Interviews

ABOLITIONIST BACKGROUND IN STILLMAN FAMILY
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long (née Stillman) born in western New York state, into family with abolitionist tradition.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN RURAL NEW YORK STATE
Scope and Content Note: State of New York required one year of teaching experience before certification.

JEAN STILLMAN'S INTRODUCTION TO WISCONSIN: EDUCATION IN MILWAUKEE AND NEW YORK
Scope and Content Note: Moved to Milwaukee with parents when ten; graduated from South Division high school about 1909. Attended Milwaukee Normal College; finished at Genesee Normal in New York State in preparation of a teaching career.

TEACHING IN MONTANA BEGINNING IN 1912
Scope and Content Note: Became interested in Montana because of friend having read Owen Wister's The Virginian. Went to Kalispell, Montana first and began teaching at Cayuse Prairie.

CONTRAST OF WOMANHOOD IN MONTANA AND IN NEW YORK STATE
Scope and Content Note: Women treated more like equals and had a great deal more freedom in Montana than in New York.

ANECDOTE ABOUT A DRUNK BEING HOG-TIED AT A DANCE WHERE LADIES WERE PRESENT

HOW JEAN STILLMAN DISCREETLY PLANNED TO GO TO MONTANA
Scope and Content Note: Kept plans from parents, knowing they would disapprove.

TREATMENT OF WOMEN ON THE MONTANA FRONTIER
Scope and Content Note: Ratio of males to females influenced the way women were treated.

DIFFICULTY OF TRAVEL IN MONTANA
Scope and Content Note: Difficulty of travel by horse prevented regular church attendance or attendance at functions that required traveling a long distance.

BACKGROUND OF GRANDFATHER: E.A. STILLMAN
Scope and Content Note: Grandfather E.A. Stillman an active abolitionist and secretary, New York abolitionist society. Helped raise money to send slaves to Liberia; ran station for underground railroad.

ANECDOTE ABOUT FORMER SLAVES RETURNING TO WESTERN NEW YORK TO TELL ABOUT HOW THEY HAD ESCAPED TO CANADA YEARS BEFORE

MORE ON BACKGROUND OF E.A. STILLMAN
Scope and Content Note: Cabin boy on ships engaged in the slave trade; graduated from Brown University, ordained as Baptist minister, preached for two years. Became an engineer, worked on Erie canal, discovered and publicized graft on project, and was fired. Became involved in anti-slavery activity. Purchased four hundred acres of land in western New York near Batavia to escape big city, fathered eight children, one of which was the father of Jean Stillman.

E.A. STILLMAN REFUSES EDITORIAL POSITION ON NEW YORK CITY NEWSPAPER
Scope and Content Note: Refused to accept because did not wish to be censored. Stillman in 1833 submitted letter to a New York newspaper on the slavery issue which was not published because it was “too controversial.”

JEAN STILLMAN'S FATHER: ENGINEER AND INVENTOR
Scope and Content Note: Father grew up around E.A. Stillman's cooper mill and lumber mill. Married, began family, moved to Milwaukee, where his brother was postmaster of Milwaukee and owned hat factory. Father began a lifetime of engineering and inventing. Later moved to Appleton to work as engineer for a paper coating company. Worked on early air conditioning process to help coated paper manufacturing process and also developed a fuel-injection furnace. Life-long Republican and self-declared “conservative.”

ORIGINS OF JEAN STILLMAN'S REBELLIOUSNESS
Scope and Content Note: Believes she acquired liberal ideas from anti-status quo tradition of her grandfather. Mother busy, with little time for the children, and Jean Stillman had rather free rein; developed into headstrong woman.

INFLUENCE OF MONTANA UPON JEAN STILLMAN
Scope and Content Note: Gained unrestricted freedom of activity. Rode horseback, taught school, developed her own curriculum, taught in forest reserve during summer months.

ANECDOTE ABOUT JEAN STILLMAN SENDING A MAN TO FORT LEAVENWORTH
Scope and Content Note: Relates to her ability to read palms.

COMPLETION OF FORT LEAVENWORTH ANECDOTE

WHERE JEAN STILLMAN TAUGHT IN MONTANA
Scope and Content Note: Always taught in ranching areas--Cayuse Prairie; Sparks (about ten miles north of Kalispell); summer term at forest preserve near Sparks---between 1912 and 1918. Married in 1918 and left Montana.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE
Scope and Content Note: Jean Stillman joined “Townley League” (Non-Partisan League), an organization joined by many in area. School board that hired her dominated by socialists, at first insisted that she not raise American flag at school.

ETHNIC BACKGROUND OF PEOPLE IN AREA WHERE JEAN STILLMAN TAUGHT
Scope and Content Note: Predominately Germans and Norwegians who had come directly from Europe.

ANECDOTE ABOUT JEAN STILLMAN ACCOMPANYING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SPEECH BY EUGENE DEBS
Scope and Content Note: Rode with school board member in a carriage adorned with red ribbons to speech by Eugene Debs. Some five to six hundred persons turned out to hear his Kalispell speech, where disturbances in past had added to interest of people in socialism.

WHY JEAN STILLMAN QUIT THE NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE
Scope and Content Note: No money to pay dues; became suspicious of NPL promoters.

HOW JEAN STILLMAN RETURNED TO WISCONSIN
Scope and Content Note: In 1918, Jean Stillman married a Wisconsin farmer, Clifford Y. Long, whose home was two and one-half miles south of Downsville, Wisconsin. Long's brother was treasurer of the school board where Jean Stillman taught in Montana.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE DWELLING IN WHICH JEAN LONG LIVED IN MONTANA
Scope and Content Note: On a mountainside in a dwelling built by Indians in Florence-Carleton area, Bitterroot Valley, near Missoula. Men in school district scrubbed it out to make it habitable.

HOW WISCONSIN FARM BRINGS CHANGE IN WAY OF LIVING FOR JEAN LONG
Scope and Content Note: “A terrible change.” Moved into farm house also inhabited by her mother-in-law. Jean Long expected to stay within four walls; considered an “educated fool,” but credited with “knowing her place.” Bore four children in less than four years.

DUTIES IN THE BARN
Scope and Content Note: Didn't work in the barn, though barn duties customary in the Downsville area for farm women. Clifford Long built good pure-bred Holstein herd, partly from his wife's savings. Milk production went down when Jean spent time in barn.

LIMITED SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN EARLY YEARS OF MARRIAGE
Scope and Content Note: Either not permitted to engage in social activities, or not interested in such neighborhood women's groups as homemakers clubs. Went to county fairs as a visitor only.

JEAN STILLMAN'S LEG INJURY IN MONTANA
Scope and Content Note: While in Montana, horse scraped hip and leg against corral posts, causing dislocated hip and permanent limp. Treated by “orthopedic osteopath.”

JEAN LONG BEGINS TO DIRECT PAGEANTS IN WISCONSIN FOR FARMERS UNION LOCAL
Scope and Content Note: Somebody in Farmers Union discovered that Jean Long had directed plays and pageants in Montana and sought her help in staging pageant in St. Croix County. Rehearsals lasted all night, but she continued to do regular chores at home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLIFFORD LONG'S DAIRY FARM DURING 1920's
Scope and Content Note: Eighty-six acre dairy farm, small but productive because of rich soil.

CLIFFORD (CY) LONG: BACKGROUND AND ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: When none of other sixteen Long children remained on farm Cy, the youngest, did. Member of Holstein breeders association; belonged to many farmer cooperative organizations in Downsville area, including tobacco growers; was a founder of the Downsville Cooperative Creamery; and charter member of the Equity local in Downsville. Mr. Prince of Chippewa Falls, officer in Society of Equity, often came to the Long farm to talk, and claimed the Equity state organization disintegrated because it lacked sound educational program.

HOW CY LONG CAME TO JOIN THE FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Organizer for Northwest Organizing Committee, National Farmers Union, signed up Cy Long, much to his wife's immediate disgust; felt he belonged to enough organizations already and that the new organization would not amount to anything.

ORIGINS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CY LONG WITH KENNETH W. HONES
Scope and Content Note: Cy Long first met Hones while Hones helping organize tobacco pool; beginning of lifelong friendship. Hones also was charter member of Colfax cooperative creamery.

FIRST CONVENTION OF THE DUNN COUNTY FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: First Dunn County Farmers Union convention held at Harvey Hall, Stout Institute, Menomonie. Kenneth Hones elected to board of directors, then to presidency of the Dunn County Union, while William Sanderson was elected secretary. Jean Long met both Hones and Sanderson for the first time at this convention.

