently given speech to a Grange audience: In . . . the Grange every individual member is afforded an Opportunity to grow and to develop his or her ability to serve in the community and at higher levels. Keeping in mind that each Of these community groups is a cross section of all the people in the community and is composed of family groups, it is Obvious that only the church parallels the Grange in this respect. But in another respect these Grange groups are different from even the church--in the respect that all members are equal in status and opportunity in the conduct and govern- ment of the group, and in that all Offices are Open to all alike."l Related to governing the affairs of the large scale organization is the resolutions process. In the Ohio Grange the resolutions process does l‘OPersonal interview with Mr. C. M. Hall, pp. cit. Mrs. Auck, 3p. cit., expressed the same views. hlSanders,lgp. cit., p. A. 51 not adhere to the structure of the organization. Resolutions for con- sideration Of the State or National Grange may go through the Pomona or directly from the Subordinate to the state level.h2 After policy is formulated at the upper levels of the structure it may (1) become content for action for all or some units in the structure; (2) become part of the rules of procedure defining action of professional workers at upper or lower level units in the structure; or (3) be ignored."3 According to the Lecturer of the Ohio State Grange The legislative agent is responsible to bring resolution.mate- rials back down to Subordinates and contacts Subordinates with letters, etc., on the status Of le islation. The subordinate is encouraged to discuss these than.”g It appears from the foregoing that the Grange structure, highly rigid in terms Of ritualistic activities, is not nearly so rigid in developing policy. Organized Action in the Grange In the Grange local interests may prevail to the extent that upper level workers have little success in stimulating members to undertake educational activities. For example: Members Of Subordinates of the Colorado State Grange are simply not interested in a program in the three fields. They think of the local unit as an organization whose chief function h2Persona1 interview with Mrs. L. P. Auck, gp. cit. The same procedure prevails in the Michigan State Grange. h3Ibid. thbid. 52 is purely social . . . Our members are apathetic."5 The Master of the Colorado State Grange went on to say how he had attempted to interest Subordinates in studying the United Nations, the problems Of rural roads, rural school legislation, but had not been able to activate the membership into studies in these areas. A Grange Lecturer in Vermont gave the following account Of Sub- ordinate and Pomona programs during 1951. Titles and techniques are given as they were listed on the questionnaire: Christmas Program--Rev. W. White, speaker, "Birth Of Christmas." Agricultural Program-~County Agent; movie followed by discussion. Vocational Rehabilitation-«movie and speaker. Educational Program with movie called "School in the Red," dis- cussion on better schools in Vermont. Mother's Day Program. Safety Program with State Trooper present to speak and movie shown. Forestation Program with County Forestry Agent present and movies. Farm Pr0gram with President of Farm Bureau present; movies on his farm tour to Europe. Musical Program consisted of piano selection and community singing. Religious Program which included "How Did You Die," Minister was speaker, community singing of church songs. Health Program--Speaker and movie "Feeling of Rejection." Fire Prevention Program--Fire Chief present; showed us how to use fire extinguisher. Juvenile Delinquency Program--Chief of Police speaker, discussion followed. Neighbor Nite--Inviting visiting Granges. Social Welfare Progrem--spea.ker and discussion of purpose of such an organization. Program on Atomic Bomb-~1ts use in war and destruction it does-u-movie. Program on Selective Service-~to preserve peace. Blood Bank Program-speaker. theconstructed personal interview with Lee R. Pritchard, Master, Colorado State Grange, Denver, Colorado, October 1A, 1951. (Interview reconstructed by Carl C. Taylor and the writer.) l‘6Questionnaire from Mrs. Robert Levesque, Lecturer of Subordinate and Pomona Granges, Starksboro, Vermont. ' I I ll IIIII 17 |‘( 53 Such activities Of lower level Grange units are arranged through the efforts of local non-professional workers. The variety of an annual program is illustrated by the program titles. The Pomona Grange is made up of Subordinate Grange members who have attained the Fifth Degree. With few exceptions a Pomona does not have a ball but rather rotates its meetings among Subordinate halls. According to Gardner this practice is commendable because Pomona meetings are attended by a wide group of members when rotation is followed. Action in the Pomona Grange is Obtained almost wholly through the efforts of non- professional workers. The State Grange is the locus of much organized group action in the Grange structure. The State Grange annual meeting is the occasion for the meeting of representatives of lower level units with the professional workers of the State level. Voting delegates from both Subordinate and Pomona Granges attended the 1950 Michigan Grange Convention."7 Also at the State level the professional worker interacts with representatives Of other groups and agencies whose interests or programs involve agriculture. The Ohio .State Grange Master and the Juvenile Matron, for example, promote Grange viewpoints through radio programs. The College of Agriculture cooperates with the State Grange in providing resource people for leadership training and for various Grange conferences. The Ohio State Grange sponsors two youth campseach summer located on a college campus. The State Lecturer sends out films to local lecturers who desire “7:10qu 1 31; Proceedings, Michigan State Grange, Muskegon, Michigan, October, 1950. pp- 8-10- 5A films for their programs. The State Lecturer met with Officials of the Ohio State Library and through them was able to get agreement on routing bookmobiles to Grange halls. The State level is the level where non- professional workers and.professional workers most likely interact; it is the level where alliances are made with other agencies who have an.inter- est in agriculture; it is the level where much of the content Of local programs is assembled and sent to lower level units.ha Gardner indicates the extent of State Lecturer's conferences and how this kind of activity will insure a high quality Lecture Hour."9 Some region-wide organization in the Grange Occurs particularly in the northern and.eastern states. These organized efforts are fermally a part from the Grange structure but have developed out Of'members' common interests. Within a given region such associations may be permanent but these forms do not extend to all State Granges.50 The National Grange annual meeting provides the arena of policy formulation for the organization. The voting delegates to the National Grange meeting include only Masters Of the State Granges and their spouses. 1+8Eighteen State Granges maintain regularly issued publications which go to their'membership. 1‘9c.erdmer, pp. pip” p. A13. 5OIbid., pp. AlO-Al7. Gardner treats in a general way the develop- ment of Programs and Conferences in the Grange structure. From his de- scription it appears there are two kinds Of general headings for these group actions; first, conferences Of officers who are actively engaged in Grange work--these embrace non-professional and professional workers; the second kind of group action is an informal arrangement whereby "past masters" or "Seventh Degree" clubs have been fermed in areas where there are a number Of Granges. The latter groups intimately associate with the ritualistic aspect of Grange activity. 55 If a State Master has no spouse that State has only one vote. The National Lecturer of the Grange originates program.planning material for the use of local Lecturers. A principal media of this activity is through the Lecturer's Column of the National Grange Menthly. The Lecturer's Handbook is another means by which the National Lecturer communicates program.materials to the lower level units Of the Grange structure. The National Grange sponsors an annual Community Service Contest. This activity is one in which action is obtained in the local community. The Contest Guide states: The more we assume our individual responsibilities toward our communities the better able we will be to meet the challenge to America's freedom. The mark of a free people is their detenni- nation.and ability to solve their problems through their own resources rather than calling upon others to do it for them. The Grange, founded on the principle of self-help, provides the mechanism through which we, as individuals can become articulate and serve this Objective. America can be no stronger than the sum Of its communities. Every community has the potential leadership to carry out its own program.of development. Community Service is one of the contributions that every Grange can give to its community.51 Grange members are encouraged to expand their horizons beyond their own organization. But this encouragement to extend activities retains a parochial aspect because "local" emphasis remains dominant. 511952 Community Service Contest Guide (Washington, D.C.: The National Grange and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation, n.d.), no pagination. 56 II. THE FARMERS' UNION Structure Of the Famers' Union The lowest level unit in the Farmers' Union is the Farmers' Union local. This unit is a community or neighborhood organization. The local unit is regarded as the "one social device" which can hold together the rural community.52 According to a professional worker of the North Dakota Farmers' Union the local "is a non-property organization; it is a group of peOple."53 Famers' Union locals do not ordinarily have halls for meeting purposes but meet in open country school houses or member's ' homes. .Membership in the Farmers Union is in the name of the head of the family but women and children are encouraged to participate in the meet- ings of the local unit. In fact participation Of women and children in local activities has been correlated with successful locals?" The same writer quotes from an early organizer's experience: When you organize the men, organize the women. If you fall down on the job of organizing the women you are licked from the start .55 According to Knight, Farmers' Union leaders value the local unit above cooperatives or the legislative program of the Union. Active locals are ' 52Handbook for Farmers Union Locals, 92. Cit‘) P- 3- 53Personal interview with Richard C. Joyce, Assistant Director, North Dakota Farmers' Union, Jamestown, North Dakota, October 16, 1951. 5'"Harold Knight, Grass Roots: The Stcgy of the North Dakota Farmers Union (Jamestown: North Dakota Farmers Union, 1.91:7), p. 127. 55Ibid., p. 38. 57 basic to the Union program.56 The Farmers' Union local is an Operative unit in the structure Of the organization. Action is encouraged at this level because: we must plan our action not only on national and state issues but on local projects. This will interest more people. Local projects are concrete, can be seen.57 The County Union is the next unit in the hierarchy of the Farmers' Union structure. There must be at least three locals in a county before a County Union can be organized. There are A00 County Unions in the United States. The majority Of these units are in North and.South Dakota, Minnesota, MOntana, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Locals in counties in which there is no County Union are directly under a State or Territorial Union. .Most County Unions hold quarterly meetings during the year. The State Union, or in thinly-organized areas the Territorial Union, is the next unit in the structure. State Unions are organized in.North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Montana, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Oregon, Michigan, andArkansas.58 Members in other states affiliate with a Territorial Union. (See Table II.) 56Ibid., p. 51. 57Pro ram gpr prummer Camp, 1951 (Little Rock: Arkansas Farmers' Union, 1951 , p. 10. 58During the 1952 Biennial Convention Of the National Farmers' Union the delegates revoked the charter Of the Iowa Fanmers"Union. This state organization had pursued a policy with reference to inter- national and economic affairs whose views agreed with the views Of the American communist party. The period following the Korean.war brought these views to the fore with increasing frequency. In this case, as with the Grange on the West Coast, a large scale organization enclaved a part whose views differed from the total organization. ' TABLE II TOTAL FARMERS' UNION MEMBERSHIPS, NOVEMBER, 1951* State Members State Members Total A62,759 Alabama 812 NemeexicO 812 Arkansas 26,875 North Dakota 9A,5OO Colorado 27,750 Ohio 1,062' Idaho 2,250 Oklahoma 89, 000 Iowa 2,560 Oregon 5,250 Kansas ‘ 2A,750 South Dakota Aly250 .Michigan 5,250 Tennessee 1,188 Minnesota 23,000 Texas A,25O Missouri 825 Utah 1,625 Mentana 30,750 Virginia 1,375 Nebraska A5,625 Washington 3,500 New Jersey 7,750 Wisconsin, 20,750 *Loomis, pp pl., pp. cit., p. 82. The number of family memberships per state was expanded by the constant 2.5 to arrive at number of memberships reported here. 59 The National Farmers' Union is the upper level unit in the Farmers' Union structure. The national level maintains its headquarters in Denver, Colorado, and a legislative Office in Washington, D. C. The Farmers' Union structure actually involves two parallel struc- tures. The second represents the structure Of cOOperatives tied to the Farmers' Union at all levels. For example: Farmers' Union does not believe in co-Operatives as a separate entity unto themselves. They are more than an isolated economic lever. They are an integral part Of the organization, contribut- ing their full share to the education, welfare and political articulation Of family farmers.59 Procedural Relationships: in the Farmers' Union Membership in the Farmers' Union local is Open to all members Of the family of sixteen years of age and over. Younger members may enroll in Reserve Units. Members Of the Reserve Units are encouraged to partici- pate in activities Of the local but are non-voting members. The relationship between the Local and County Union in terms Of educational activity is that local members report educational activities to the County Union and represent the local unit at county-wide educa- tional events. The County Union reciprocates by publicizing local efforts; by visits Of county educational workers (non-professional) to the local; and by arranging conferences of local educational officers. Also, the County Union maintains a library of reference materials, sponsors leader- ship schools, county-wide organizational activities, and encourages 59Farmers' Union: Deep-Rooted in America's Past . . . Looks pp he Future, pp. cit., n.p. 60 participation in Fairs. All Farmers' Union members are automatically members Of the County Union if such an organization exists in their county. ‘ The local also has a reporting relationship with the State Union. This is true even if there is an intervening County unit. The local educational Officer is encouraged to maintain full complements of State Union program materials and to be alert to State-sponsored conferences and meetings. In turn the State Union is responsible for interpreting the National Farmers"Union program to Local Unions and to develop a unified educational program within the defined limits and objectives of the National program. 