FIRST STATE CONVENTION OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: A.W. Ricker and M.W. Thatcher helped organize first state' convention, where battle for control of the organization ensued. Group from Clark County, led by Jones, presented own slate of candidates. Group attempted to bribe Cy Long, chairman of Credentials Committee, into admitting Clark County delegates, but failed. Jones' slate of candidates narrowly defeated.

FARMERS UNION ORGANIZING ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Cy Long an organizer for Farmers Union commercial organization (as distinguished from the educational organization); was the first sales promoter for first Farmers Union gasoline station in Wisconsin. Northwest Organizing Committee had crews to sign up members for educational organization. Every township in Dunn County eventually organized.

INFLUENCE OF FARMERS UNION IN DUNN COUNTY POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: Influence began to grow with organizational strength. Helped defeat several incumbent county supervisors because of possible graft in road machinery purchases.

ANECDOTE ABOUT THREAT TO CY LONG OVER OLEOMARGARINE TAX
Scope and Content Note: Manager of A&P store in Menomonie once threatened Cy Long because Farmers Union supported the oleomargarine tax.

HOW ORGANIZERS WERE PAID
Scope and Content Note: Organizers hired by the Northwest Organizing Committee paid set amount for each member signed up; sum nearly equaled amount of new member's first year dues.

WHY THE FARMERS UNION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ORGANIZING IN WISCONSIN
Scope and Content Note: Offered program that Wisconsin farmers wanted, by way of legislation and influence. Filled a need for individual farmers to get together to discuss problems. Farmers Union asked farmers, "What do you want?"

ROLE OF UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EXTENSION IN EDUCATING FARMERS
Scope and Content Note: UW Extension encouraged rural people to discuss their problems together; helped them recognize problems and try to solve them. Pamphlets and personal contact encouraged farmers to read, form an opinion, and discuss problems in a meeting. Among the most helpful extension people were professors Arthur Wileden, Martin Anderson and Bruce Cartter, the latter especially with young people.

FARMERS LEARN TO DISCUSS AT A MEETING INSTEAD OF AFTER A MEETING
Scope and Content Note: Farmers commonly held post-meeting discussions about pending legislation after saying nothing during a Farmers Union meeting.

ANECDOTE ABOUT MENOMONIE BANK FORECLOSING ON A FARMER NEAR RUSK
Scope and Content Note: Farm taken away by a Menomonie bank although the farmer had paid back all but $200 on a $2000 loan.

ANECDOTE ABOUT FARMS CHANGING HANDS DURING HEAVY FORECLOSURE PERIOD
Scope and Content Note: Many changes in farm ownership in 1930's before Farm Security Administration (FSA) created.

LEGISLATION IMPORTANT TO FARMERS UNION MEMBERS DURING THE 1930's
Scope and Content Note: Important national and state legislation included such bills as those about FSA, mortgage foreclosures, performance of county board supervisors, farm-to-market roads. Farmers Union provided place where farmers could go for information.

MORE ON HELP RECEIVED FROM UW EXTENSION
Scope and Content Note: UW Extension helped farmers stand up and speak their minds. Martin Anderson would spend entire afternoons discussing how to hold a meeting.

COMMENT ON ODOROUS FARMERS IN YEARS PAST
Scope and Content Note: Stout Institute vowed not to rent auditorium because of a lingering barn order in the hall after Farmers Union meeting. Much different today, where it is hard to distinguish between city man and farmer.

PAGEANTS AND PLAYS BY FARMERS UNION LOCALS RAISE MONEY
Scope and Content Note: Locals put on one-act plays in various communities, charging 25-50 cents per ticket. Revenue helped the locals pay postal fees.

ANECDOTE ABOUT “PEACE SUNDAY” IN DUNN COUNTY CHURCHES
Scope and Content Note: A Sunday was set aside to help commemorate Eleanor Roosevelt's peace drive. Jean Long organized group of Farmers Union young people from throughout Dunn County to talk for five minutes on April Sunday about peace and prevention of war.

REASON FOR FARMERS UNION YOUTH PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long believed (and believes) Farmers Union youth program far ahead of 4-H program. Refers especially to the rewarding experiences at Kamp Kenwood, the state Farmers Union camp.

ANECDOTE ABOUT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE NEAR MADISON IN 1930's
Scope and Content Note: UW Extension scheduled leadership conference to discuss legislative issues. Delegation of Farmers Union juniors, all under eighteen years old, spoke intelligently on current issues.

DISCUSSION OF KAMP KENWOOD STAFF AND PROGRAM IN 1974, ALONG WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF FARMERS UNION YOUTH PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Involvement of Farmers Union youth in national youth programs, such as the “people-to-people” program, in which foreign youths stay on farms of Farmers Union members.

DISCUSSION OF FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM FOR FARMERS UNION YOUTH
Scope and Content Note: Subject matter many years ahead of its time, e.g. the subject of the 1936 study book was “sun power.” After completion of four years, youths received an expense paid trip to Bailey, Colorado, national camp.

EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL FORMER FARMERS UNION JUNIORS IN MENOMONIE AREA
Scope and Content Note: John Torgerson, Menomonie-area farmer; Art Gilberts, Menomonie; Vernon Green, Menomonie police chief.

WOMEN IN THE FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Farmers Union a family organization, with belief that family farm cannot be run without a woman. Women also must be up-to-date on legislation and other matters. All men, women and children over sixteen years old have equal vote.

PILOT PROJECT USED BY FARMERS UNION TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION
Scope and Content Note: Pilot project has been used successfully by Farmers Union families to influence pending legislation in Madison or Washington.

PEOPLE, NOT MONEY, IMPORTANT IN A COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION
Scope and Content Note: One-man, one-vote principle underscores the fact that people, not money, are important in a democratically-structured co-operative organization like the Farmers Union.

DISCUSSION OF A.W. RICKER, EDITOR OF FARMERS UNION HERALD
Scope and Content Note: Ricker, a disillusioned socialist, deeply involved in Farmers Union activity. Witty; handled crowd hecklers extremely well but inoffensively. Quiet, rather than bombastic oratorical style. Well-organized, attention-holding speaker who was an exception to the typical long-winded Farmers Union speaker.

COMMENT ABOUT CHARLES EGLEY, MANAGER OF SOUTH ST. PAUL FARMERS UNION LIVESTOCK COMMISSION HOUSE
Scope and Content Note: Could talk nonstop for hours.

DISCUSSION OF CHARLES TALBOTT, NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Father of Glenn Talbott and Gladys Talbott Edwards. A huge man who roared to a crowd without aid of microphone. Filled with a sense of mission “to awaken the farmers of Wisconsin.”

DISCUSSION OF M.W. THATCHER'S PERSONAL LIFE AND LEADERSHIP IN THE FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: A Farmers Union “warrior” who had performed in vaudeville with Graham McNamee. Scandelous personal life, but tremendous following because he was a man of action. Efficient organizer and planning genius. Built the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (GTA) and became powerful and influential lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

THATCHER SUPPORTS FARMERS UNION EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Saw to it that thousands of dollars in GTA funds were spent for Farmers Union educational activities.

THATCHER'S IDIOSYNCRASIES
Scope and Content Note: Played pipe organ each day in GTA cafeteria; kept chiropractic office in GTA building which any employee could use free of charge.

THATCHER'S SPEAKING ABILITY
Scope and Content Note: Very forceful speaker, though not as imposing physically as other regular Farmers Union speakers. Rich baritone voice that carried well without a microphone.

THATCHER'S INFLUENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Scope and Content Note: Very effective lobbyist in Washington, D.C., although he would complain that K. W. Hones was more effective.

FARMERS UNION FORCES MENOMONIE NEWSPAPER EDITOR TO APOLOGIZE
Scope and Content Note: Editor Flint, Dunn County News, once headlined, “Raspberries from Reno,” after speech by Milo Reno at Stout Institute auditorium. Flint later wrote front page apology after seventeen Farmers Union members entered his office to cancel subscriptions.

DISCUSSION OF MILO RENO
Scope and Content Note: Reno hoped to rival Farmers Union South St. Paul livestock market by opening Farmers Union market at Chicago. Hoped to convince Wisconsin Farmers Union members to market livestock at Chicago. Group sympathetic to Reno tried to take control of the young Wisconsin Union.

BEGINNING OF ANECDOTE ABOUT A RENO EMISSARY AT EARLY STATE FARMERS UNION CONVENTION

CONTINUATION OF ANECDOTE ABOUT A RENO EMISSARY
Scope and Content Note: Emissary confided Reno's plan to Jean Long, not knowing that her husband was a convention delegate seated on the platform.

END OF 07/16/74 INTERVIEW SESSION

INTRODUCTION

HOW JEAN LONG BECAME INVOLVED IN PAGEANT WORK WITH WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION LOCALS
Scope and Content Note: D. D. Collins asked her to direct a pageant, The Building of Two Flags, to be presented by a Pierce County local near Ellsworth, about 1932-33. Rehearsals held at Rock Elm Church near Ellsworth often lasted all night long.

PERFORMING THE PAGEANT IN SEVERAL WISCONSIN COUNTIES
Scope and Content Note: Pageant presented in different counties of Wisconsin, and Jean Long came to know other members of the Wisconsin Farmers Union.

PAGEANT IDEOLOGY
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long felt that the original content reflected D. D. Collins' personal views and not Farmers Union philosophy; traveled to Farmers Union headquarters at South St. Paul to discuss and receive consent from A.W. Ricker, editor of Farmers Union Herald, and M.W. Thatcher, to change some of the parts.

FURTHER ACQUAINTANCE WITH FARMERS UNION OFFICIALS FROM SOUTH SAINT PAUL
Scope and Content Note: Longs occasionally invited to their home such key men of the Farmers Union Central Exchange as A.W. Ricker, Ralph Rice, Ingerson, Lambert and others.

EARLY FARMERS UNION ORGANIZATION ACTIVITY IN WISCONSIN
Scope and Content Note: Downsville local the second local in Wisconsin to be organized by Northwest Organizing Committee crews; earlier had been Farmers Union organization in Eau Claire County in the 1920's (later called the “rump organization”) led by Mr. Woods.

TWO COMPETING FARMERS UNION ORGANIZATIONS SPAR AT AUGUSTA
Scope and Content Note: Intense competition between two separate Farmers Union organizations, the rump and the one started by Northwest Organizing Committee. Drag out fist fight ensued. Woods drowned several months later, leading to the end of the rump organization.

MORE ON JEAN LONG'S EARLY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long held in the early 1930's several unpaid positions with the Wisconsin Farmers Union including Dunn County junior leader. Cy Long at the same time ran first Farmers Union service station in Wisconsin; Jean Long usually accompanied him to meetings when he organized and sold stock in the cooperative.

COMMUNICATION WITH GLADYS TALBOTT EDWARDS, NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long corresponded with Gladys Talbott Edwards, North Dakota Farmers Union (and later National Farmers Union) educational leader, who was the daughter of Charlie Talbott, one of three original members of the Northwest Organizing Committee.

JEAN LONG HELPS DUNN COUNTY FARMERS UNION RAISE FUNDS BY DIRECTING HOME TALENT PLAYS
Scope and Content Note: Directed several home talent plays, and by traveling from township to township raised $200.00 for various locals.

OTHER POSITIONS HELD BY JEAN LONG IN RURAL WISCONSIN, EARLY 1930's - 1961
Scope and Content Note: For five years, recreation director for the rural segment of WPA Workers' Education Program, sponsored in part by the Wisconsin Farmers Union. From 1938 to 1943 employed by Central Cooperative Wholesale (CCW). Between 1943 and 1947 worked as a fieldwoman for CCW in the northern half of Wisconsin, the northern third of Michigan and the northern third of Minnesota. In 1947 began working for Wisconsin Farmers Union at the request of President K. W. Hones, first as a member of the field staff and director of the camp, and from 1949 until 1961 as education director and camp director. Ended work as paid employee of Wisconsin Farmers Union in 1961.

JEAN LONG EMPLOYED BY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, 1964-1973
Scope and Content Note: From 1964 to 1973 Jean Long employed by a federally funded community action agency in Western Wisconsin.

HIGH COST OF ELECTRIFYING FARM
Scope and Content Note: Longs had obtained estimates on getting electric power installed. Northern States Power Company estimated it would cost $750.00 to build a line to the Long farm from the main road, a quarter of a mile away.

THE FARMHOUSE BEFORE ELECTRIFICATION
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long's daughters daily before going to school washed, polished, and filled the lamps, trimmed the wicks. Water for washing and cooking came from a pump near the barn.

ANECDOTE ABOUT HOBO WHO STOPPED AT LONG FARM FOR DRINK OF WATER

ANECDOTE ABOUT HIRED MAN WHO POWERED HIS RADIO WITH CAR BATTERY

ELECTRIFICATION COMES TO THE LONG FARM BECAUSE OF REA
Scope and Content Note: Legislation creating the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) supported enthusiastically by Wisconsin Farmers Union.

WILLIAM (BILL) SANDERSON, FIRST STATE SECRETARY, WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: William Sanderson, native of Menomonie, was first state secretary of WFU, and later elected to board of directors of Farmers Union Central Exchange. Very talented speaker, campaigned effectively for Farmers Union and liberal political principles, and communicated well with different groups of people. Wife also very talented, and added to Bill Sanderson's effectiveness.

HOW BILL SANDERSON BECAME MERLIN HULL'S WASHINGTON SECRETARY
Scope and Content Note: Merlin Hull, after seeking and receiving help from the Farmers Union, promised he would appoint Farmers Union member to be his Washington secretary. Following Hull's victory, he met with Farmers Union representatives, including Cy Long, who decided that Sanderson was the person to serve Merlin Hull. WFU believed Sanderson could help more in Washington, D.C. than in Wisconsin. Sanderson gave the Wisconsin Farmers Union a direct “line” to Washington. M.W. Thatcher once complained that Bill Sanderson and Ken Hones could open more doors in Washington than he, Thatcher, could.

DEATH OF BILL SANDERSON AND HIS WIFE, BESS
Scope and Content Note: Bill Sanderson died relatively young. Three weeks later, Sanderson's widow killed in automobile accident.

CY LONG'S MOTHER REFUSES TO USE ELECTRIC POWER
Scope and Content Note: Cy Long's mother opposed to electrification, for years carried kerosene lamp to bedroom instead of turning on electricity.

FIRST ELECTRICAL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE OWNED BY LONGS
Scope and Content Note: Probably a radio. Cy Long's mother washed clothes with a scrub board and outdid a washing machine.

CY LONG GETS A MILKING MACHINE IMMEDIATELY
Scope and Content Note: Long bought electrically-powered milking machine immediately after power lines reached farm. Previously had a gasoline engine-powered machine. Jean Long operated milking machine because both mother-in-law and hired man thought milking machine was wasteful.

CHILDRENS' DUTIES AND CHORES ON THE FARM
Scope and Content Note: All of Jean Long's four children by age of five learned to milk cows and from age seven could bake bread. Other chores included going after cows in the pasture, cleaning out the barn, helping grandmother gather plants, herbs, and weeds, and driving the team of horses. Son Paul at age three rode astride the horse and guided it while his father cultivated between the rows.

ANECDOTE ABOUT SON DRIVING CAR AT AGE OF FIVE
Scope and Content Note: An old-fashioned Ford.

NO SEX-DIFFERENTIATION IN CHILDRENS' CHORES
Scope and Content Note: Son and daughters performed the same kinds of chores on the Long farm.

DAUGHTER'S MECHANICAL ABILITY
Scope and Content Note: One daughter always had mechanical ability; still repairs implements on husband's farm.

ANECDOTE ABOUT CY LONG'S “MECHANICAL ABILITY”

CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION ON LACK OF SEX-DIFFERENTIATION IN CHILDRENS' CHORES
Scope and Content Note: Daughters milked cows better than her son; son baked bread and expected to clean his room and iron his clothes.

COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF FARMERS AT HARVEST-TIME
Scope and Content Note: Six farmers bought shares in threshing machine; worked to harvest one another's grain.

JEAN LONG'S ROLE DURING SILO-FILLING, HAYING AND THRESHING
Scope and Content Note: Always remained at home during silo-filling, haying and threshing to cook for the extra help.

CHILDRENS' CHORES AT HARVEST
Scope and Content Note: Pitched grain bundles at threshing time; earlier pulled mustard out of corn rows.

FREQUENCY OF GOING TO NEAREST VILLAGE (DOWNSVILLE)
Scope and Content Note: Neighbor going to Downsville often would telephone Jean Long on party line to invite her along. If Cy Long ran out of tobacco while working in the field, she would walk to Downsville immediately to buy more.

TELEPHONE RING AT THE LONG FARM
Scope and Content Note: Two short, two long.