60 The National Union coordinates the activities of all the State Unions. Thus the National carries on public relations work, provides field services and prepares program materials for use at other levels. The presidents of the State Unions form the Board Of Directors of the National Farmers' Union. From this group an Executive Committee Of five is elected which is the decision making group for the National Union. According to Knight: The National Farmers Union (in 1937) was still a loose federation Of state organizations, each pretty much with its own program . . . It took the war years and the adoption of the new constitution in 19A6 to weld the Farmers Union into a truly united Union Of farmers, instead of a federation of state groups. 1 60Farmers' Union Youth Activities Manual (Denver: Department of Education, National Farmers' Union, 1951), pp. 2A-26. 61Knight, pp. pip” p. 85. 61 This account and the previously given statements demonstrate a "unity" theme as the desired relationship between State and National Unions. Structural Conditions for Action Membership in the Farmers' Union is Open to farmers, teachers, preachers, newspaper editors (sympathetic to the Farmers' Union) and is specifically denied to bankers, speculators, middlemen. When a family head joins the Union all members Of the family of eight years Of age or 62 more become members . Members active in the affairs Of the Local are the Officers--the non-professional workers. Three elective officers-~President, vice- President, Secretary-Treasurer" and a group of appointed Action Officials constitute local non-professional workers. Action Officials are Directors of Education, Cooperation, Legislative, Organization, Juniors, Recreation, and Publicity. These officers with the elected Officers constitute the Action Group. The Action Group members establish a division Of labor, plan a year's action program and meetings. Action Officials are allotted time at meetings to report on their specialized activities. The Local Education Director sees that issues are discussed and members are aware Of problems of concern to 'the Farmers' Union. Deciding on necessary materials and methods and leading discussions fall tO the Education Director. Accord- ing to a professional worker of the Rocky Mountain Farmers' Union: The Objectives of the Action Program are (l) to enhance dis- cussion of public issues; (2) to improve local organization for 62Handbook for Farmerp' Union Localg, pp. 933., p. 8. 62 presenting content to local discussion groups.63 The County Union has the same elective and appointive Officers as the Local Union. It has no jurisdiction over the Local Union regarding representation in State or National Union.meetings. The Educational Director of the County Union is the person to whom falls the responsi- bility for conducting adult and junior educational programs with the Local Unions. Apart from this, the County level educational work con- cerns publicizing activities of Farmers"Union Locals and developing" county-wide events fer the membership. It appears as though the County .Union plays a service roll with reference to local units. This probably relates to the less frequent meetings of the County'Union and the emphasis placed on the value of local activities. The multi-county level is the lowest level in the Farmers"Union structure where professional workers are feund. Ordinarily professionals at this level work in organizing Local Unions. Knight states that in North Dakota: . . . the County Unions pooled a large part of their finan- cial resources with the State Union to employ 12 to 18 field- men, each covering from.two to four counties. Thus a cooperative relationship exists between County Unions and the State Union whereby organizing activity is carried ferward. The State Union serves as a locus Of professional workers in the Farmers' Union structure. The North Dakota Farmers' Union has 1A full- 63Personal interview with.Harvey SOlberg, President, Rocky Moun- tain.Farmers' Uhion, Denver, Colorado, October 12, 1951. 61"Knight, pp. cit., p. 127. 63 time professional workers all of whom actively engage in non-vocational adult education. Of these 11+ professionals, six are based at the State Headquarters and the remaining eight are field workers who spend some time at the headquarters but are more often out in the state. Six of the field workers are women. Women field workers are better able to "sell" Farmers' Union to farm women. When the mother believes in the Union " father is much more likely to remain an active Union member.’65 The em- ployment of women fieldworkers relates to the dominant attitude among Farmers' Union people that women should participate in the activities of the organization. The Education Director of the North Dakota Farmers' Union sends discussion kits out to local units of the Farmers' Union. These kits of reference materials include plays, songbooks and discussion materials on "human relations and cooperatives."66 The Education Director, also, referred to the need for women to participate in Union activities. For example: If Locals are to be active we must have more women interested in the study groups. Women have to know more about the Farmers' Union in "women's language." Ladies Camp relates all Farmers' Union activities to the home situation.67 Another activity of this professional is organizing and directing the Annual Ladies Camp referred to above. This camp is a week long 65Ib1d., p. 109 66Personal interview with Mrs. Lulu Evanson, Education Director, North Dakota Farmers' Union, Jamestown, North Dakota, October 17, 1951. 57mm. 6h activity attended by women who belong to the Farmers' Union. Many professional workers of the North Dakota State Union do adult education.work as indicated above. While they do not devote full time to this activity they are all full-time employees of the State union and all of them.perfbrm.their work at the State Headquarters or work out of this office. The Radio Director is responsible for a daily radio program. The Assistant Director of this Union is Cooperative Director which involves maintaining reference materials for cooperatives and.contributing mate- rial to the organization newspaper and radio programs. The President is more concerned with over-all policy of the State Union and.with keeping activities of the organization.in proper perspective. For example, he said: . . . farmers have conflicts of interest. To the grain farmer the grain marketing part of the Farmers' Union becomes the important part. This may be repeated in oil association so that a psychological horizon is set in terms of the interest of the individual farmer. Others think the local or the County unit, the legislative activity is the most important. Within the organization the individual employees develop proprietary interests in their own area. we try to build one Farmers' Union. All the farmers' problems are not going to be solved with a health program, a livestock program, etc. ‘We have to deal with all these things. we are dealing with a farmer, his wife, his family; he is not Just a hog marketer. We are deal- ing with John Jones, a human being.68 / The Education.Deparhment of the National Farmers' Union includes / five professional workers of whom four are classed as fieldworkers. In addition the President, Vice-President, SecretaryJTreasurer, Director of 68Personal interview with Glenn.Talbott, President, North Dakota Farmers' Union, Jamestown, North Dakota, October 16, 1951. / I / 65 Publications, and three Legislative workers all perform non-vocational adult education work. However, none of these persons participates full [time in this activity. The principal communication medium of the Farmers' Union is the National I_Jx1__i_o_r_1 m, a monthly newspaper, sent to all dues-paying mem- bers. Another monthly publication of the National office is the Action Letter sent to Action Officials. Each month it covers one tOpic con- sidered to be. of fundamental importance in the Farmers' Union program. This upper level office also originates the quarterly Program Service. This publication features materials for discussion and program aids. The Washington, D. C. office publishes a weekly legislative report sent to all Legislative Directors in organized Farmers' Union units. The National Farmers' Union does not sponsor radio activities although, like the Grange, its professional workers regularly appear on radio programs. This activity is not organized on a regularly-programmed basis. The North Dakota Farmers' Union sponsors a daily radio program of half-hour duration. The Radio Director and other professional workers of the State office speak on this program. Farm people appear on the program at least once each week. The format carries announcements of group meet- ings, Farmers' Union information, recorded folk music and songs of the Farmers' Union and labor organizations. The audience for this daily program includes the state of North Dakota and adjoining areas. The North Dakota Farmers' Union has developed a State 53.32122 Bulletin sent to 3800 Action Officials in North Dakota each month. This State Union also prints a bi-weekly newspaper sent to all members. This 66 Union also provides a library for the use of members. The National or State Farmers' Unions do not maintain film libraries. However, the National Farmers' Unioannstitute program carries the addresses of agencies where films might be obtained. Some suggested sources are the American Association for the United Nations, the United States Department of Agriculture; UAW-CIO Film Library and the State University . Establishing Policy in the Farmers' Union A National Farmers' Union pamphlet outlines the Union's resolu- tion process.69 The Local submits resolutions to a State program com- mittee which prepares resolutions for floor discussion at the Convention. At the national level a program committee considers State programs and suggestions from members prior to submitting resolutions for considera- tion by the delegates. From these and earlier cited statements it appears that the County level of the Farmers' Union structure is not necessary to policy fomulation. State conventions are held every year. Delegates are elected by individual members in Farmers Union locals, the basic organi- zational unit. In some states the Locals are Joined in a County unit so that more effective work can be done on such communit issues as schools, roads, medical services and co-operatives. 0 Because the Local Union is consistently found wherever the Farmers' Union is organized, it has an important role in developing policy. The Local 69293 These Things We Stand, pp. 912., mp. 70Farmers' Union: Deep-Rooted in America's Past . . . Looks to the Future, 92. cit., n.p. 67 is called the "basic organization unit."71 However, where there are County Unions elected delegates represent these units at State Conven~ tions. National policy is executed by the Board of Directors of the National Farmers"Union. This Board includes the Presidents of State Unions who in turn delegate much of the policy determination to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is an elective group based in membership of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee may resolve during the interim between Biennial Conventions.72 Farmers' Union upper level personnel believe that tours contribute to developing:mamber participation in organization affairs. Of importance are tours to washington, D. C., the area of the Tennessee valley Author- ity and especially those tours to facilities of cooperatives allied with the Union. The President of the Arkansas Farmers' Union indicated plans for bringing members to the meeting of the State Legislature.73 By toure ing cooperative facilities and.meeting government officials, it is be- lieved members obtain concrete evidence of the Farmers' Union program and understanding of our political and economic systems. In order to relieve the State‘Union of having to maintain.member- ship by annual recruiting drives, the organization has encouraged 7lIbid. 72Resolution on Building Strength for Peace, 2r2spexitx.and Democrac , AdOpted.by the Executive Committee of National Farmers' Union, July 27, 1951. Resolution adopted shortly after beginning oijorean hostilities. 73Personal interview with Albert Hopkins, President, Arkansas Farmers"Union, Little Rock, Arkansas, November 16, 1951. 68 cooperatives to practice the check-off of dues. Thus patrons of coopera- tives automatically become members of the Farmers' Union. These "patron- age dividend” members present a special problem to State Farmers' Unions.7h Organized Action in the Farmers' Union In nmnerous places in this study references have been made to the activities of the Farmers Union Locals' meeting. This is the basic organi- zation unit in the structure according to the stated pronouncements of the organization's literature. The County Union typically sponsors quarterly meetings during the year. All levels in the Union, except for Locals, sponsor camp programs. The camp programs included 10,000 participants in 1950.75 The National Union sponsors the All-States Camp for "future officers and leaders" and the National Training Institute of the Farmers' Union for employees of State Unions. Aeetings deal with cooperative philosOphy, racial and religious prejudice, the meaning, structure, and functionof the Farmers' Union. In a class on cooperatives the instructor used socio drama to illustrate the operation of a Local meeting. This educational fieldwork- er said, "It seemed there was always someone who wanted to play the corporate farmer."76 The Institute staff is from the National office. 7hPersonal interview with James Baccus, Director of Information, North Dakota Farm Bureau Federation, Fargo, North Dakota, October 18, 1951. Mr. Baccus referred to the Union's patronage dividend members as "captives.' The Farm Bureau regards this system of dues collection as unwholesome. 75W... Union Farmer, January, 1951, 92. 9112,, p, 11+. 76Personal interview with Mrs. Flossie Harris, Senior Fieldworker, National Farmers' Union, Denver, Colorado, October 11, 1951. 69 The Director of Education taught the course in Human Relations which emphasized: . . . visibility effects prejudice. Prejudice is not rational thinking, it is pro-judging. The instructor em- phasized that all peOple have basic drives; all want security. This ties in with economics. Tensions that result in a scarcity in any line, results in competition. This then is tied in with cooperation and thru cooperation, tensions are mitigated.77 Other courses dealt with the organization's insurance program, coopera- tives, Action techniques, and propaganda analysis. Outside speakers at the Institute were the Regional Director of the Communication Werkers of America, the Director of the Urban League, the Educational Director of the Anti-Defamation League, and workers from folk schools. III. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION Structure of the Farm.Bureau rIn.much of the United States the lowest level of the Farm.Bureau structure is the local unit. This is the Farm.Bureau Center in California, the Township Farm.Bureau in Iowa, the Neighborhood.Advisory Countil in Ohio, and the Farm.Bureau Chapter in the southern states. Developing local units is being considered in those states where the lowest operative level has been the County.78 The County Farm Bureau federates with all other County Bureaus in a state to form the State Federation. There are 2,396 County Farm 77Ib1d. 78Kile, 22. 233,, p. 379. 