LACK OF PLUMBING IN THE HOUSE
Scope and Content Note: Well water for barn, but not piped to house.

DESCRIPTION OF THE LONG HOUSE NEAR DOWNSVILLE
Scope and Content Note: The first frame house in Dunn County; three bedrooms upstairs. Hired man slept downstairs on cot in small room off kitchen.

WAGES OF HIRED MAN
Scope and Content Note: Paid best hired man half the milk check, which often totaled as little as $17.00 per month.

ANECDOTE ABOUT HOW AN INCOMPETENT HIRED MAN POISONS TWO PURE-BRED COWS
Scope and Content Note: Purchased first pure-bred livestock from money brought from Montana, together with $512.00 obtained from selling car. Two of the Longs' pure-bred milk cows died because of hired man's neglect and mistreatment. Veterinary bills tended to be higher than fees for family physician.

JEAN LONG'S INFLUENCE ON DECISION-MAKING ON THE FARM
Scope and Content Note: Considered too much of an “educated fool” to have a voice in decision-making on the farm.

EDUCATION OF THE LONG CHILDREN
Scope and Content Note: Attended state-graded school with three rooms at Downsville. Two oldest Long children completed educations at Dunn County Agricultural School (the “Aggie”) in Menomonie; the youngest two graduated from high school.

MEDICAL CARE
Scope and Content Note: Went to doctor infrequently. Dr. Grannis came to farm from Menomonie when needed.

CHIROPRACTOR IN MONTANA HELPS CY LONG
Scope and Content Note: An “osteopathic chiropractor” in Montana helped Cy Long recover after he dislocated a vertebra.

WHY JEAN LONG HAS FAITH IN CHIROPRACTORS
Scope and Content Note: Firm believer in chiropractors ever since going to osteopath in Montana.

IMPACT OF ELECTRICITY ON RURAL LIFE
Scope and Content Note: When electricity finally came to rural areas, many benefits taken for granted.

HOW NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY INTIMIDATES RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ADMINISTRATION
Scope and Content Note: When George Lewis (Buffalo County) became member of REA governing board the Northern States Power Company had their engineers heckle him during REA meetings until an old farmer put them in their place.

FARMERS FORM VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR REA
Scope and Content Note: Throughout Wisconsin, volunteer committees appealed to neighboring farmers to permit REA lines to cross farms, allowing shortest distance for lines.

WHAT ELECTRIFICATION DID FOR THE RURAL WOMAN
Scope and Content Note: Quicker execution of household tasks through use of electrical appliances allowed women more time to take part in community activities.

MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS THE LONGS SUBSCRIBED TO
Scope and Content Note: Reading was the “one light in my life.” Read extensively and subscribed to such newspapers as the Dunn County News.

ANECDOTE ABOUT TURNING DOWN FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO HOARD'S DAIRYMAN
Scope and Content Note: In exchange for a meal he had taken with the Longs, a salesman offered Mrs. Long free subscription to Hoard's Dairyman. Refused because Hoard's editorial policy opposed to that of the Farmers Union.

MORE ON MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS THE LONGS SUBSCRIBED TO
Scope and Content Note: Subscribed to Farmer's Wife but wouldn't allow Farm Journal on the farm.

WHY THE LONG CHILDREN LEFT THE FARM
Scope and Content Note: Three children left farm because farm life was too hard. Two younger daughters found that farm life kept them from participating in social activities. Men in general have left the farm to be more on their own. On the other hand, however, many Farmers Union members in Dunn County still make good living on the farm.

HOW DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND PURCHASED THEIR FARM
Scope and Content Note: Inez and Burt Rasmussen operated tavern at Alma until they saved enough money to purchase farm.

HOW THE FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (FSA) HELPED KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE FARM
Scope and Content Note: Beginning in the 1930's FSA program helped keep many young people on the farm.

EFFECT OF DEPRESSION PROGRAMS ON WISCONSIN FARMERS AND FARM FAMILIES
Scope and Content Note: Older farmers slow to change minds; younger farmers more willing to take advantage of government subsidies. Likewise, older farm women less likely than younger women to change their ways to help the farm during the depression years.

MORE ON MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS THE LONGS SUBSCRIBED TO
Scope and Content Note: Subscribed to Capper's Farmer; faithful readers of Madison Capital Times since 1930's.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION, LATE 1920's - EARLY 1930's
Scope and Content Note: First Farmers Union local organized at Elk Mound (Dunn County) in 1929. Historically, membership of National Farmers Union has grown in hard times.

COMMENTS ON A. N. YOUNG, FIRST WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION PRESIDENT
Scope and Content Note: Effective speaker, although more of a lecturer who “inspired caution more than anything else.” Ran state organization with iron-hand before board of directors overpowered him; resigned under great pressure.

MERGER OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION WITH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF EQUITY
Scope and Content Note: WFU merged with Society of Equity at about the time Kenneth Hones became president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, and Barney Gehrmann, president of the Equity, ran successfully for Congress.

COMMENTS ON GEORGE NELSON, POLK COUNTY, FORMER EQUITY PRESIDENT AND MEMBER OF NATIONAL FARMERS UNION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scope and Content Note: George Nelson, a former president of the Society of Equity and onetime Socialist candidate for President, was a very fine person. Had a large farm near Milltown; believed that “life was made for the living.” Forceful, witty speaker. A rare Farmers Union leader in that he didn't use political tricks to win influence in the organization.

BACKGROUND AND CHARACTERISTICS OF FRED SCHULTHEISS, PRAIRIE FARM, FARMERS' HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION LEADER
Scope and Content Note: Fred Schultheiss always opposed to state administration of Farmers Union; adept at causing a major ruckus at state conventions. Appointed by Governor Schmedeman to be a commissioner of the state department of agriculture rather than Arnold Gilberts, a more important leader in the Wisconsin Holiday Association.

ANECDOTE ABOUT TEA AT GOVERNOR'S MANSION FOR FEMALE FARMERS UNION MEMBERS DURING FARMERS HOLIDAY DEMONSTRATIONS IN MADISON

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION AND FARMERS HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION
Scope and Content Note: Arnold Gilberts and Kenneth Hones were candidates for President of the Farmers Holiday Association. A.W. Ricker, editor of the Farmers Union Herald, persuaded the group to save the better of the two for the Farmers Union, the more important organization in the long run. Although Farmers Union sponsored the formation and supported activities of Holiday Association, members asked not to connect or associate one with the other.

METHODS USED BY FARMERS HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION
Scope and Content Note: Methods used by Wisconsin Holiday Association not in keeping with Farmers Union philosophy.

EXAMPLE OF METHOD USED BY HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION: THE PENNY AUCTION
Scope and Content Note: Holiday members who attended farm auctions warned potential bidders to bid no more than a few cents for any article on the auction block. After the “penny auction” over, all articles were given back to person whose property was being auctioned. Remembers penny auction in town of Lucas, Dunn County.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY HOSTILITY IN MENOMONIE TO FARMERS UNION LEADS TO DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR STATE HEADQUARTERS
Scope and Content Note: Early hostility between the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce led Farmers Union to establish state office at Chippewa Falls. Menomonie variety store owner, M. C. Pettycourt, once referred to farmers as “Coxey's Army.” “If farmers stayed at home where they belong, they wouldn't be in the mess they're in now.” The day after, Jean Long drew crowd inside Pettycourt's store, chastising him for his remarks. Pettycourt later had public apology printed in Dunn County News.

REFUSAL OF STOUT INSTITUTE TO RENT HALL TO WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Note: See also 7/16/74, Tape #2, Side 2, 27:45.

WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL AND FARMERS HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION PERCEIVED BY FARMERS UNION MEMBERS AS BEING ONE AND THE SAME
Scope and Content Note: Most farmers did not distinguish between Holiday Association and Milk Pool.

COMMENTS ON WALTER SINGLER, PRESIDENT OF THE WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL
Scope and Content Note: Walter Singler a frequent and powerful speaker. Handsome and communicated well. Responsible for frequent demonstrations in Brown and Outagamie Counties.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION OFFICERS AND WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL OFFICIALS
Scope and Content Note: Frequent meetings between WFU officers and Milk Pool officials. Much discussion of merging the two organizations, but neither willing to compromise its program.

WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL CALLS MILK STRIKES
Scope and Content Note: Milk strikes in Dunn County very well organized. During strikes, no milk, except for milk delivered to hospitals, reached Menomonie.

CY LONG HELPS ENFORCE LAW DURING FARMERS DEMONSTRATION IN NORTHERN DUNN COUNTY
Scope and Content Note: Cy Long, a Milk Pool sympathizer, called one afternoon by law enforcement authorities to help dissuade armed crowd of Czechs with firearms from marching to Menomonie from Tiffany (in Barron County) to close the creameries.

METHODS USED BY FARMERS DURING MILK STRIKES
Scope and Content Note: Farmers stopped milk trucks, poured kerosene into milk cans; put railroad ties with spikes in the road to prevent trucks from delivering milk. Miraculously no one was killed in Dunn County.

COOPERATIVE CREAMERIES CLOSED DURING MILK STRIKES
Scope and Content Note: During milk strikes, cooperative creameries in Downsville, Colfax, and Menomonie all refused to accept milk. Each strike lasted about a week. Penny auctions an outgrowth of milk strikes.

CONTINUATION OF COMMENTS ON WALTER SINGLER
Scope and Content Note: Singler able to attract people and presented his case effectively. A most powerful speaker, outshining even Milo Reno, President of National Farmers Holiday Association.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL
Scope and Content Note: The Madison Capital Times published a story that private source in Chicago supported the Milk Pool.

FARMER-LABOR PROGRESSIVE FEDERATION (FLPF)
Scope and Content Note: Farmers Union locals encouraged to elect delegates to attend the founding convention of Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation in Oshkosh. FLPF was a coalition of farmer organizations and labor groups including Railroad Brotherhoods, Wisconsin State Federation of Labor, and Socialist Party of Wisconsin.

COMMUNIST PARTY SEEKS SUPPORT TO BE ALLOWED TO JOIN FARMER-LABOR PROGRESSIVE FEDERATION
Scope and Content Note: Lem Harris, chairman of the Communist Party in Minnesota and editor of The Daily Worker there, and his wife Kay Harris attended local Farmers Union meeting at Tiffany town hall, Barron County, where they argued for supporting a resolution to petition the Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation convention at Oshkosh to admit the Communist Party. Jean Long persuaded acquaintances at the meeting to join in defeating the resolution.

FARMERS UNION SUPPORT OF PHILIP LA FOLLETTE AND PROGRESSIVE PARTY CANDIDATES
Scope and Content Note: Majority of Farmers Union members supported Philip La Follette, out of tradition of support for “Old Bob” La Follette.

DISCUSSION OF PARTY POLITICS AT LOCAL MEETINGS
Scope and Content Note: According to the Wisconsin Farmers Union Constitution, representatives but not active candidates of any political party welcome to speak at local meetings. Rule broken often, many times to hear Philip La Follette.

ANECDOTE ABOUT PHILIP LA FOLLETTE REMEMBERING NAMES
Scope and Content Note: Philip La Follette would memorize names of 10 or 12 party loyalists in district where he was to speak; flatter them by using their first names during course of speech.

REACTION OF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION MEMBERS TO WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION STRONG SUPPORT OF PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES
Scope and Content Note: No open resentment by Republican or Democrat WFU members of Union's strong support of Progressive candidates.

GOVERNOR JULIUS HEIL
Scope and Content Note: Heil not welcome in Farmers Union territory because of anti-labor union position.

WALTER UPHOFF'S THESIS OF KOHLER STRIKE INFLUENCES FARMERS UNION MEMBERSHIP
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff's thesis on Kohler strike influenced Farmers Union membership about labor-management relations.

WHY WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION MEMBERS VOTED FOR ALEXANDER WILEY, REPUBLICAN UNITED STATES SENATOR
Scope and Content Note: Wiley a well-respected attorney.

EMIL COSTELLO AND OTHERS SEPARATE FROM WISCONSIN FEDERATION OF LABOR
Scope and Content Note: Costello, a communist, and others left Federation because it rejected their views.

HENRY (HANK) RUTZ, AF OF L MEMBER, ORGANIZES WORKERS EDUCATION TO BRING TOGETHER PROMINENT LABOR AND RURAL LEADERS
Scope and Content Note: Because the Milwaukee branch of AF of L and WFU not cooperating as well as they might, Henry Rutz organized twelve-week workers education institute to bring together fifty prominent labor leaders and fifty prominent rural leaders.

HOW JEAN LONG BECAME INVOLVED WITH RURAL WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Rutz contacted Kenneth Hones for names of Farmers Union members who would benefit from rural workers education program. Jean Long among names suggested.

HOW WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION FUNDED WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: To apply for benefits of WPA programs those selected to attend workers education institute must be certified for relief by a county agency. Because of losses to Longs' herd, Jean Long qualified for relief.

LABOR UNION LEADERS OPPOSE COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Union leaders opposed cooperatives and wanted V. S. Alanne to write on Marxism rather than cooperatives.

FUNDING A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ORGANIZING WORKERS EDUCATION INSTITUTES
Scope and Content Note: Funding problem solved when Harry Hopkins, administrative head of WPA, and Philip Flanner, Wisconsin WPA Director, both helped get workers education program funded. Hopkins appealed to Eleanor Roosevelt for help.

IMPACT OF WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM ON FARMER-LABOR RELATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Workers education institutes enabled workers and farmers to see each others problems more clearly. Workers hostile toward cooperatives, fearing cooperatives would become influential. Labor also suspicious of a recreation-oriented program, fearing that it would be similar to programs subsidized by industrialists.

INSTITUTE STRENGTHENS WPA RURAL WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Workers education institutes trained persons to teach in the WPA rural workers education program. Helped strengthen Farmers Union locals and boost falling state Union membership. Rural workers education instructors distributed informational material with help of University of Wisconsin Extension, held meetings, provided speakers, and formed discussion classes.

ACTIVITIES OF THE RECREATION SECTOR OF THE RURAL WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long was recreation director of the WPA rural workers Education Program. Folk dancing provided a way for farmers of different cultural backgrounds (most Farmers Union members) to get together.

ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF RECREATION GROUPS
Scope and Content Note: Recreation groups of ten members each learned folk dances of ethnic background of the area they visited. Dyed material distributed to Farmers Union women to make native costumes. Folk dances held in backyards, town halls, lodge halls, churches and taverns, after which discussions held focusing on some local problem. Membership of groups increased because each member of the original group was required to leave the group and start a new group in another area. Older people played cards, checkers and chess.

JEAN LONG'S SALARY AS A WPA CERTIFIED RURAL RECREATION LEADER
Scope and Content Note: Starting salary was $42.50 per month, later raised to $62.00 When WPA terminated, Jean Long worked on radio program out of Ashland, earning $98.00 per month.

JEAN LONG'S WPA SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FAMILY INCOME
Scope and Content Note: WPA salary helped send children to high school.

ANECDOTE ABOUT VETERINARIAN NOT WANTING TO REPORT RESULTS OF BRUCELLOSIS TEST ON LONG FARM
Scope and Content Note: Led to Congressman Merlin Hull introducing a bill, passed by the Congress, to reimburse Cy Long for the dead, pure-bred cows.

LONGS AUGMENT FAMILY INCOME BY BREEDING HOLSTEINS
Scope and Content Note: Cy Long, with the money he received from the government for the loss of cows, introduced new blood into herd. Sold six-month old bull calves for $300.00.

COMMENT ON HENRY RUTZ
Scope and Content Note: Henry Rutz worked with WPA workers education program; later visited Germany, married a baroness; eventually settled near Washington, D.C.

WPA LIME PROGRAM CENTERED IN MENOMONIE
Scope and Content Note: Federal government provided farmers with low-cost lime which was dumped on their land by WPA workers.

EARLY FARMER RESENTMENT OF WPA
Scope and Content Note: Farmers greatly resented WPA until they became more familiar with programs.

ANECDOTE ABOUT ANTI-WPA JOKE AT FARMERS UNION COUNTY CONVENTION
Scope and Content Note: Ralph Rice, Farmers Union Central Exchange, told an anti-WPA joke at a Barron County Farmers Union convention and not a single farmer smiled or applauded.

WHY FARMERS ATTITUDES TOWARD WPA CHANGED
Scope and Content Note: Attitudes change about WPA because of the help farmers received from the program.

WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION RESPONSIBLE FOR BILL GIVING FARMERS GRACE PERIOD IN WHICH TO MAKE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
Scope and Content Note: Assembly bill A-1 gave farmers a grace period of one year if they couldn't make their mortgage payments.

LABOR UNIONS ALLOW JEAN LONG TO ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS WITH RELUCTANCE AT FIRST
Scope and Content Note: While a recreation resource person for WPA, Jean Long involved in many volunteer Farmers Union and labor union activities. Labor groups at first reluctant to allow Jean Long into meetings.