7O Bureaus in the United States out of a total of 3,070 oounties.79 The County Bureau was the first level of organization developed in this structure. There are today State Farm Bureaus in h? states affiliated with the American Farm Bureau Federation. (See Table III.) First steps toward organization of the American Farm Bureau Federation were taken in 1919 with the organization becoming final in 1920. It has since become the American farm organization with the largest number of members. Procedural Relationships in the Farm Bureau Structure The Farm Bureau Local is the lowest level in the Farm Bureau structure. The Ohio Farm Bureau has organized congeniality groups into discussion groups. These groups constitute the local level in Ohio and also in Vermont and Michigan. When Farm Bureaus first organized local units this was done to achieve access to groups of farmers for dissemina- tion of technical agricultural information. More recently the rationale for developing local units has been directed toward achieving participa- tion in the large scale organization. A letter from the Director of Education, Vermont State Farm Bureau, states some effects of this kind of organizational activity: Before my coming to Vermont in 191+6, the Farm Bureau program consisted mainly of Annual Meetings on a State and County level, sending delegates to the Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation, some legislative work, the insurance program, and the sponsorship of Extension work. 79Roger Fleming, speech reported in Summgy of the National Rural Youth Leaderst Trainig School (Des Moines: American Farm Bureau Federation, 1951), p. 7. TOTAL FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIPS, NOVEMBER 1951* TABLE III ——: n ._* Stats Members Stats Members Total l,h52,130 Alabama 61,193 Nevada l,hO6 Arizona 3,362 New Hampshire h,869 Arkansas h9,0l9 New Jersey 8,819 California 61,279 New York 82,902 Colorado 7,626 New Mexico 6,503 Connecticut 8,6h8 North Carolina 58,025 Delaware 760 North Dakota 8,752 Florida 11,000 Ohio 58,978 Georgia 50,253 Oklahoma 30,852 Idaho 11,637 Oregon h,953 Illinois 183,510 Pennsylvania 521 Indiana 96,35h Rhode Island 3,259 Iowa 125,022 South Carolina 1h,693 Kansas 58,008 South Dakota 2,776 Kentucky‘ 6h,188 Tennessee h0,00l Louisiana 10,033 Texas 50,000 Maryland 10,217 Utah 6,1+25 Massachusetts 5,287 Vermont 9, 1:22 .Michigan h7,768 Virginia 8,762 Minnesota 61,95h Washington h,681 ,Mississippi 23,08h west Virginia 11,620 Missouri 38,989 Wisconsin 29,578 Montana 1,2h2 wyoming 5,9hh Nebraska 7,956 M *Loomis, gt 21., pp. cit., p. 82. To make Bureau memberships comparable to Union memberships multiply each state figure by 2.5. ships: 3,630,325. The resulting total number of’member- 71 72 There is a need to strengthen democracy in other places than goverment, however. One of the most important places is in our own Farm Bureau organization. Today, as a result of our Neighbor- hood Club program, there is an awakening to the real potentiali- ties of a farmer's organization. . . . Probably 50% of the resolutions passed at the Annual Meeting get their start in Neighborhood Club discussions. There is less of an inclination to accept the word of the officers as the last word on a subject and more of an inclination to study the subject further. 0 A local unit is related to the County Bureau in its oounty.81 The Local consists of those members who reside in an area small enough for convenience in meeting together. The following statement indicates, in terms of the responsibilities of Directors, the County Farm Bureau's sphere of action. The County Farm Bureau Board of Directors . . . can have the leading influence in the county . . . [n] formulating policies and directing supervision of a broad program of education, legis- lation and service. Farm Bureau literature is insistent that the locus of local policy making is in the County Farm Bureau. Stanfield states that the County Boards in Ohio "are legally responsible for the conduct of the local Farm Bureau program .‘83 The County Farm Bureau is in turn related to the State Farm Bureau in precisely defined terms. Memoranda of understanding are in existence between state and county units in the Farm Bureau structure. The document 80Personal communication to C. P. Loomis from Don Elberson, Director of Education, Vermont State Farm Bureau Federation, Burlington, Vermont, March 12, 1952. 81Manual, California Farm Bureau Federation, 03. cit., p. 8. 82 _I_b__id., p. 145. 83D. R. Stanfield, Process and Teclmiques in Developing Farm Bureau Policy (Colmbus: Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, 1951), p. 3. 73 defining relationships in the Michigan Farm Bureau structure states: THIS AGREEMENT, is in effect a memorandum of understanding between the various County Farm Bureaus which are federated together in the Michigan Farm Bureau. It states further the procedures for effecting a unified program throughout the state . . . . . . it is mutually understood and agreed as follows: 1. The "County Farm Bureau" will assume responsibility for carrying on a program designed to maintain a County Farm Bureau organization . . . and will retain therefor three dollars for each paid-up membership in said county. The program to be conducted by the County Farm Bureau to include: a. The holding of an annual County Farm Bureau meeting. b. The appointment of a membership committee, which committee shall be authorized to act for such County Farm Bureau in matters pertaining to acquisition and maintenance of member- ship and to whom shall be referred all questions concerning and the direction of membership acquisition and maintenance. c. The sending of delegates to the Michigan Farm Bureau annual meeting. d. The meeting of the County Farm Bureau Board of Directors at least eight (8) times during the year with provision for an executive committee to act in the interim. 7. The "Bureau" agrees that it will carry on an educational, legislative and business program agreeable to the general membership of the Michigan.Farm.Bureau. The program to be conducted by the "Bureau" to include:88 a. Assisting the "County Farm Bureau" through a field force which will contact said "County Farm.Bureau" to advise, correlate and help organize and to assist in every other way as is desired and feasible; said field ferce to be maintained within the limits of finances available. Further assistance ‘will be given through pamphlets, speakers, education, pro- jects, etc. 8. The "Bureau" further agrees that it will assume within the 81‘The term "bureau" as used in the cited document refers to the Michigan Farm Bureau Federation. 7h scope and limitations of the "County Farm Bureau" program, supervisory responsibilities over the work of the county organization and information director and that such activities as are carried on have the approval of the County Farm Bureau, all this for the purpose of better accomplishing the objectives of the county and state program and to correlaée all county programs within the state to a common purpose. 5 A professional worker of the American Farm Bureau Federation termed the "uniform cooperative agreemen " between the county and state organizations one of the "principles of organization" in Farm Bureau. He indicated that such agreements make explicit "the obligations and contractual relations through which a county and state operate."86 These citations have taken the analysis on to the state level of the Farm Bureau structure.87 Eligible for membership in the Iowa Bureau are those County Bureaus which cooperate with Iowa State College and whose use of public funds is limited to educational purposes.88 Delegate representation to the Iowa Farm Bureau is based on the County Farm Bureau and the means of their selection as County delegates is specified by the State Bureau . 89 85County Farm Bureau Relationships (Lansing: Michigan Farm Bureau Federation, n.d.T, pp. l-K 86Harry Bryson, speech reported in Summary 21: National Rural Youth Leadership Training School, _p. cit., p. 30. 87McKee, pp. _c_i_t., p. 32. "The county Farm Bureaus constitute the important local level of activity and the important political unit of the organization. The district scheme prevails in most Farm Bureau states. It is not a policy making level." 88Articles of Incorporation of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (Des Moines: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, 1979), p. 1: 89Ibid. , p. h. ’ 75 The national level of the Farijureau structure is the American Farm Bureau Federation. Only State Farm Bureaus may be members of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Individuals, County Bureaus and women's and youth's associations have associate or affiliate status.9O Voting delegates to the American Farm Bureau represent the member organizations. The number of votes held by members is based on numerical strength. How- ever, all have one vote as a minimum. To retain voting delegate status dues for the current fiscal year must be paid.91 According to the By-Laws the Board of Directors administers affairs of the national organization. The Directors are chosen from among the Voting Delegates. The national president and vice president along with the elected.Board.members make up the total Board.92 Cooperatives associated with the Iowa Farm Bureau handle fertili- zer, serums, petroleum products, paint, tires, anti-freeze and farm chemicals. COOperative handling of plant food and serums. is carried on in all but two Iowa counties while the Farm Bureau Service Companies-- petroleum, paint, tires--number thirty-one with coverage equalling about one-half of the state. The emphasis in cooperative effort is on those aspects which contribute directly to production aspects of the individual farm business. Further, consumption products handled by the Iowa Farm Bureau are limited to those items which contribute to the farm business.93 9°lbid., p. it. 91Ibid., p. 15. 92Ibid., p. 17. 93Annual Report 93: Progress, 1950 (Des Moines: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, 19507, n.p., section on "Affiliated Companies." 76 The same characteristic prevails in the Michigan and California Bureaus except that the Michigan Bureau handles lines of farm machinery. In addition to these forms of cooperative effort the State Farm Bureaus have develOped extensive insurance programs. Affiliates of the Iowa Farm Bureau offer insurance protection from hail and fire and standard life insurance programs as well. Local agents in Iowa counties are under the direction of the County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. The cooperative structure is integrated at the state level in the structure of the Iowa Farm Bureau being placed under the Administrative Board of the state unit. The cooperative structure is found only at the County and State levels in the Iowa Farm Bureau. Women's activities in the Farm Bureau structure. Farm Bureau memberships are family memberships but within the organization women are grouped in an auxiliary structure. Women in the Iowa Farm Bureau have Women's Committees at all levels comparable to the state organi zation.9b’ Within the Iowa and Michigan Farm Bureaus Women's Committees have a representative on the Board of Directors of the county and state organi- zations. The women, however, maintain the parallel structure of the Associated Women of the Farm Bureau through both state and national gulowa Farm Bureau Women's Committees, pp. 111., pp. 2-3. This kind of organization does not prevail throughout the structures of the Ohio or Michigan Farm Bureaus where local units are discussion groups. Above the local level differentiation by sex occurs. See 32nd Annual Report p_f_' the Michigan Farm Bureau, 9p. pit.” p. 37, and Carl Hutchinson, 'Function of the Small Group in the Ohio Farm Bureau," Autonomous Groups Bulletin, Vol. IV, Nos. 2-3, Winter, l9h8-Spring, 19h9, p. 20. 77 levels. Within the structure of the Associated Women the same kind of selection of voting delegates prevails as illustrated for the Farm Bureau organi zat ion . 95 Youth activities in the Farm Bureau structure. The structure of Youth activities in the Farm Bureau is similar in form to the women's structure. Inasmuch as weeare concerned with adult activities in this study the youth structure will not be described. Structural Conditions for Action in the Farm Bureau Membership in the California Farm Bureau is Open to citizens or those "eligible for citizenship." An owner of farm lands in a California county may belong to the Farm Bureau even if he is not a county resident.96 By joining the Farm Bureau an individual also acquires for his immediate family (husband, wife and minor children) the benefits of Farm Bureau membership.” In this case, agreement with objectives rather than occupa- tion serves to limit membership. The Farm Bureau makes use of committee assigmnents in the lower level units. The five permanent committees of County units in the California Farm Bureau are Program, Organization, Finance, Executive, and Resolution. These non-professional workers have active counterparts in the local units. The non-professional worker who integrates the units of 95"Articles of Incorporation," Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, pp. 933., p. 12. 96Manual, California Farm Bureau Federation, pp. cit., p. 72. 97Ibid., p. 72. 78 these levels with the state organization is the State Delegate. The California Farm Bureau considers that the state delegate has the highest office in the County Farm Bureau. The delegate should "endeavor to maintain . . . harmony" of the County program with State organization policies. The California Bureau includes a district organization where- by several counties are grouped. Delegates from the counties in a district select one from among their number to represent the district on the State Board.98 A non-professional worker--the Director--in the Farm Bureau struc- ture is the policy formulating person. Professional workers are restricted from filling a delegate's role.99 There are exceptions to this dictum of salaried employees performing policy formulating roles. In some State Bureaus and at the national level the president is a member in good stand- ing, a practicing farmer and. an employee as well.100 Also in the Arkansas Farm Bureau the Executive Secretary has executive responsibility because the President does not have time to devote full time to the organization.101 The same condition prevails in the North Dakota Farm Bureau.lO2 In general, it appears that in many strong states the Farm Bureau is headed by a full- time employee with the title of President who is assisted by a full-time 98II.'bid., p. 56. 99Voting Delegates pf the American Farm Bureau Federation (Chicago: American Farm Bureau Federation, n.d.), p. 5. lOOArticles p3 Incorporation pf the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, .2. Cite, P0 80 101Personal interview with Waldo Frazier, Executive Secretary, Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, Little Rock, Arkansas, November 16, 1951. 102Personal interview with James Baccus, pp. cit. 79 executive secretary. In states where support is not so strong the President has part-time employment or is paid expenses alone for con- ducting the affairs of his office and an executive secretary has execu- tive responsibilities. With respect to the documents and interviews concerning the professionalization of tOp workers in the state organiza- tions of the Farm.Bureau it appears that no set pattern exists as between states. The lowest level in the Farm.Bureau structure where professional workers are found is at the county level. In the California Farm Bureau the County Secretary should.manage affairs so that non-professional workers are not unduly burdened. Also his management should: . . . make possible an integrated, smoothly-operated organi- zation that will be on a par or exceed the status of other organizations which the farmer'must be prepared to meet upon an equal or superior basis.103 The County Secretary has nwmerous and well defined duties. Acquiring members, maintaining efficient office routine, performing public rela- tions work, arranging and attending Farm.Bureau meetings, distributing materials for programs and performing research are duties outlined for him. He acts "as the employed manager of a corporation of which the directors are the governing body."108 The Iowa, Ohio and California Farm.Bureaus have regional districts 103Manual, California Farm Bureau Federation, pp. Cito: P- 9"- IOthid. See Annual Report 2: Progress, 1950 (Des Moines: Iowa Farm.Bureau Federation, 1950):—n.p. Iowa Farm.Bureau fieldmen have essentially the same duties. These fieldmen Operate in every Iowa county. 