HOW CY AND JEAN LONG OFTEN MEDIATED CONFLICTS WITHIN THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION BECAUSE OF CLOSENESS TO KENNETH HONES
Scope and Content Note: Cy Long frequently asked to attend state Farmers Union meetings to settle internal disputes. Also as middleman between Central Exchange and Northwest Committee, on one hand, and Hones, the bombastic state union president. Jean Long often helpful in getting opposing groups to discuss their grievances together, and accompanied her husband to the meetings.

CY LONG'S POSITION IN THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Behind-the-scenes member, compared to the better-known and more visible Kenneth Hones and William Sanderson.

HOW THE RURAL WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM HELPED SAVE THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: During the 1930's resentment grew against Kenneth Hones. Wisconsin Farmers Union getting fragmented, and membership falling. Rural Workers Education people made personal calls and got people together to discuss grievances.

ANECDOTE ABOUT PETITION TO OUST KENNETH HONES
Scope and Content Note: At a Workers Education Institute in Taylors Falls, Mary Jo Weiler, Junior Education Director, and Warren Nelson, State Secretary, circulated petition to oust Kenneth Hones. Jean Long threatened to drop from the institute any person who circulated the petition.

COMMENTS ON KENNETH HONES LEADERSHIP AS PRESIDENT OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Many enemies over the years, though Hones known for honesty and frankness. Not always well-informed and frequently mispronounced words, which embarrassed Farmers Union members.

CONTINUATION OF COMMENTS ON KENNETH HONES' LEADERSHIP
Scope and Content Note: 6'3" tall and broad-shouldered, a powerful speaker with a keen mind. Good fighter and organizer. Almost single-handedly began the Wisconsin Farmers Union summer camp, organizing many penny marches and volunteer groups. While in later years many criticized his usurpation of power and stubbornness, the crustiness disguised a “big Irish heart.”

KENNETH HONES MOVES FROM FARM IN ORDER TO BE CLOSER TO WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Almost immediately after being elected president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, Kenneth Hones moved from his farm near Colfax to a home in Chippewa Falls. Eldest son ran farm.

INFLUENCE OF MRS. HONES ON KENNETH HONES

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HONES AND THE LONGS
Scope and Content Note: Close relationship from the time Cy Long met Kenneth Hones while organizing the Colfax Creamery and the Wisconsin Cooperative Tobacco Pool [Northern Wisconsin Cooperative Tobacco Pool].

CONFLICT IN WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION BETWEEN KENNETH HONES AND COUNTY UNION OFFICERS
Scope and Content Note: Officers in WFU county organizations frequently opposed Hones, partly because some were ambitious and wanted to succeed him, although others honestly disagreed with him. Hones inclined to have a rubber-stamp state board. Once Hones gave his opinion on an issue officers would begin to organize against him rather than argue.

HONES COMMENTS HALT SEVERAL WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION PROGRAMS
Scope and Content Note: Because Kenneth Hones offended one of Walter Singler's organizers, a potential merger between the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Milk Pool Cooperative fell through. Hones offended a Farmers Union officer from a southern Wisconsin county, and a proposed egg and poultry marketing cooperative fell through.

KENNETH HONES' EFFECTIVENESS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Scope and Content Note: Careful of what he said in Washington, D.C., Hones was an effective lobbyist for such legislation as that which established FSA.

A.W. RICKER DECIDES AGAINST WRITING THE HISTORY OF FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Felt he could not honestly portray the Farmers Union without injuring people who were still living, A.W. Ricker gave up on writing a history. Could not describe accurately the inner fights between M.W. Thatcher and the Grain Terminal Association and others involved in the Central Exchange, Northwest Mills, or the Farmers Union.

HOW CONFLICT WITHIN THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION HELPED IT TO SURVIVE
Scope and Content Note: Quick to unite for a common cause especially when attacked from outside. For instance, in the early 1940's John L. Lewis, when he wanted to organize farmers in Dunn County, misinterpreted completely the conflict among Dunn County Farmers Union members.

WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION MEMBERS HISTORICALLY OPPOSE UNIONIZATION OF FARMWORKERS
Scope and Content Note: Wisconsin Farmers Union members historically have opposed the unionization of farmworkers in Wisconsin, believing that in general Wisconsin farms are too small to pay high wages demanded by organized workers.

ATTITUDE OF ORGANIZED LABOR TOWARD FARMERS' FINANCIAL POSITION
Scope and Content Note: Organized labor has tended to think that dairy farmers are well-off.

END OF 08/20/74 INTERVIEW SESSION

PURPOSE OF FARMERS UNION EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
Scope and Content Note: To indoctrinate the young with the Farmers Union philosophy and to develop leadership.

CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS ATTEND SUMMER CAMP
Scope and Content Note: Children as young as five years attend summer camp.

ORGANIZATION OF SUMMER CAMPS
Scope and Content Note: Camps divided according to two age groups: (1) under twelve; and (2) twelve through twenty-one. In later years staff composed mostly of college students, who do not necessarily have a Farmers Union background.

ANECDOTE ABOUT RECENT VISIT TO WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION CAMP
Scope and Content Note: While observing at a recent visit to summer camp, Jean Long amazed at the intelligent, unrehearsed questions campers asked the “candidates” in a mock convention.

ORGANIZATION OF YOUTH PROGRAM IN FARMERS UNION LOCAL
Scope and Content Note: Local junior leader received series of books published by the National Farmers Union educational office in Denver. Participants in program progress by completing a prescribed course of study, including a workbook, attending at least four Farmers Union meetings, and completing two projects.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS IN YOUTH PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: After completing one year in youth program, participants receive Farmers Union membership pin and $1,000 life insurance policy. $1.00 premium paid for by National Farmers Union, and continued each year. Participant receives new pin each year with the number of years of activity inscribed. Fourth year juniors, who are members under sixteen years of age, receive an all-expenses paid trip to state camp; at end of fourth year receive an all-expenses paid trip to All-State camp at Bailey, Colorado near Denver.

FARMERS UNION STATE CAMP
Scope and Content Note: Farmers Union State Camp, begun in 1930's, held wherever camp could be rented. Today, most states have their own Farmers Union camps.

“TORCH BEARERS” CULMINATION OF FIVE YEARS PARTICIPATION IN THE FARMERS UNION YOUTH PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: After five years, Farmers Union Youth program members are dedicated leaders and must select someone to carry on their work.

CURRENT AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAMP ATTENDANCE
Scope and Content Note: Today, Juniors admitted to state camps at age eight, and seniors may attend All-State Camp at eighteen.

ANECDOTE ABOUT CAMP TORNADO SCARE IN 1958
Scope and Content Note: Tornado came within one quarter of a mile.

LENGTH OF CAMP SESSIONS
Scope and Content Note: Three weeks for older children; one week for younger children.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION STATE CAMP
Scope and Content Note: Before the establishment of Kamp Kenwood (Lake Wissota) in 1942, camp held wherever one could be obtained: Wisconsin Dells, Mirror Lake, Crivitz, St. Croix Falls, and Wausau. Kenneth Hones initiated idea of permanent camp, began search and selected a suitable site. Persuaded town board of supervisors to build road into camp at no expense to the Farmers Union. Built mostly with volunteer labor from Farmers Union locals. Contest held to select name for camp, and Kenwood chosen in honor of Kenneth Hones.

JUNIOR PROGRAM DEPENDS HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEER LABOR
Scope and Content Note: Much leadership for junior program is volunteer, although some locals pay gasoline expenses for leaders who travel to other locals, and pay for books used in the course, although frequently students pay for own materials.

SUPPORT BY LOCAL COOPERATIVES OF FARMERS UNION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: For many years five per cent of the net earnings of each local cooperative purchasing association paid to the state Farmers Union to support educational program. Money important to Farmers Union since it usually exceeded the amount received for membership dues. Some service station managers frequently complained later they could better use the money for advertising.

A DAY AT KAMP KENWOOD DURING JEAN LONG'S TERM AS CAMP DIRECTOR, (LATE 1940's - 1961)
Scope and Content Note: Description of a typical day at Kamp Kenwood, with emphasis on cooperative store in which campers bought shares at five cents each.

CAMPERS' SPENDING MONEY REFLECTS OVERALL FARM ECONOMY
Scope and Content Note: In good times some children came to weeks' camp with $20.00 for spending money, while in bad years children were lucky to have fifty cents.