80 --for organization work. These professional workers are under the Organi- zation Department of the Bureaus and responsible to the state organiza- tion. These professionals supervise the activities of the county level professional workers. . The next level in the Farm Bureau structure is the state organi- zation. According to the 1950 Annual Report of the Iowa Farm Bureau this state office has 26 professional employees. These professionals work in the legal, organization, research, legislative, safety, young peoples, information, purchasing, livestock, and women's departments. The California Farm Bureau has twelve different departments each headed by a professional worker. The Michigan Farm Bureau follows the same general scheme but appears to have fewer employees.105 Within the state unit of the Ohio Farm Bureau a professional worker has the office of Director of Education. This person maintains a flow of materials to the organization's discussion groups and processes materials sent back by these groups. This is the one case for the Farm Bureau organizations visited where a professional employee was designated as an educational worker. As can be ascertained from the accounts which have preceded the extreme emphasis in the Farm Bureau is on "organiza- tional" work with educational work falling somewhere in this area. In the Ohio Farm Bureau 21 professional workers engage in non-vocational 105See relevant sections of Annual Report p__f Progress, 1950, pp. p__it., l2nd Annual Report p_f the Michigan Farm Bureau, pp. p__it., and Annual Repprts__ of California Farm Bureau Federation Service Departments (Berkeley: California Farm Bureau Federation, 1951). 81 adult education. Six devote full time to this end.106 In the Arkansas Farm Bureau five full-time professional workers contribute part time to non-vocational adult education. Professional workers at the state level actively promote the objectives of the organization in interaction with non-farm groups. Thus the Iowa Farm Bureau promotes farmer-businessman meetings. The President and Executive Secretary of this organization speak before Chambers of Commerce, League of Women Voters units, Manufacturers Associations, and other similar groups in the state. According to the Executive Secretary: The ideas we try to get across through the speakers bureau are rather high on our educational list. We try to deal with current issues. During the past year we dealt with . . . con- trolling inflation. Through this means I estimate we reach nearly 50,000 non-Farm Bureau people. A different means of achieving agreement on inflation control was used by the Arkansas Farm Bureau. The Executive Secretary organized a state- wide committee whose activity was directed toward publicizing an infla- tion control effort. This activity involved organizing business groups of the state into a temporary organization called "Save the Dollar" campaign. The Arkansas Farm Bureau collected relevant materials from the American Farm Bureau, National Association of Manufacturers, Michigan 106The Ohio and Vermont Farm Bureaus appear to be quite different from the other State Farm Bureaus. An emphasis in these two states lies with education and discussion. They constitute enclaves within the Farm Bureau structure. These Bureaus quite frequently differ from American Farm Bureau Federation policies. 107Personal interview with Kenneth Thatcher, Executive Secretary, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Des Moines, Iowa, October 26, 1951. 82 State College, and the National Cotton Council to document its position on.inflation control.108 The Vermont Farm Bureau organized statewide efforts, in much the same manner as the case cited for Arkansas above, but the content and direction of these activities differ somewhat. This organization co- operated with or organized a citizens' committee for the U3N., the State Department of Education, various adult education programs and a confer- ence of farmers and laborers. Neighborhood Clubs have had discussions on electrical energy, milk pricing, the domestic effect of foreign trade and the role of cooperatives in our economy.109 For purposes of organizational activity the national level of the Farm.Bureau structure divides the United States into feur regions. The professional workers filling these offices carry on organization work. in membership acquisition.andmaintenance.110 - A weekly newspaper published by the Iowa Bureau circulates to all its members. A monthly magazine of the Ohio Farm.Bureau has a circula- tion of 75,000. In each issue Neighborhood Council activities are reported and an article on the topic for discussion in the Councils is included. The Ohio Farm.Bureau also sponsors a newspaper. The newspapers of the Ohio and Iowa organizations devote half of their space to local news. The Ohio Farm.Bureau sends each Advisory Council a Monthly 108Personal interview with Waldo Frazier, pp. 313. 109Communication from Don Elberson, Director of'Education, Vermont State Farm.Bureau, Burlington, vermont, March 12, 1952. 110Kile, pp. 213., p. 366. 83 Discussion Guide. The Vermont Bureau follows a similar procedure in its program. Typical discussion guides of these organizations concern the family farm, cooperatives, rural churches, legislation, taxation and policy development in the Farm Bureau. The Ohio Farm Bureau owns a radio station whose coverage encom- passes Ohio. The state organization sponsors five daily radio programs over this station. Each Sunday two half-hour shows on council discussions, community projects, business-labor-agriculture panels, or dramatic stories are broadcast. A five station "Farm Bureau Network" carries a daily pro- gram of the California Farm Bureau to a state-wide listening audience. The Iowa Farm Bureau maintains a film library and additionally uses Iowa State College films. According to the Information Director most County Farm Bureaus have projectors.111 The national level of the Farm Bureau sponsors the monthly magazine T112 Nation's Agriculture. This magazine goes to every Farm Bureau member in the United States except those in California. A weekly newsletter from the Washington office goes to 30,000 persons on state and county boards of directors. The newsletter reports on legislative activity, administrative matters, and reprints speeches of Farm Bureau professional and non-professional workers. J'LLlPersonal interview, Dan Murphy, Director of Information, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Des Moines, Iowa, October 26, 1951. 8h Establishing Polipy in the Farm Bureau Structure The Iowa Farm.Bureau spends a great deal of time on policy develop- ment.112 In May the state professional staff develops twelve or fifteen issues on which Farm.Bureau has no position or on which revisions are due.113 The State Board of Directors goes over these issues and when content is approved by the State Board copies are sent to the County Farm.Bureaus in the form of background material. Following this County Resolution Committees hold District meetings at which full discussion of the background material occurs. The County Committees take the back- ground.materials and the information gained from.district discussions back to their counties. Township meetings in early autumn prepare resolutions and send these to the County Resolutions Committee. The Township resolutions have only an advisory capacity because the County Farm Bureau is the policy formulating body. The State Resolutions Com- mittee,which receives County resdlutions, consists of representatives of each district unit of the Iowa Farm.Bureau and, in addition, the Women's Chairman.and Youth Chairman. At this point the State Resolutions Committee analyzes the resolutions and calls in for testimony such people as the State Con- servationist, State Chairman of the Production and Marketing 112Personal interview with Guy Gilchrist, Director of Research, Iowa Farm.Bureau Federation, Des Meines, Iowa, October 26, 1951. The description of this process was obtained in its entirety from Mr. Gilchrist. ll3BackgroundM’aterial pp Legislative Issues 1950-51 (Des Moines: Iowa Farm.Bureau Federation, 1950). This mimeographed publication in- cluded 27 pages of information on major and minor issues. 85 Administration, State Roads Commissioner. After deliberation the resolu- tions are presented to the delegates at the annual meeting. Delegates! instructions are contained in their County resolutions. The state and county levels of the Farm Bureau agree that the resolutions developed by the state meeting "shall be and become the definition and policy of both parties hereto."llh An Ohio Farm Bureau publication on policy develop- ment states that contributing to the development of policy includes the responsibility to support the program.115 Because of the opposition of the Michigan Bureau to the Brennan Plan an employee of the Michigan Farm Bureau stated he is prevented from discussing even those features of the Plan which he considered constructive.116 The Resolutions Committee of the American Farm Bureau is the locus of decision making for the organization. This committee consists of about thirty-five members. Resolutions promulgated by this committee and ratified by Bureau delegates are rigidly followed by non-professional and professional workers of the national level of the Farm Bureau. These resolutions are "law" to the professional workers.117 111‘DeveIOping p Voice for Agriculture (Des Moines: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, n.d.), p. C-XI-3. 115Stanfield, pp. 913., p. 3. 116Personal interview with Donald Kinsey, Director of Research and Information, Michigan Farm Bureau, March 18, 1952. n7Personal interview with W. E. Hamilton, Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation, Chicago, Illinois, October 9, 1951. This pro- fessional described the way members of the Executive Committee will constantly refer to their copy of resolutions during deliberative sessions of the Committee. 86 Organized Action Within the Farm Bureau Structure The Ohio Farm Bureau has 1580 discussion groups, involving about 20,000 members, which meet monthly to discuss pertinent topics. These Neighborhood Councils meet in the homes of the members. Most Councils range in size from five to ten couples. Each month the Council's minutes are forwarded to the state organization where they are digested and circulated to the "Farm Bureau leadership" in Ohio. Local units based on political subdivisions failed in Ohio so the organization of Councils was based in congeniality groups. By allowing the Council to define its own membership "you have some social cohesion that is not so likely true in a group defined on an areal basis. These Councils do not have speakers. They do not think in terms of programs but of dis- cussion. They do not look to entertainment as a source of inspiration. This group is not an action group; they can not act for the Farm Bureau, they discuss and inform."]‘18 The County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is one of the most important meetings held in the Farm Bureau structure. At the County Farm Bureau annual meeting officers are elected, resolutions adOpted, and a report made on the condition of Farm Bureau activities in the county. A state level professional gives the assembled members information on contempor- ary farming problems, legislative prospects and the status of the organization and its affiliates. "Controlling inflation" was stressed at these meetings in Iowa in 1951. The Executive Secretary dealt with 118Personal interview with Carl Hutchinson, Director of Council Activity, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Columbus, Ohio, October 29, 1951. 87 the need for developing Point IV, supporting the United Nations and in- creasing military and economic aid.119 In the Iowa Farm Bureau another organized activity at the county level are meetings of the Service Companies. According to the director of research these meetings actually draw participants to a greater degree than do the County Farm Bureau meetings. The members who are "Farm Bureau through and through" attend the County Farm Bureau meetings. Ser- vice Company meetings draw this group in addition to members specifically interested in the business operations of the Farm Bureau.120 The district level of Farm Bureau structure is utilized in the resolutions process of the Iowa Farm Bureau. This level organizes the Women's Camp program of the Michigan organization. "Our American Heritage" was the theme of these camps with speeches given on the following sub- jects: "Our Children," "Our Soil," "Our Culture," and "Our Organization."l21 These district meetings provide a setting where professional and non- professional workers in the Farm Bureau structure interact in developing or approving state level programs or activities. One of the most significant organized actions of the state organi- zations is the annual meeting. This has been dealt with under other sections of this chapter. This policy formulating activity brings together professional workers, non-professional workers, and members. At these ll9Prepared talk for delivery at County Annual Meetings, Kenneth Thatcher, Executive Secretary, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Des Moines, Iowa, 1951, n.p. . 120Personal interview with Guy Gilchrist, Q. pip. 1‘21Annual Repprt p__f _t_1'_1_e_ Michigan Farm B_ureau, __p. cit., p. 31+. 88 meetings professional workers from the national level appear to speak and serve as integrative agents for the total Farm.Bureau structure. Persons outside the Farm.Bureau structure also appear on these programs. The 1951 Annual Meeting of the Ohio Farm Bureau featured a speech by Senator Aiken of Vermont. The Ohio Farm.Bureau sponsors an annual activity in which one man and one woman from each of the state's congressional districts visits Washington, D. C. for two days. During this time they confer with Ohio Congressmen and Senators, the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, and discuss with them such issues as price and wage controls and the 122 farmer's role in.nationa1 defense production. These members are the elected "Legislative Spokesman" for Farm.Bureau in each of the state's congressional districts. The New York State Home Bureau Federation sponsors a Citizenship Leader'Training School held at Cornell University. In 1951 this program featured citizen participation in local government activities, the United Nations and legislative processes. Professional and non-professional workers from.Farm.Bureau, specialists from.Cornell and other universities, legislators and employees of the state government all participated in the events.123 The Iowa Farm.Bureau Women sponsor an annual conference which 122Ohio Farm.Bureau.News (Columbus: Ohio Farm.Bureau Federation, J‘me’ 1951) ’ Pp. 22‘230 x23Progpam, Citizenship Leader’Traini School (Ithaca, New York: New‘York State Home Bureau Federation, 1951). 89 includes participants from nearly all Iowa counties. Most speakers were professional and non-professional workers of the State Fann Bureau. Out- side speakers included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Iowa Extension Service and a rural school teacher.12h The national level of the Farm.Bureau structure sponsOrs annual regional activities. The Western Regional Training School held at ,Montana State College in 1951 included professional workers of county, state and national levels in the faculty. The emphasis of this school was on.means of organizing membership acquisition campaigns for local and county campaigns.125 Another organized activity of the national level of the Farm Bureau is the annual National Rural Youth Leadership Training School. Professional workers from the national level, professionals specializing in youth work in Farm.Bureau, and employees of various Extension Services formed the faculty for this school. Meet participants were professionals in the Farm.Bureau or'Extension Services. Most non-professional workers were those who fill adult advisory roles in.Farm.Bureau.Youth activities. The four sections were on organization, publicity and public relations, program planning and education, and recreation. The single most important organized annual activity in the Farm Bureau is the annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation. The 12"‘Re ort pf the Summer Conference (Des Moines: Iowa Farm Bureau Women's Committee, 1951), p. 3. 125Progpam, Trainipg School, Farm Bureau--Western Region, Montana State College, 1951- 90 meeting is held in Chicago every other year. In alternate years it is held in one of the other three regions of the United States. IV. COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS All three organizations emphasize the virtue of local neighborhood or community organizations but only the Grange and.Union actively foster this level of organization.126 Neither the Grange nor the Union segregate by sex or age in their structures but the Bureau tends to segregate in both respects. Full time professional workers appear'more frequently in the Farm Bureau organization than in the others. The Union appears to fall next in line followed.by the Grange with fewest full time professionals. The Farm.Bureau professional, according to the evidence, is restricted from policy fermulation. He carries out policies formulated by non-professional workers. In certain State Bureaus the president has employment with the organization.while in other states he receives reimbursement for expenses. The State president as an employee, however, does not appear universally. In the Grange and the Union the top state officer combines the roles of executive secretary and president as these occur in the Bureau. These upper level officers of these two organizations formulate and carry out policy. For instance, only Grange State Masters and.their spouses have voting delegate status at the National convention. The Executive Committee of the National Farmers' Union--derived from the ranks of the 126Three in ten (30.h per cent) of the County Farm.Bureaus in the 263 county sample occupy the lowest level in the Farm.Bureau. 91 State presidents--likewise has policy formulating and executing roles. In all organizations some professional workers have access to the policy development process through their relationship to the organization's communication.media. Also, in developing background.material for resolu- tions and organization "positions" professional workers can effectively operate in policy development. werkers in an organization attempt to specify relationships between local levels of the organization. However, the Grange and.Union both allow local units to by-pass the county level in sending up resolu- tions. In the Bureau no Local can by-pass the County because only County resolutions are official. The Grange and‘Union emphasize local action. They assign.Locals a parity status with County units in policy develop- ment. From.the standpoint of operative units in policy development the Bureau has one and the Grange and Union have two local units. In this respect the Bureau has segmented and specified activities appropriate to the lower levels to a greater extent than have the other organizations. The Grange and Union specify educational content as associated with certain roles in the organization. The Bureau, in.most instances, considers education as a secondary part-time pursuit for numerous workers. The degree of salary support afforded Grange educational workers pre- cludes their doing full-time work in this activity. The Union.emphasizes full-time educational roles filled by professional workers relatively more than the other organizations. One receives the impression that two rather different orientations toward the role of education are held by workers in these organizations. 92 The Grange and.Union workers seem to have an inward-facing emphasis in their programs of education. The concern lies with developing members' abilities or in imbuing them with the organization's values and programs. The Bureau seems to emphasize education as an outward-facing activity to convince non-members they should Join or to maintain public relations with non-member populations .127 Apart from the direction of this study has been the discovery that , within each large scale organization an enclaved unit or units exist. Such an occurrence has relevance for theories of large scale organization with respect to the role played by the enclave, how members of the enclaved and non-enclaved units view the others and what kinds of adjustments occur between the large scale organization and the enclave. 127This does not appear as the emphasis in the Ohio Farm Bureau. According to the Director of Education: "The Council makes the Fem Bureau. It is not telling people what the Farm Bureau is doing." This constitutes a pattern different from both patterns. In effect the Local in the Ohio Farm Bureau constitutes an educational process which con- cerns the twin aims of developing abilities of the participants both as individuals and as members. CHAPTER IV VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS Values according to Williams involve preferred states drawn from an individual's experiences which include actual or potential emotional mobilization. They constitute criteria for choosing goals and have importance.1 The areas included in the Ford.Foundation study--interna- tional understanding for peace, understanding of democracy, understanding and strengthening of the economy-~involve and include value orientations. This provides a rationale for making an analysis of value orientations. More importantly, this kind of analysis is supported because the large scale organizations appeal to a single occupational group. Hence,‘ possibly an explanation for the multiplicity of organizations lies in the realm of differing value orientations toward what constitutes a problem in democracy, economics and international affairs and what solu- tions are suggested for these problems. The data used in this chapter come principally from written materials of the organizations. Those materials pertinent to the Ford areas have primacy. Other hmportant orientations are included as these appear important to understanding an organization. I. VALUE ORIENTATION OF THE GRANGE The Grange document principally used in this section included Williams, 92. cit., p. 37h. 9n eight sections exclusive of the introduction.2 If’amount of space devoted to a section equates with.importance of the covered subject matter then a crude indication of importance is provided by the following ranking. The sections dealt with problems of domestic government, Grange farm policies, resource developnent, communication problems, education and health, co- operatives, laborzmanagement and social security and, lastly, the United Nations. The first three sections comprised over sixty per cent of the contents; the next two accounted for about one fifth; the section on cooperatives and the labor-management and social security section received equal emphasis and the section on the United Nations accounted for three to fbur per cent of the total.3 The section headings indicate +hat the Ford areas of interest have concern for Grange workers. International Understanding~for Peace The Grange unequivocally supports our membership in the United Nations as a means of "building the conditions of peace . . . while "A attempting to prevent actual agreesion and.war . . . Following this developed position the Grange pronouncement suggests: Not our official Government, but only we, the people of America 2J. T. Sanders.(2), Summary 2; National Legislative Pelicies and Pro ams of the National Grange for 1952 (Washington, D.C.: The National Grange, 1952TT' 3It must be recognized that the section headings do not clearly indicate assignation to the Ford areas of interest. For instance, "Grange farm policies" includes materials relevant to the areas of democracy and the economy. Much the same prevails with reference to other sections as well. 0 hSanders (2), 92. 913., p. 22. 95 can cultivate that confidence, respect, and understanding among the peoples of the world which must be deve10ped before we can achieve that condition of good will among men which will lead to peace on earth. Therefore, we set forth the following inter- national policies and recommend: 1. That the National Grange confer with other citizen organizations in an effort to determine whether it would be helpful to call an international citizens conference to discuss means of promoting a more favorable basis for peace through mutual understanding and cooperation.5 Government action does not of itself constitute an adequate approach to peace but there must be "people to people" interchanges as well. In our government's foreign policies the stress is laid on . . . social and economic improvement in the free world and through the advancement of principles of Justice, truth, and the dignity of the individual, rather than by relying too greatly upon.military power. we recognize the necessity for an immediate policy designed to stOp the aggression of Russian Communism, an evil force which seeks to pervert human decency and to destroy individual freedom by imposing its police state gpon the world by force of anms, by infiltration, and by deceit. Technical assistance is strongly endorsed because it is "basic" and costs less in the long run than does military assistance. The technical assistance program may best be advanced by under-develOped countries obtaining capital necessary for modern production. The sound way to obtain capital is by encouraging private investment. Further, private investment will encourage the participation of American businesses in technical assistance and through this means the people will obtain advances in their standards of living. 51b1d. 6Ibid., pp. 22-23. 96 The Grange position on Communism suggests a "program of action" in which the following points are stressed: Stimulate in all Subordinate Granges an active study and dis- cussion of the purposes and methods of Communism, and promote programs destroying its influence by reactivating the principles of our Order, Our Republic, and Christianity. Exert all possible influence to prevent the infiltration of communistic doctrines or propaganda in our educational system and to promote more effective teaching of American history and of the ideals of democracy.7 The Master's address to the 1950 meeting of the Michigan State Grange contained the following: This year again Christian Rural Overseas Program will ask us to help feed the peoples of the world. . . . Many farmers have felt that other countries of the world should begin to feed themselves. However when children and innocent people do not have enough to eat, no Michigan farmer can deny them a share of his food.8 In international affairs, those who have share with those who have not. Especially when those who have not reach this position through innocence. Strengthening of Democragv Grange documents cite overcentralization of government as "under- mining our dual system of governnent and our system of private enter- prise."9 In this view Congress has control over government. If Congress loses this control the people also lose control over their government. Bureaucracy, excessive taxation and spending constitute the "certain road 71bid., p. 2h. 8Journal 9}: Proceedings, 92. _c_i_t_., p. 32. 9Ibid., p. 25. 97 to the socialistic state."10 A slogan of the Grange has reference to the proper role of govern- ment in relation to the citizen in that "the prtme purpose of government is to protect its citizens from aggression--both physiCal and economic."n' The individual Grange member can influence government by taking the initiative. A professional worker of the Grange characterizes the Grange as an effective agency of influence in dealing with government. This characteristic has relevance at every level of government.12 The National Grange, as a farm organization, is concerned with government in its relationship to peOple. Farm peOple, especially, have had.many direct experiences with government programs. The Grange locates the responsibility for initiating agricultural prOgrams in the legisla- tive branch of government.13 The Grange resolution concerning conserva- tion indicates the program "must be accomplished" democratically and under local control were practicable. The organization Opposed conservation payments. For example, farmers with adequate income: . . . would automatically carry out necessary conservation h practices at a profit to themselves without incentive payments. 10Ibid. Personal interview witthrs. L. P. Auck, op. cit. Stated that the objectives of the Grange were: . . . to promote rural life. We stress local action to solve local problems. Stem socialism and centrali- zation of government. llIbid., n.p., inside facing of back cover. l2Sanders, op. cit., p. 6, and, Why Join the Grange (washington, D.C.: The National Grange, n.d.), n.p. l3Sanders (2), op. cit., p. 8. ll‘Ibm. 98 And those farmers who had low incomes ought to receive nothing on this basis because a "dole" cannot solve farm problems. Farmers may receive funds to apply to erosion problems which cannot be handled under normal operating conditions of the farm.business. Low income farmers would have increased aid through the Farmers Home Administration. Other than these the Grange favored continuing farm programs then in operation. The position of a large scale organization relative to military training presents another expression toward the role of government and government's impact on the citizen. The National Grange resolution on this subject suggests that military training may instill in youth a spirit of militarism and "a trust in armed.might rather thanmorality."l5 Strengthening of the Economy Grange members have long had concern with economy. "Economy in all things" is a Grange slogan. Buck noted that Grange ritual inculcated orderliness, thrift, industry and economy. He characterized the Grange as the "uncompromising foe of carelessness and disorder, idleness and vice!‘16 Economy of Operation of the organization itself was manifest by early Grange members' reaction to the reimbursement of the organization's pro- fessional workers. Salaries and allowances were scrutinized and discussed during Grange meetings.17 Gardner illUstrates the Grange position on economy by indicating 15Sanders (2), op. 213., p. 2h. 16Buck, 22. 313., pp. 120, 299. 171mm, p. 68. 