CAMPERS LEARN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONSUMER, PRODUCER, AND SERVICE COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Campers taught differences between consumer, producer, and service cooperative organizations.

TEACHING COOPERATIVES IN WISCONSIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Scope and Content Note: Farmers Union helped get law passed in 1935 to make it mandatory to teach cooperatives in Wisconsin public schools. Le Roy S. Ihlenfeldt [Supervisor of Elementary Schools, Department of Public Instruction, 1937] responsible for preparing syllabus to help teach cooperatives, but sentiment against consumer cooperatives so great that he had difficulty in identifying the Rochdale Cooperative as a consumer cooperative. Finally “sneaked” it in a section on producer cooperatives.

CONTINUATION OF DESCRIPTION OF KAMP KENWOOD ACTIVITIES DURING JEAN LONG'S TERM AS CAMP DIRECTOR

EVENING ACTIVITIES AT WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION SUMMER CAMP
Scope and Content Note: Evening activities organized by staff member and group of between four and eight campers and included mock conventions, drills in parliamentary procedure, and so on. Occasionally, international nights held, where speakers of different nationalities were featured, international food served, and dances of many countries taught.

OUTSIDE SPEAKERS AT WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION CAMPS
Scope and Content Note: Frequent speakers from Central Exchange, and Farmers Union state headquarters. President of the Wisconsin Farmers Union often participated in evening activities, although he never spent an entire day at camp. Speakers generally talked too long.

SIGNIFICANCE OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION SUMMER CAMP
Scope and Content Note: Young people became well-informed and able to encourage parents to consider activity in the Wisconsin Farmers Union. Youth program participants might present a chapter from the book he or she was studying at a local union meeting.

SOME EFFECTS OF JUNIOR PROGRAM: SPEECH PROJECTS (MINUTEMAN PROJECTS)
Scope and Content Note: In order to “arouse sleeping farmers” campers required to give three-minute speech from notes only. 4-H Club later adopted the idea, using it to help persuade Wisconsin farmers to grow more alfalfa. Farmers Union Juniors also help spread the word about benefits of contour farming.

SUMMER CAMP ATTENDEES INCLUDE CHILDREN FROM BOTH UNION AND NON-FARMERS UNION FAMILIES
Scope and Content Note: When Wisconsin Farmers Union summer camps first began, only children of Farmers Union families permitted to attend. No longer necessary today.

WHY CHILDREN OF NON-FARMERS UNION MEMBERS ALLOWED TO ATTEND CAMP
Scope and Content Note: To promote understanding between farmer and labor groups. Policy began with admission of children of labor union members in Eau Claire.

CITY CHILDREN HAVE SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE OF VEHICULAR SAFETY
Scope and Content Note: Children from the city more aware of traffic regulations than farm children, who often drove tractors on the road from the age of ten.

CLASSES IN SWIMMING AND RESUSITATION
Scope and Content Note: Many children taught to swim; all campers required to attend resuscitation classes.

FOLK DANCING AS EVENING RECREATION
Scope and Content Note: In order to encourage everyone to participate, evening recreation would begin with a “Grand March,” followed by folk or square dancing.

CAMPERS GET ACQUAINTED
Scope and Content Note: Campers during first night participated in “get acquainted” games such as Name Bingo.

KAMP KENWOOD GOVERNING COUNCIL
Scope and Content Note: Governing council elected by campers at end of the “get acquainted” period. Except for a few hard and fast rules (such as no smoking), the council made all camp rules.

MATERIALS USED AT SUMMER CAMP
Scope and Content Note: The Farmers Union Camp Songbook, One Small Candle by Gladys Talbott Edwards, Destroy Weeds by Gladys Talbott Edwards, Change and Its Directions by Curt Sorteberg, Our World by Doris Day, The Valley Shall Live by Roald Harbo, Ring Around the World by Pearl Alperstein, The First Book of Ethics by Algernon D. Black, . . . Cooperation, Legislation, Education and All Men Are Brothers by Doris Stadig.

EXTENSIVE REMARKS ABOUT GLADYS TALBOTT EDWARDS, NORTH DAKOTA
Scope and Content Note: “Mrs. Edwards is a very unusual woman.” A daughter of Charlie Talbott, she frequently accompanied her father on Farmers Union trips. One of first to emphasize that Farmers Union should be a family organization. In North Dakota she began talking to young people's groups and working closely with Elsie Olson, a National Junior Director originally from South Dakota, and became a director of the North Dakota state board. Began to write articles about farm life and the “Woman's Place” in the Farmers Union for the Farmers Union Herald, and some reappeared in publications such as Capper's Farmer. Became National Junior Director and began to write books for the junior program and develop a system of awards. Many outstanding women in the history of Farmers Union, but temperamental and demanding Gladys Talbott Edwards one of the most important in building the Farmers Union Educational Program.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FARMERS UNION YOUTH PROGRAM AND 4-H
Scope and Content Note: 4-H stresses competition, while the Farmers Union Youth Program emphasizes cooperation. Some cross-membership between the two organizations.

COMMENTS ON MARY JO WEILER, FORMER FARMERS UNION STATE EDUCATION DIRECTOR IN WISCONSIN
Scope and Content Note: Mary Jo Weiler, while Gladys Talbott Edwards' secretary in North Dakota, traveled to different states to hold leadership institutes, and organized the first Farmers Union Leadership Institute in Wisconsin. Later married Walter Uphoff, who worked in the Rural Workers Education Program.

COMMENTS ON WALTER UPHOFF
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff a popular instructor in both the Rural Workers Education Program and Farmers Union. Wrote thesis on Kohler strike in 1930's, and kept the issue of labor unions alive in the Farmers Union. Never at a loss for words, Walter Uphoff more resembled Eugene V. Debs in his radicalism than Norman Thomas. Ran for Governor of Wisconsin as a Socialist in 1948.

CONFLICT BETWEEN MARY JO WEILER, WARREN NELSON (SECRETARY OF THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION), AND KENNETH HONES
Scope and Content Note: Much conflict during the late 1930's between Mary Jo Weiler and Warren Nelson (State Farmers Union Secretary) on one hand, and Kenneth Hones on the other. Serious conflict when Weiler and Nelson circulated petitions to oust Hones. Issue finally settled by board of directors in favor of Hones.

COMMENTS ON CHESTER GRAHAM
Scope and Content Note: Founded the Ashland Folk School in Michigan. When Fred Rhea, chief administrator of WPA at Madison offered to bring the Wisconsin Farmers Union into rural segment of the Workers Education program, Hones successfully encouraged Chester Graham to direct the WPA Rural Workers Education Program.

ANECDOTE ABOUT RIVALRY BETWEEN THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE AND WPA RURAL WORKERS INSTITUTE AT CAMP DOUGLAS
Scope and Content Note: In 1938, a training institute for certified Rural and Urban WPA workers held at Camp Douglas, after institute was evicted from Oregon Bible Camp (Dane County). Milo Swanton of the Wisconsin Council of Agriculture, harboring anti-WPA feelings, visited institute at Camp Douglas and asked many pointed questions. Louis French, Milwaukee Journal reporter, wrote up front page article which was critical of Camp Douglas Institute.

BACKGROUND AND COMMENTS ON HILTON HANNA, SCRIPTWRITER FOR WPA RADIO PROGRAMS IN WISCONSIN
Scope and Content Note: Hilton Hanna born of an Irish father and a Haitian mother, left Haiti and became a U.S. citizen. Attended the University of Wisconsin, where he was a leading debater in the early thirties. Became certified under WPA as a scriptwriter for WPA radio programs, broadcast over seventeen Wisconsin stations.

ANECDOTE ABOUT REFUSAL OF ASHLAND RADIO STATION OWNER TO BROADCAST WPA PROGRAM ABOUT COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Station owner in Ashland [John Chapple] once refused to broadcast WPA program that Jean Long had prepared with several others on cooperatives. Owner gave permission the next day to broadcast the controversial program after Jean Long argued that 2800 families had waited to hear the program and threatened to inform the station's sponsors and the listeners of what had happened.

ACCEPTANCE OF HILTON HANNA BY WISCONSIN PEOPLE
Scope and Content Note: Usually no discrimination. However, once while in Appleton, Conway Hotel owner refused Hanna a room because his clients would object, but put up Hanna in his own home. Due to his wonderful personality most Farmers Union members couldn't help but like Hilton Hanna.

COMMENTS ON VIOLA YOUNG THUNDER, WINNEBAGO INDIAN WORKER FOR WPA
Scope and Content Note: Viola Young Thunder, an American Indian woman from Komensky near Black River Falls, translated Father Cody's book on cooperatives into Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) language.