99 that this value holds for the individual, group and government. Gardner further states: . . no sentence occurs more frequently in connection with its [Ens Grange' s7 resolutions than "Pay- -as-you- -go," extendi almost from the beginning of the Order to the present time. The Master's Address to the meeting of the National Grange in l9h6 emphasizes that neither individuals nor governments can indefinitely live beyond their income. He indicates that self control is a necessary virtue so that what we can afford limits our demands rather than having "what we wan " create demands.19 The Grange resolution on inflation expresses concern for those persons who had saved.money only to see its purchastng power decline under inflationary conditions. Once again under the expression on labor-management a Grange resolution indicates the convergence of economy and democracy. Labor organization is approved because it needs power to deal with "organized big industry and finance." The organization favored the union shop but opposed the closed shop and.mass picketing.2O During its early days the Grange had as an objective the organi- zation of farmers' cooperatives. However, Gardner notes that it was soon recognized that Granges should sponsor rather than directly organize cooperatives.21 A promotion leaflet of the National Grange lhnits 18Gardner, op. cit., p. 1&6. 19Ibid., pp. 1u6-1h7. 201bid., pp. 20, 21. 21Gardner,_op. cit., p. 317. Verne Stockman, Overseer, Michigan lOO appropriate cooperative activities to marketing. By such cooperatives the farmer acquires a greater portion of the consumer's dollar.22 Other Dominant Values of the Grange Martin, in writing about the Grange, indicated the Grange orienta- tion toward the virtue of work. Idleness and inactivity were censured. He noted "that the idle or lazy man can be neither prosperous, virtuous, nor useful."23 National Master Goss enunciated the "Three Grange Guide— posts" in l9h2. These statements carry on through'much of the literature of the National Grange. Two of these state: 1. All prosperity springs from the production of wealth; or anything which retards the production of wealth is unsound. 2. The compensation each shoufid be based on what he con- tributes to the general welfare.2 The value of work as a virtue is implicit in Goss' prophecy included in Gardner's book. For example, Gardner quoted Goes: No longer will shiftless, wasteful practices in agriculture suffice, if the nation is to be fedt The day is near at hand when.the ne'er-do-wells on the ferm.will have to give way to the most competent producers. Hence the principles of developing maximum production and efficiency, which have underlain all Grange teachings for four score years, will be followed by an ever-increasing proportion of farmers, because of the growing State Grange, noted that the Michigan State Grange has not actively organized cooperative businesses but Grange members have contributed leadership to these activities. 222.139. W Best Friend: The Grangg (Washington, D. C.: The National Grange, n.d.), p. . 23Martin, pp. 333., p. L66. 2h Sanders (2), 9p. cit., inner facing‘of back cover. lOl demand for food.25 Another dominant expression which consistently appears in publica- tions of the Grange is its view toward temperance. Thus Gardner writes: Urging personal habits of temperate living upon its members --even embodied in its ritualiem--the organization has always backed every effort, local,state and national, to curb the liquor traffic and to rid the nation of the baneful effects of intoxicating liquors.2 The Master's Address to the 1950 meeting of the Michigan Grange dealt with temperance in eating, drinking and language. He relates how political corruption and.the distribution of liquor are inter-related.27 A professional worker of the National Grange states the Grange position on.moral values: 0 They [the Grange founder§7 were thinking of building an order based on bedrock and eternal principales of man's lot; for the Grange is grounded on the principles of the dignity and value of the individual, the worth and sacredness of the family, the brotherhood of man, on fraternity, charity, mutual assistance, and a faith and trust in theeternal truths and.rule of a just God.28 The Grange is characterized by many as a community organization. The Community Achievement Contest manifests this interest. In a prefatory letter accompanying the contest materials it is noted: America can be no stronger than the sum.of its communities. Every community has the potential leadership to carry out its own pregrams of develOpment. Often a little inspiration is BSGardner, 22. 313., pp. 1:31-1:32. 26Ibid., p. 137. On the same subject see Buck, op. cit., p. 298. 27Journal of Proceedings, 22°.213‘z p. 30. 2BSanders,‘9_p. cit., p. 2. 102 all that is needed to give them the added incentive to trans- late ideas and blueprints into actuality.29 The Lecturer of the Massachusetts State Grange stated Grange objectives are: . . . to educate, elevate, and instruct members. To develop in people their abilities for self-help so they will contribute to community life and rural life.30 Another orientation of the Grange considered relevant for this study is probably best typified as an evaluation placed on a "stability- property" equation. This is reflected in terms related to Grange property holdings but other elements will be noted in the following citations. A professional worker of the National Grange stated: The Grange is a stable organization. It has gone through its wild oats stage. Four thousand Subordinate Granges own their halls full and complete-~this is a factor in the Grange's stability.3l A promotion leaflet of The National Grange poses the question: "Why join the Grange?" In answering this question one reason follows: Its members are largely property-owning people . . . a de- pendable and stable citizenship.32 zgghg‘l22g Community Service Contest Guide (washington, D.C.: The National Grange and Sears-Roebuck Foundation, 1951), p. 2. 30Personal interview with Mrs. Marion Johnson, 2p. cit. 31Personal interview with Charles M. Gardner, Director, National Grange Publicity Bureau, Springfield, Massachusetts, November 5, 1951. 32% Join the Grarge, op. cit., n.p. 103 II. VALUE ORIENTATION OF THE FARMERS' UNION The Union document used in this section devoted over one half its space to a section headed "The Preservation and Strengthening of Family Farming."33 One-fourth of the contents dealt with the "economy of abundance"; the remaining sections dealt with "World Affairs," interests of the Farmers' Union organization itself and "civil rights." The "civil rights" section accounted for nearly five per cent of the total space. The section headings clearly indicate concern with the Ford areas of interest. The document includes two parts: the first part deals with the organization's "long term.purposes" and the second with the "action programt" Only the second part includes resolutions enacted by the convention. International Understanding for Peace In a section on world affairs the delegates to the Farmers' Union indicated that Russian.imperialism and "uncorrected and indefensible evils" existed both of which combined to threaten "world brotherhood and peace." The delegates stated, for example: . . . we must and starvation, exploitation, feudaliam, dictatorships and all other injustices in the world. We must stop being miserly about Peint IV, economic aid and technical assistance. we must cease making partners of despotic govern- ments like those of Franco Spain and launch through the United Nations a campaign to create a world that is truly free, in 33W' Union M £93 1952-2 , Adopted 121 the Golden Jubilee Convention ZDenver: Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, 1952). 101+ which men.may find justice through democratic and peaceful processes.3 The Farmers"Union resolution indicates a hope that the United Nations "will grow into a world government."35 ”The Union desires to see strengthened international agencies within this world government. An international program.may inaugurate land reform.to discourage "un- democratic elements, procedures and practices."36 The Union recognizes disarmament as an international policy which ultimately will achieve peace. A plea for American investments in Point IV as large as those investments in preparation for war will also con- tribute to peace. The organization opposed universal military training because this would involve "turning the nation over to rule by the military."37 The role of the organization in promoting peace is stated in a publication of the North Dakota Farmers' Union: The road to permanent peace will be perilous. Even now [I9h17 the idea that a third World war is inevitable is accepted in high places. If the Farmers"Union is to play a part in.making an enduring peace possible it must take positions that are unpopular. It must combat the propaganda mills of press and radio with basic education. Perilous indeed are international relations in the years ahead. The American farmer*must be concerned with what is happening in the world. Through organization he can have a voice in.making the 3thid., p. 31. 35Ibid., p. 9. 36Ibid., p. 10. 37Ibid. 105 fateful decisions in the years ahead.38 The way in which.Farmers' Union values bridge the areas of interest of the Ford study and incorporate into these areas a moral orientation is demonstrated in the following abstract from a radio broadcast: Peace on earth among men of goodwill must mean motivations of other than selfishness, cooperative methods in place of competitive habits, service of government to protect the weak against the strong, unselfish acts of individual nations, and some form of responsible world government with authority to settle differences.39 The last citation.implies, similarly as an earlier cited resolu- tion stated, that the failure to have peaceful international relations is not solely the responsibility of aggressive nations. Strengtheninggof Democracy The Farmers' Union position on civil rights unambiguously deals with the threat of "McCarthyism," the Smith and McCarran acts and govern- ment loyalty programs. The resolution encourages" an intelligent and informed constituency" which will not accept rumors or prejudices as bases on which to judge persons, ideas or issues. Freedom of expression and association receive support in this pronouncement.ho Democracy is not limited to affairs of government or economics but is involved in social organization as well. Again quoting from a radio broadcast of the North Dakota Farmers"Union: 38Knight, gp. _c_i_'_c_., p. 167. 39Chester Graham, Director of Radio, North Dakota Farmers' Union, radio talk given on December 13, l9h8. hOFarmers' Union Program for 1922-53, pp. cit., pp. 30-31. 106 It ought to be easy for every honest citizen of our modern world to see that we cannot fight intolerance and bigotry on a world scale without opposing them with the same determination at home. We cannot effectively condemn the lack of free elec- tions in Russia and the Soviet orbit and condone the poll tax in Mississippi. We cannot condemn the absence of free speech behind the iron curtain and say nothing about unreasonable attacks upon leaders in our own country who are sincere and loyal but who do not approve of all the status quo in our social and economic life. We cannot fight slave labor in the Soviet 'Union and do nothing about atrocities against our own.migrant workers. The North Dakota Farmers' Union attempts to develop its beliefs concern- ing human relations in the following ways: we are trying to create a cultural pattern in North Dakota by using folklore, folksongs, historical treatment of the pioneer days. We are emphasizing the ways farmers could work, think out problems, dream.and create. If we are going to build world peace we have to understand and appreciate other peoples' culture)"2 The Union position indicates no fear in "big government" if the pe0ple democratically participate in assuming responsibilities as citizens. In fact, Union literature indicates the necessity fer this kind of participation provides a rationale for voluntary organizations. The "legislated economy" dictates that citizens take part in government and demonstrate their interest by participating at all levels of govern- ment. Union pronouncements abound with encouragements to write letters 1&3 to congressmen and other government officials. hIChester Graham, 22. cit., radio talk given on May 26, 1950. L2Personal interview with Mrs. Lulu Evanson, op. cit. h3Handbook for Farmers Union Locals, op. cit., pp. l9-20. In this source sample addresses of national officials and sample resolutions on federal aid to education are provided for members to follow in writing officials. 107 National Farmers' Union expressions indicate that government agriculture programs should be administered by farmers themselves. Elected farmers committees for administering programs should direct government employees in their areas. To specify the relationships further the resolution indicated: . . . The channel of administration and policy communica- tion should be from the farm family to the Department, throughMt the county and state farmer committees, not from the top down. In this expression is found, par excellence, citizen participation in affairs of government. Understanding_and Strengtheninggof the Economy The delegates to the 1952 biennial convention resolved on.many issues with economic relevance. Included are comments relative to the agricultural economy, cooperatives, national economy and labor. For ex- ample: The Farmers' Union "View of the Economic System" we believe in the preservation and strengthening of a genuinely free interprise economy which adapts itself continuously to the common good. We believe in the encouragement of private enter- prise. Cooperatives are an important form of free private enter- prise. We are convinced that their growth should be encouraged to perform those tasks they can best accomplish, emphasizing that they too must serve the common good. We believe that government should take whatever economic action is necessary in the perform- ance of those tasks for the common good which cannot or are Eot being performed.by individual enterprise or by cooperatives.5 The economic positions of the Union favor parity income for farmers, 1”"Farmers' Union Program for 1952-53, _p. 933., p. 16. h51bid., p. 7. 108 expanded low-cost credit facilities, income protection from natural hazards and personal disability and government intervention in the economy to insure full employment, to expand "social" and "cultural" ser- vices, to develop "coordinated development" of "every river valley in the nation.“6 Also the Union encourages goverrment anti-monopoly actions. The organization's position here regards economic and political concen- trations as maladapted to resource developnent and providing a disservice to the common good. The Union traditionally supports organized labor."(7 It Opposes the Taft-Hartley Act and approves high minimum wage legislation."8 A statement which does more than reveal the Farmers' Union attitude toward economic activity is the following: Validation of success in terms of externals has become the mark of our civilization. In such a value system, human.re1a- tions take on the ethical values of the salesman. The idols of the.market place reign supreme. Competition is the most power- ful law. The competitive personality governed by the ideals of an industrial society must always be out in front. We must be better than others, for to be so yields the greatest returns. In the world of a person so conditioned, it is taken for granted that some persons are inferior to others in their capacity to achieve. To most such persons the notion that there are whole groups of mankind which are unimprovably inferior is not only acceptable but indispensably necessary, for it constitutes at once a proof of the validity ththe system.and.an incentive to go ahead and reap its benefits. h6Ibid., pp. 6-8. h7For instance, of the three organizations' printed resolutions, only the Farmers' Union resolutions include the printers union symbol. 1+8Farmers' Union Program for 10:52-53, op. cit., p. 8. thrO___g___ram, Arkansas Farmers' Unjon Camp, 1951, op. o_i_t_., p. 33. 109 Cooperation holds a central place in the Farmers' Union program. Social and economic problems regardless of level and scope may be solved through the application of cooperative organization. The following citations from Farmers' Union publications will demonstrate the value of cooperation as held by the organization. For example: Man is born for co-Operation, not for competition or conflict. This is a basic discovery of'modern science. It confirms a dis- covery made some two thousand.years ago by one Jesus of Nazareth. In a word: It is the principle of love which embraces all mankind. It is the principle of humanity, of one world, one brotherhood of people.50 Meet fanmers' cooperative activity is in marketing farm products. Farmers' Union cooperatives are principally marketing organizations but it assigns an important role to consumers' cooperation as well. This position occurs because we are all consumers. The "consumer-oriented society" will be the final goal of an economically abundant society.51 Cooperation involves more than economic considerations alone. Coopera- tives constitute a means of achieving democracy and has the literal mean- ing of "working together."52 Recently the Union has developed an insurance program. The rationale for instituting this program and values of the organization are demonstrated in the following: This wealth [money paid for insurance premiumo7 left the com- munity where it was produced, and if it returned at all it was only in return for a mortgage on the farm. . . . The insurance 50Ibid., p. 3h. 51Knight, pp. 933., p. 79. 529mm, Arkansas Farmers' Union Camp, 1951, _p. 3333., p. 18. 110, companies have piled up huge amounts of money until today they are the biggest gatherers of capital in the world. Their.money is used to finance monopoly businesses against which coopera- tives must struggle to exist. . . . the money that farmers pay to their own insurance co- operative is used to promote other cooperatives in their com- munity.53 Other Dominant Values of the Farmers' Union The value orientation of this organization toward brotherhood has been stated in a number of preceding citations. However, the following relates several values in one statement: The United States must be Morally Strong. we must rededicate ourselves to the Christian concepts and in all our dealings strive for a true brotherhood of:men living in peace. This means that we must crusade against poverty and.want for the reward alone of seeing it banished. This means we must interest our- selves, unselfishly, in milk for the Hottentots and in a better life for all. It means that we must return to the basic doctrine preached by the founders of our Farmers Union--the GoldenRule.5 A vast amount of Farmers' Union literature relating to the neigh- borhood, community, and farm life in general may be subsumed under the heading of agrarianism. This philosophy concerns the goodness of rural life as opposed to urban living. Thus the locus of Farmers' Union meet- ings should be in the country: we shudder every time a local is set up in town. Too many pool halls, moving picture shows, etc. The local should meet out in the country where there are no distractions.5 5hArkansas Farmers'Union Principles and PrOgram, Adopted at the Annual Meeting, I221 (LittISIRock: Arkansas Farmers' Union, 19517: n.p. 55Knight, op. olt,, p. 38. Knight quotes from an article which appeared in.a house organ Of January, 1929. 111 Loomis found the same value orientation stated in terms of Farmers' Union activities. He wrote: In 1910, the organizer-lecturer reported that approximately 75,000 psOple had attended the Union rallies and picnics during the summer. He [the organizer-lectureo7 also stated that the best results were Obtained when these rallies were held in the country.56 Recent Farmers' Union literature emphasizes the goodness of rural neighborhoods and farm.life. Thus it is that "love of land not money keeps them_[farmer§7 on the land."57 And finally the organization empha- sizes that rural churches and schools must remain active to "nurture neighborliness."58 III. VALUE ORIENTATION OF THE FARM BUREAU The Farm.Bureau resolutions of 1950 included 25 sections. Over one-half Of the total space is devoted to the section on international affairs, plus the sections on agricultural credit, defense production, federal taxation and inflation control. The education, rural health, taxation.of cooperatives, decentralization of government, programs of rural electrification and telephone, and.1abor-management sections account 56Charles P. Loomis, "Activities of the North Carolina Farmers' Union," North Carolina Historical Review, Vol. VII, No. A (October, 1930), p. #60. See also p. K68. In another context Loomis cited a 1913 resolu- tion.which demanded that country life be emphasized in textbooks for use by rural children. 57m, Arkansas Farmers' Union Camp, 1951, 22° 93.33:: p. 2. 58Prqgram, North Dakota Farmers' Union Ladies Camp, 1951, op. cit., no pagination. The above quote is taken from the Christian Roral Fellow- ship Bulletin, no date or further citation. 112 for nearly one fourth of the total. The international affairs section involved by far-~one-fourth--the greatest space. The section headings indicate Farm Bureau interest in the areas of international understanding for peace, strengthening of democracy and the economy. Like the Union, the Farm.Bureau resolved with reference to its own organization. International Understanding for Peace Under the introductory statement--The Challenge-~Farm.Bureau dele- gates recognize United States leadership in "the world-wide defense of freedom, democracy, the dignity of’man.and religious freedom."59 The proper role of government in the fight against Communism is to insure our remaining a free people while protecting "our traditional freedoms and those economic principles that have made our nation great."60 The United States' economic foreign policy should reGOgnize that most of the world's resources lie in foreign countries. In view of this foreign economic programs must include mutual aid and.self-help because subsidies alone are not sound in foreign affairs. On the theme of'mutual aid: The United States should state prerequisites for economic, political, and.military strength as conditions to United States aid. If we have not the courage to make such conditions and "would be" recipients have not the strength to comply, then we commit oureelves without limit--a commitment the acceptance of which could destroy us. Nations that would join with us should adopt the necessary monetary and fiscal measures which assure sound currencies. They should collaborate among themselves and each in turn aid their weaker sister nations. 1 59Resolutions Adooted.oo the 32nd Annual Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation, op. 913., p. 5. 8‘ H 0‘ H- 9‘ 61Ibid., p. 7. 113 With reference to Point IV the delegates at the 1950 Farm.Bureau meeting resolved: Emphasis should be given to increased production of food and scarce materials in these areas. Where prudent, United States surplus foods should be used to raise living standards in ex- change for underdeveloped natural resources or*materials essential to our economy. In the implementation.of this program, dependence should be placed on private investment, free egterprise, and private trade with pr0perty rights guaranteed. 2 Exchange of persons programs were encouraged as stated in the resolution on International Training. For example: The American Farm.Bureau Federation.will continue to promote and sponsor programs that will increase the number of farmers, students, and farm.1eaders visiting America to study agricultural techniques and to become better acquainted with our democratic way of life. 3 Farm Bureau women are extremely active in the Associated Country Woman of the WOrld. The preponderance of organizations in the United States which are affiliated with this organization are women's affili- ates Of State Farm Bureaus. Of all member societies throughout the world the Iowa Farm Bureau Women.make the largest financial contributions to the ACWW.6h Chief representation to the ACWW comes from the United States, the British Commonwealth Of’Nations, the Low Countries, and the Scanda- navian Countries. The assembled delegates at the 1950 annual meeting of the American.Farm Bureau resolved in favor of the ACWW and encouraged every Farm.Bureau woman to support the organization. 62 63 Ibido, p. 80 Ibid., p. 10. 61"Personal interview with.Mrs. Raymond Sayre, President, Associated Country Woman of the World, Ackworth, Iowa, October 21, 1951. 11h Of the three large scale organizations the Farm Bureau appears to attach greatest importance to international affairs. Strengthening of Democracy The Farm Bureau considers over-centralization Of goverrment an important problem and prefers to see de-centralization develop so that "'big government' will be kept close to and responsive to the people."65 Such a reversal may be brought about by the use of traditional federal grant-in-aid programs which allow federal support but prevent its control. By such a procedure local peOple have greater interest in goverrment and are more likely to participate in decision making. The rationale for the Farm Bureau "Get Out the Vote" campaign is to Obtain citizen participa- tion in government affairs. In 1950, about 30 State Farm Bureaus partic- ipated. Political party organizations have increased participation of urban citizens in voting. The Farm Bureau has concentrated on getting out the rural vote.66 The Farm Bureau prefers locally controlled government prOgrams. For example: We have no trouble working with agencies that are governed locally. However, in the straight line goverrment agencies the local person can not make policies. . . . As long as the local man can make a decision we can get along with him. 7 65Resolutions Adooted oi the 32nd Annual Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation, op. cit., p. 21. 66Personal interview with w. I. Storey, Director of legislative Activity, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Des Moines, Iowa, October 27, 1951. 67Pereona1 interview with Waldo Frazier, op. cit. 115 The Extension Services represent adecentralized government pro- gram.68 The belief that local representatives of the straight line agencies can not make decisions is not the only Objection Farm Bureau has to this kind of government organization. Workers in these agencies "soon- er or later get into partisan politics." These workers of the executive branch of government eventually try to influence public policy by mar- shaling citizen support for their agency.69 With this orientation toward government the Farm Bureau regards the executive branch of government as the passive applier of legislation. Congress is the branch of government "closest to the people."70 Strengthening of the Economy A major emphasis of the American Farm Bureau during 1951 was its program of inflation control. In 1950 the delegates to its national meet- ing resolved that price and wage controls deal with symptoms of inflation andnot its causes. These controls reduce flexibilitywhich is necessary to efficient production. Inflation would be overcome by increased pro- duction resulting from higher productivity, increased length Of the work 71 week and strict government economy. 68Kile, op. _c_i_t_., p. 336. 69Ibid. , p. 338. 701950 Annual Report (Chicago: American Farm Bureau Federation, 1950), p. 30. Personal interview with James Baccus, op. olp. Mr. Baccus said "The North Dakota Farm Bureau considered the Family Farm Policy. Review an invasion of Congress' right. The same attitude was expressed by the Executive Secretary of the Iowa Bureau. 71W Ado ted 93: the32nd Annual Meetiog of the American Farm Bureau Federation, op. it. , p.——6. c— 116 Both legislative and executive branches of government were asked to defer: Costly new programs . . . except where immediate action is essential for the national defense. Now, during a period of high employment and scarcities of many essential materials, is not the time to add new services or construct works which can be deferred.72 The Farm Bureau suggests that both labor and.management look to increased production for an.optimum situation. Government antiemonopoly programs are approved because of the characteristic that the farmer pro- duces for a free market. In concluding the labor-management section the delegates resolved: . . . A.high level of production at fair prices is the objective of American agriculture. We recommend that both labor and industry accept this as their Objective.73 Government credit prOgrams which encourage "farmers to remain in uneconomic operations . . . when industry needs manpower . . . helps neither the individual nor national defense."7h The Farm Bureau position toward farmer cooperatives is,like the other large scale organizations, favorable to this economic form.75 Other Dominant values of the Farm.Bureau One valuation which constantly recurs in.Farm Bureau literature is the emphasis on "economy," "efficiency," "business—methods" and similar kinds of terms. These can be subsumed, it is believed, under the general 721212" p. 18. 73Iplo., p. 23. 7h2229" p. 25. 78Iplo., p. 20. 117 heading of "rationality." This particular value-orientation has had a long standing place in the Farm Bureau organization. For example, at a pre-organization.meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation it was said: ' We shall organize, not to fight anyone or to antagonize, but to GOOperate and construct, managing the affairs of agriculture in a broad business manner, following the policy that most of the ills complained of by the individual will disappear when business is done in business ways.76 The following year, at the first national level meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Henry C. Wallace, Editor of wallace's Farmer, and later Secretary of Agriculture, told the assemblage: This federation must get to work at once on a real business program if it is to justify its existence. This doesn't mean turning the work over to committees of farmers, either. Every line of work must be in charge of experts. . . . This federa- tion must not degenerate into an educational or social institu- tion. It must be made the most powerful business institution in the country.77 From the Annual Report of 1950 for the American Farm Bureau Federa- tion the farmer is described in the following terms: The Farm.Bureau.members in the Northeast Region are deeply interested in appraising the factors that have made our nation great. They want to make sure that farmers and other groups understand what has made American farmers efficient. They believe that Farm.Bureau is an organization that can assume the responsibility of making this possible. Farm.Bureau.members in the Northeast are also interested in building unity in American Agriculture and believe that if they are to be free and independent businessmen, it will be necessary for them to 76Kile, op. olp., p. 50. Kile quotes the first president of the Illinois Agricultural Association in the keynote speech at an.AFBF pre- organization meeting. 771mm, p. 123. DeTocqueville, op. 313., p. 361, wrote: "Almost all the farmers of the United States combine some trade with agriculture, most of them make agriculture itself a trade . . . the Americans carry their businesslike qualities into agriculture, and their trading passions are displayed in that as in their other pursuits." 