COMMENT ON MITCHELL RED CLOUD, WINNEBAGO INDIAN WORKER FOR WPA
Scope and Content Note: Mitchell Red Cloud once a columnist for Black River Falls Journal and worked in WPA Rural Education program.

HISTORY OF THE WINNEBAGO INDIAN BASKET WEAVING COOPERATIVE
Scope and Content Note: Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) slowly drifted back to Wisconsin and “squatted” on their former lands near Black River Falls, Hatfield, and Komensky. Before WPA, the government provided small amount of aid in the form of grants and welfare; once WPA began they received nothing. Winnebago (Ho-Chunk), led by Mitchell Red Cloud and Viola Young Thunder, organized a basket weaving cooperative which became their sole source of income.

HOW MERCHANTS OF BLACK RIVER FALLS EXPLOITED INDIANS AND DESTROYED COOPERATIVE
Scope and Content Note: When an Indian needed money, merchant would frequently offer them fifty cents for a basket worth from five to ten dollars.

IMPORTANCE OF WPA RURAL WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM IN STRENGTHENING THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Without WPA Rural Workers Education Program the Wisconsin Farmers Union would have ceased to exist during the Depression years. Rural Workers Education Program resulted in meetings with local Farmers Union groups on a weekly basis for recreation and discussion.

IMPORTANCE OF WPA TO CERTIFIED WORKERS IN THE RURAL WORKERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Income received allowed WPA workers to feel more independent than with outright welfare assistance. Certified WPA workers also received sound group leadership training.

HOW JEAN LONG CAME TO BE KNOWN IN THE CENTRAL COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE, SUPERIOR
Scope and Content Note: Such members of CCW's Education Department as Hanfred Olsen and Cecil Crews had attended the original Workers Education Institute with Jean Long. Also known because of her programs over Ashland radio station and involvement with area cooperatives.

WHY THE CENTRAL COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE (CCW) RESISTS WORKING WITH WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION TO SECURE FAVORABLE LEGISLATION
Scope and Content Note: Members of CCW believed that government should play no part whatsoever in the cooperative movement, and were reluctant to work with Farmers Union to secure favorable legislation. Later, CCW members modified their attitude.

HOW JEAN LONG BECAME EMPLOYED BY THE CENTRAL COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE
Scope and Content Note: By 1939, Jean Long well-known in CCW circles. Hanfred Olsen, CCW's assistant administrator of education, asked her to work for organization. Jean Long had difficulties because most Finns opposed a woman telling them what to do.

REMEMBRANCES OF FINNISH CLANNISHNESS
Scope and Content Note: Finns very clannish; one year before Jean Long invited to take a sauna.

BACKGROUND OF FINNISH IMMIGRANTS WHO FORMED THE BASIS OF THE CENTRAL COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE
Scope and Content Note: Kinds of Finns in CCW area, and conflict between communist and non-communist Finns.

DIFFICULTY WITH FINNISH LANGUAGE
Scope and Content Note: Found Finnish hard to learn, which made it difficult for her to go to CCW meetings conducted in the native language.

ANECDOTE ABOUT FINNISH HOSPITALITY
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long, while visiting homes to talk to people on cooperative committees, once, on a bitter cold day, was offered two “pastas” to put in her pockets to warm her hands.

FINNISH LIFESTYLE
Scope and Content Note: Many Finns continued to live frugally in the “old” way, still sleeping on pole beds and eating filia for meals, cutting marsh hay by hand and draping it over posts to dry. Finns very well informed; placed high premium on education.

TERRITORY OF CENTRAL COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE
Scope and Content Note: CCW territory in Wisconsin extended as far south as Highway 8, although the large consumer cooperative outlet at Eau Claire was associated with CCW. CCW territory extended into the Finnish area in northern Minnesota. CCW now merged with Midland Cooperative Wholesale.

FORMATION OF WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES BY MIDLAND, CENTRAL COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE, AND FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: In the early 1940's, Midland Cooperative Wholesale, Central Cooperative Wholesale, and Wisconsin Farmers Union combined to form the Wisconsin Association of Cooperatives; also cooperated to begin insurance program.

COMMUNISTS IN WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION TERRITORY
Scope and Content Note: Activity of communists in Farmers Union territory, especially in Clark and Taylor Counties.

DISCUSSION OF COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Most prominent communist was man named Jenkins, who came from the West Coast, and became member of a Farmers Union local near Elmwood, and founded the “Committee for a Better Farmers Union.” Began to rally some local and county presidents around him. Eventually, Jenkins evicted from Wisconsin Farmers Union and clause added to state charter barring communist membership.

FARMERS UNION REPUTATION AS A LIBERAL ORGANIZATION
Scope and Content Note: Farmers Union has had reputation as liberal organization, permitting membership across entire political spectrum; National Farmers Union displeased with Wisconsin Union's clause barring communists.

INFLUENCE OF COMMUNISTS ON COUNTY FARMERS UNION ORGANIZATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Taylor County in Wisconsin was “openly Communistic,” publishing a full page advertisement in 1928 for county office candidates.

KENNETH HONES' RESIGNATION AS WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION PRESIDENT IN 1957
Scope and Content Note: Resigned reluctantly in 1957, partly because of Central Exchange influence. Hones embittered until he died.

COMMENTS ON HARRY MILLER, FORMER EDITOR OF WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION NEWSPAPER
Scope and Content Note: “Harry Miller was an exceptional person.” A member of AF of L, he began working with the Farmers Union at the urging of Ernestine Friedman and Hilda Smith, both national leaders of Works Progress Administration.

BARNEY GEHRMANN, FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF EQUITY, WISCONSIN UNION
Scope and Content Note: Merger between Equity and the Wisconsin Farmers Union came after five years of discussion. Gehrmann as a Congressman always helpful to the Farmers Union.

WHY WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION TERRITORY CONFINED LARGELY TO NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL REGIONS
Scope and Content Note: Stems from either lack of efficient organizing crew originally, or to existence of other strong farmer organizations. Successful Farmers Union organizing in Brown County since 1961 shows that new territories can be brought into Farmers Union.

INFLUENCE OF SOUTH ST. PAUL COOPERATIVES ON THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Since the beginning, when South St. Paul cooperatives helped send Northwest Committee to Wisconsin to organize the WFU, the cooperatives have had considerable influence on state organization. South St. Paul cooperatives still imbued with philosophy of the founders, and have the “purse power.” Wisconsin Farmers Union now has liaison person with the cooperatives.

WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION BEGINS HOLDING FARMER-BUSINESSMAN DINNERS
Scope and Content Note: WFU began holding farmer-businessman dinners because businessmen usually opposed to cooperatives and didn't understand farmers' problems.

ANECDOTE ABOUT TAKING FLOWERS FROM GRAVEYARD FOR CENTERPIECES AT A FARMER-BUSINESSMAN DINNER

HOW MENOMONIE BUSINESSMEN OVER TIME CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THE WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
Scope and Content Note: Farmer-businessman dinners helped bring about change of attitude in Menomonie Chamber of Commerce.

“COOPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH” AND “PRODUCTION FOR USE”
Scope and Content Note: “Cooperative Commonwealth” idea originated with/promoted by E. E. Kennedy, Kankakee, Illinois, Farmers Union National Secretary in the 1930's. Industries would be owned cooperatively rather than privately. Generally, Farmers Union members indifferent to idea. Another Kennedy concept, “production for use” (instead of profit) was more popular.

JEAN LONG COMMENTS ON CONTEMPORARY COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Scope and Content Note: Many new kinds of cooperatives are developing; Jean Long member of food cooperative at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Most important ingredient for success in a cooperative: Sustained interest and involvement of members.

JEAN LONG REVIEWS MEANING OF HER YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Great personal satisfaction from helping cooperatives because of her belief that a large group rather than an individual should participate in an organization's affairs. Cooperatives develop a sense of personal dignity and accomplishment for its members. Work with cooperatives and Wisconsin Farmers Union youth program gave Jean Long an opportunity to meet and teach many people. If she could “do it all over again” she would do it all, and more. Would like to have worked more with schools to help educate those unfamiliar with cooperatives.

WHY JEAN LONG DECIDED TO WORK IN RURAL AREAS
Scope and Content Note: Jean Long's teaching for a year in rural New York state a key in determining the environment in which she would spend the rest of her life.

END OF INTERVIEW