118 78 agree on some fundamental principles within Farm.Bureau. In Kile's book you are taken on an imaginary tour of a County Farm.Bureau building in Illinois. For example: As you walk about the building, glancing at the various private Offices and special-purpose rooms, you get the im- pression of a well-equipped.modern business office. Except for the posters and exhibits of agricultural interest, which you note on the walls you might be visiting the headquarters of a private business organization.79 Although, Kile notes, entertainment and recreation occurs in these facilities, these are strictly separated from business meetings.80 A value orientation which displays another dimension of ration- ality is concerned with an organization Objective of obtaining solid sup- port of’members in programs of the organization. Thus the delegates to the 1950 annual meeting of the American Farm.Bureau Federation resolved: Much depends in the future upon the attitudes of our citizenry and the members of Farm.Bureau. Each member is urged to adopt an attitude of positively supporting policies which have proved to be right, and then everlastingly being for them. 1 - ' In a similar vein is a statement found in a report of the Iowa Farm.Bureau. One speaker stated: The Farm Bureau WOmen's program and policies are developed by the demands and wishes of the majority of the people. we defend our policies, we believe in and know our course. There is no deviation from this course. 2 781220 Annual Report, American Farm Bureau Federation, op. cit., p. 15. 79K11e, op. _c_i_t_., p. 378. 80Ibid., p. 38h. 81Resolutions Adopted.op the 32nd Annual Meetipg of the American Farm Bureau Federation, op. cit., p. 35. 822opopp of the §oooo£ Conference, Iowa Farm Bureau WOmen, op. 119 This same emphasis is stressed with reference to the meaning of partici- pation in policy deve10pment in the Ohio Farm Bureau. Thus: we believe that the process of contributing to the develop- ment of policy carries with it the responsibility of support Of the Farm.Bureau program. 3 Possibly this is a means of integrating members into the program of a volunteer organization.whose value system holds rationality in high re- gard. IV. SUMMARY OF VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS The Grange value orientation toward international affairs indicates the importance of citizen participation in assistance programs or in pro- grams seeking international understanding. A study-action emphasis characterizes the Grange orientation toward combatting Communism, In the area of government Congress exercises control over the Executive Branch. "Good" government has a passive role with reference to its relationship to the citizen. In economic concerns the Grange places emphasis on "economy" as saving. In cooperation its orientation is toward.marketing cooperatives. 'WOrk, temperance, the local community and stability appear to be other dominant values of the Grange. The Farmers"Union,regards world government as the end product of contemporary international affairs. Within the framework of the United Nations positive actions have to be taken in order to achieve peace. The Union pronouncement on civil rights was unique among values expressed by 83Stanfie1d, op. 213., p. 3. 120 the three organizations. We must develop domestic democracy and in addi- tion foster it, throughout the world. The Union favors direct citizen participation in government. This organization does not express a fear Of big government nor does it prefer the legislative as compared to the executive branch of government. In economic concerns the Farmers' Union favors government intervention in.many areas of the economy. It dele- gates much economic importance to cooperatives. Brotherhood, neighbor- hood and farming appear as other dominant Farmers' Union values. The Farm Bureau recognizes this country's leadership of one part of the world. In international affairs economic concerns and agreement with our values have great importance. The Farm Bureau devotes more emphasis to international affairs than do the other organizations. The Farm.Bureau views government programs with control in local hands--the Extension Services--as a means by which all levels of government may operate to the benefit of citizens. The Bureau regards the executive branch as the applying agent for the legislative branch of government. Farm.Bureau regards economic problems essentially as problems in produc- tion. Other than these values the Farm Bureau materials predominantly emphasize the values of rationality and organization integration concern- ing the Farm.Bureau program. Participation in policy development lpoo facto should develop member agreement with organization policies. CHAPTER V ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES AND VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS The preceding two chapters described structures and value orien- tations of the three large scale organizations. This chapter analyzes selected data by which intra—organi zation and inter-organization compari- sons may be made . Quantitative Analysis of Responses Received from the Lower Level Units in the large Scale Organizations The data in this section came from the 263 county mailed question- naire responses received as a result of the first mailed request to local and county units. The following significant differences of proportions (data in Table IV) occur in comparing the two lower level units Of an organization with respect to responding to the questionnaire: Grange (C.R. 2 6.59), Farmers' Union (C.R. = 3.12), and Farm Bureau (C.R. : 7.01).l Critical ratios of this magnitude indicate that members at these two levels in the organization differ in a highly significant way in return- ing the questionnaire. Positive action in responding to the questionnaire correlates with higher position in the structure. J'Thomas C. McCormick, Elementary Social Statistics (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., l9hl) , pp. 266-267. Formula used for obtaining critical ratio: I + l w p m P ' «~v -- ”_— ‘_ i i 2. _ “‘ g -r‘ ED 122 TABLE IV NUMBER AND PER CENT OF RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM LOCAL AND COUNTY UNITS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 263 COUNTY SAMPLE Number of Units Responding Units Unit gggtggfizgiig Number Per Cent Local Grange 775 96 12.’+ County Grange 65 11: 21.5 Local Union 1118 - 29 19.6 County Union 37 10 27.0 Local Bureau 101:0 11+7 1h.1 County Bureau 203 ‘ 70 311.5 W 123 Table V includes responses received indicating whether or not the specified level carried on efforts in adult education. From these data it is apparent that the respondents at the county level of an organiza- tion.more likely reported adult education efforts than did local respond- ents.2 In Table VI the same relationships exist as existed in the preced- ing analysis. The county level respondents more likely report adult education efforts in the Ford areas than do local respondents. Carrying on adult education often includes joint effort with other organizations of the area. The data in Table VII include only those respondents who reported their unit carried on this kind of effort and 'who also reported on extra-organization involvement. Without exception the mean.number of extra-organization involvements increases from the local to the county level. These data show empirical variation among the large scale organizations in addition to the mean differences apply- ing to the two units of the same organization, Because of these observed -variations the data in Table VII were grOuped into those organization- classes used in Table VIII and some data, those for which a small number of cases were reported, were discarded. HOwever, perhaps of more interest, are the intra-organization and inter-organization comparisons. Within an.organization the data on extra- 2No statistical tests were used on the data analyzed in.Tables V and VI because of the limited number of cases in company with the occur- rence of zero frequencies. To have added a constant would have distorted relationships. 12h TABLE V NUMBER AND HER CENT OF RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM LOCAL AND COUNTY UNITS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY REPORTING EFFORTS IN ADULT EDUCATION Reported Did.Not Report Efforts in Efforts in “0 Reply 01‘ Total Adult Adult not Ascor- Unit Education Education tainable Nume Per Num- Per lum- Per Num- Per ber Cent ber Cent ber Cent ber Cent Local Grange 93 100.0 68 73.1 22 23.7 3 3.2 County Grange 1h 100.0 lb 100.0 0 0.0 O 0.0 Local Union 29 100.0. 26 89.7 2 6.9 l 3.h County Union 10 100.0 10 100.0 0 0.0 O 0.0 Local Bureau 1A7 100 .0 11h 77 . 5 27 18 .h 6 h. 1 County Bureau A6 100.0 39 8h.8 6 13.0 1 2.2 TABLE VI 125 NUMBER AND FER CENI‘ OF RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM LOCAL AND COUNTY UNITS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS REPORTING ADULT EDUCATION EFFORTS IN THE FORD FOUNDATION AREAS OF INTEREST Reported Did Not Report Efforts in Efforts in NO Reply or Total Ford Founda- Ford Founda- not Ascer- tion Areas tion Areas of tainable Unit of Interest Interest Num- Per Num- Per Num- Per Num- Per ber Cent ber Cent ber Cent ber Cent Local Grange 69 100.0 A6 66.7 13 18.8 10 1h.5 County Grange 11+ 100.0 13 92.9 0 0.0 1 7.1 Local Union 27 100.0 20 71+.1 3 11.1 1+ 11+.8 County Union 10 100.0 10 100.0 0 '0.0 O 0.0 Local Bureau 122 100.0 82 67.2 25 20.5 15 12.3 County Bureau 1&3 100.0 3h 79.1 5 11.6 h 9.3 126 o.» m m.em we m.nn em m.mn em m.em ma m.am mm e.mm He e.em me o.oou me reopen honooo m.e m e.mm mm e.ne em e.mm me w.mm .me m.em ea s.me em e.mm moa o.ooe was ecosam Haooq o.oa a 0.0m m 0.00 m 0.0m m 0.0m m 0.0: a 0.0m m o.ooa 0H o.ooa oa dean: hvcnoo a.» m n.©H n :.Hw mm m.:H : m.mm m m.mm w m.mm wa m.mm mm o.ooa pm oofinb Hooog H.mm m m.we _m m.mw m m.mm a n.aw m m.mm m w.w> 0H m.m> 0H o.ooa ma owocao hpnnoo :.mm mm m.ma m H.:: Om H.ma ma :.>n mm m.an mm :.>n mm :.mm mm o.ooa mm omcdao Heooq vcoo non pnoo hop pnoo pop peso hep pnoo hon pceo pep oneo yep ammo hep peso hop hem -aoz hem ussz new -asz hem -acz hem usaz hem uaoz pom nasz Hem iaoz new team mseoeam Hfiooooo no nofip mofipfim seashom dofipeu pan: hnmhoaq hpfindeeoo -enwcawho -ho>unD nouono Hoonom no one -Homwno Hooch defiance erodes a one due noaomuficemao ZOHB¢oDDH BADQ< 2H BZHZH>AO>ZH BOHB.H w.> m.m AH ®.>H m.Hm season Heooq H.m 0.0m 0.0 0.0m o.oa o.oa H o.oa 0.0: noHnD hpnsoo m.z m.mm ~.m n.wa :.w a.» m H.Ha m.mm ooficb Heooq n.m m.6m e.ma o.o m.om a.» a H.mm m.mn arcane . hocsoo H.m H.ma m.m o.o m.em m.0H e o.mm e.mm mm m.mm crease Heooq mocese>ao> pcoo pnoo hep pcoo hop pooo pop pcoo hon pcoo onoo hop Homo unH no? nom nom .55 Mom A52 Mom .852 mom neon hem Mom .55 gem umuficemso pans .wn .wh .mh .m ehpnm scope Hmcofim Mono Hensomeam econome> mpnmmmm “Newmwwo mo hopes: umomosm a new: nofipeufioewso «essence E SE 128 TABLE VIII NUMBER OF CHOICES GIVEN BY RESPONDENTS AT TWO LEVELS OF THE LARGE SCALE ORGANIZATIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS OR CLASSES OF ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHICH THEIR UNIT WORKED IN CARRYING ON ADULT EDUCATION* Church, Polif Noni-farm L Farm Exten- School ical Occupa- Com- Unit Organi - s ion and Organi- t ional munity N zation Service Parents zat ion Organi- Organi - Organi- or zation zation zat ion B ureau Local Grange 56 39 91 30 29 57 302 County Grange 10 10 2O 9 9 12 70 Local Union 25 l6 17 22 12 11 103 County Uni on 10 8 8 9 7 1+ 1+6 Local 7 Bureau 109 9A 107 5A 35 72 A71 County Bureau 1+2 Al 142 2 1+ 17 31 197 N 252 208 285 1A8 109 187 1189 *It is recognized that the County Union cell in the last column has too few cases. This cell did not, however, unduly contribute to any chi s<1uare values in which it was involved. Chi square for Grange levels, 5 d.f., 1.87, p. between .90 and .80 Chi square for‘Union levels, 5 d.f., .68, p. between .99 and .98 Chi square fOr Bureau levels, 5 d.f., .73, p. between .99 and .98 Chi square for inter organization comparison of Local‘Units, 10 d.f., 29.1h, p. of .01 Chi square for inter organization comparison of County‘Units, 10 d.f., 9A7, p. of .50 129 organization involvement in adult education programs show no significant differences. However, fer the Bureau and'Union significant similarities (p. between .99 and .98) prevail when comparing involvements entered by local and county units for carrying on adult education. Inter-organiza- tion comparisons show significant differences at the local level (p. = 01) but none (p. = 50) at the county level. Members Of local Granges report a tendency to work with churches and schools, women's clubs and community organizations in general. Members of local Unions report a tendency to work with political and labor organizations. Members of local Farm.Bureaus report a tendency to work with college-related adult education agencies. These identified variations probably account for the significant differ- ences prevailing in the comparison of local units. Interestingly, however, when the organizations' county units are compared no significant differences nor similarities occur. The data in.TableVIIcome from.a check list which indicated general kinds of organizations on the mailed questionnaire (Section D on the Form 1 questionnaire). Immediately following this check list respondents were asked to name three specific organizations their group most often worked with. For the following analysis the first organization named by a re- spondent was assumed to be equated with the most important organization. Following this assumption all responses were sorted, by level, into two sub-samples: The first sub-sample "A" included those respondents who indicated "farm organization" first; the second sub-sample "B" included all other respondents exclusive of those who made no response. After this sort was accomplished the two sub-samples were run against responses 130 received in the check list.3 Table IX shows, in summary form, the out- cans of these analyses. mcept for the Local Grange sample in the Taylor sample, the mean number of organizations worked with by the "B" units was larger than the number reported by "A" units. When a respondent indicates the farm organization was the most important organization worked with this response was associated with a lower mean. Involvement with other organizations to carry on adult education includes communicating with members of these organizations and citizens of the area as well. Mass media may be used in this process. On the other hand, mass media may be useful as a program technique. For example, radio listening groups or motion pictures may be used as a method in an educa- tional program. Table I lists the mass media methods employed by the lower level units of the large scale organizations. Percentagewise local level units of an organization more emphasize the use of motion pictures than do units at the county level. This suggests that locals employ motion pictures to supply education in anentertaining way. Respondents at the county level place greater emphasis on newspapers and radio. It appears as though the county level unit employs mass media more in an out- ward facing manner for publicity and announcing events. At the county level the orientation appears to be toward informing members or the public. At the local level a consumption orientation prevails in which the mass media are used in an inward facing way to provide adult education for 3Sub-classifying samples was not accomplished for Farmers' Unions and County Grange samples in the 263 county sample because of number. 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