INTRODUCTION TO RURAL SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO RURAL SOCIOLOGY BY PAUL L. VOGT, PH.D. HUPKKINTKND&ftT, DKPAHTMKNT OF UURAL WOKK, BOARD OK HOUR MISSIONS AND HOMB EXTENSION, METHODIST KPINCOPAL CHUHCH. FORMKHLY PHOKE8SOR Of HUUAL ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY IN THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. AUTHOR OK "A HtlRAL 811HVKY IN SOUTHWESTERN OHIO," "A RUKAL SUHVEY OF GHEKNK AND C'LKKMONT COUNTIES, OHIO," S1TC. Editor of The Church and Country Life. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK LONDON 1917 COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY - APPLETON AND COMPANY Printed in the United States of America PREFACE The following pages have been written in the hope that they might contribute something toward the effort now being made by humanity, particularly in the Western world, to gain con- trol of the conditions of existence in the interest of the com- mon welfare. Thejaj^Hcj^kui~ef~ science during th""past fifty years to specific problems of hu- man relationships has demonstrated that it is possible for humanity, through a better understanding of the conditions of vhuman existence and of the forces operating irt human relationships, to control those conditions and forces in such a manner as to yield a larger measure of human welfare. That there are principles of efficiency in personal conduct has long been recognized. That the efficiency of limited groups, such as business organizations, is dependent upon the opera- tion of well-defined principles, which may be discovered and applied, is no longer questioned. It has been a logical step to accept the belief that the efficiency of the life of the group at large is also subject to the presence or absence of well- defined principles. This last step is the basis for the earnest effort now being made by students of social phenomena to develop a science which will enable human beings to so order their social relationships as to secure a maximum of common welfare with a minimum of waste of social energy through maladjustment of their organized life to community needs. The widely increased interest in the sociology of the small community during the past few years is the expression of a definitely felt need of a better understanding of the problems of efficient living in those communities. The drift to the cities .from both rural and village groups, which is characteristic of all the Western world, is based upon conditions which must be understood if they are to be adequately controlled. Community organization which will prove of most permanent vi PREFACE value must be based upon a knowledge of the factors of social change, such as movements of population, tendencies in size of families, and methods of production or distribution of wealth, which tend to destroy established social equilibrium or to introduce new conditions. The relation of the small community to the growth and ideals of the urban community also makes an understanding of rural life and ideals impera- tive to the one responsible for leadership in urban life. More- over, the fact that over half of the population of America lives in communities of less than 2,500 population indicates the significance of the entire problem from the point of view of social life. It has been assumed by many students of social phenomena that the relations to be found in rural life are relatively sim- ple; and that urban life presents much more serious problems for solution as well as a much richer field for the study of the play of social forces. Those most familiar with the social reactions in rural life agree that, while the problems they pre- sent may be of a somewhat different type, they are no less rich in the contribution they promise to the solution of some of the greatest practical questions of social theory. They also pre- sent a strong appeal to the student of social science because the small community, well-organized, promises to become a very important factor in future social organization because of its firm foundation in the inherited instincts of the race. No problems of social relationships present a better source for study than do the associations to be found in village and rural life. The field chosen has been that of rural life in the United States and particularly those conditions to be found in the great agricultural sections of the Central Valley. The selec- tion of this field has been made because in this area are to be found both the system of diversified agriculture and the in- tensive culture which students of the science of agriculture agree must come to practically every section as population in- creases and pressure upon the means of subsistence grows. It also presents the variety of relationships resulting from proximity to large urban centers not to be found in pioneer or PREFACE vii highly specialized areas. This area is also far enough ad- vanced in its general social evolution to afford a basis for determining what phases of rural life are likely to be of a great degree of permanence, what ones are of passing impor- tance, and what form rural organization should take to meet permanent needs. The village has been included in this study because it is evi- dent, from tendencies discovered in surveys made, that those responsible for the formulation of policies of rural social or- ganization must reckon with the village as the natural center of rural life. Failure to recognize the place of the village in relation to the rural community has, it is feared, already led, in many instances, to erroneous and costly policies of organization of educational, social and religious life in unnatural and pass- ing rural centers. The present text is intended to be, as its title indicates, an introduction to the subject of rural sociology. It is recognized that in the limited time in which problems of rural life have been made the basis of research, comparatively little of the field could have been explored. Enough has been done, how- ever, to justify definite conclusions as to certain phases of the subject and the attempt has been made to present the more important of the conclusions reached. While many of the data are necessarily limited in scope, they are presented as a basis for further study in wider areas. It is believed they are drawn from sources which are typical of the entire agricultural area which has been made the topic of special investigation. It is hoped that their presentation will lead to more intensive study of similar problems in their respective fields by those using the book as a text. As an aid to such special study questions and references have been added at the close of each chapter. The first set of Questions is intended specifically to call attention to the more important topics presented in the text. The Topics for Research are not intended to be exhaustive, nor can they be used in every community. It has been impossible, within the space available in a text, to give detailed directions as to methods of conducting these special studies. They have been viii PREFACE added to emphasize the desirability of laboratory methods in the study of social science and to indicate the direction such laboratory work may take. Acknowledgment is due to the many farmers, public offi- cials and others throughout the country who have aided the author by courteously giving information through personal in- terview or by correspondence ; to other students of rural life whose work has been consulted and utilized ; and to the author's own students, who have, by stimulating criticism in class discussion and by studies of special problems, aided in working out many of the conclusions reached. The author wishes to acknowledge particularly the assistance of Pro- fessor John Phelan, of Massachusetts Agricultural College, who carefully read the entire manuscript and made many valuable criticisms. It is hoped that the text may lead to a much wider research into rural problems in all parts of the country and that the full understanding of the conditions and forces of rural life necessary to bring about and maintain the fullest, richest rural civilization may result. PAUL L. VOGT. Ohio State University. CONTENTS CHAPTER PACH3 I. RURAL SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS i Reasons for increased interest in rural sociology Pres- ent Status Reasons for the study of social science in general Characteristics of ideal rural community Definition of rural sociology Sociological principles to be used in social analysis Limitations to the study of rural life. II. THE PHYSICAL SETTING FOR RURAL LIFE . 26 Social organization largely dependent on physical en- vironment Influence of various physical conditions Physical influences modified by psychological factors. III. THE IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL METHODS 35 The effort to reduce manual labor Improvements of machinery The social effects of improvements in methods of production. IV. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION AND RURAL WELFARE 45 Reasons for delay of road improvement Present incen- tives to road improvement The economic effects of good roads The social effects of good roads Social effects of the automobile Social effects of the tele- phone Social effects of rural free delivery. V. THE LAND QUESTION AND RURAL WELFARE . 61 Importance of land problems Tendencies as to size of farms Evidence as to permanence of these tendencies Social effects of size of farms Special land problems Increase in tenantry Effects of increase in tenantry English experience Remedies. ix x CONTENTS CHAPTEB PAGE VI. THE FARMER'S LABOR INCOME . 101 Rural and urban wealth compared Statistics of farm- ers' incomes Why incomes apparently do not increase Comparison of incomes with other groups The advan- tages of the farmer Outlook for the tenant. VII. MOVEMENTS OF POPULATION .... 120 Conditions as to homogeneity of type Homogeneity as to economic status The drift to the cities Causes of decrease in rural population Shift to older agricultural areas Local shift Causes of shift Corrective agen- cies. VIII. RURAL HEALTH PHYSICAL . . . .150 Rural and urban death rates compared Health condi- tions among children Special rural health problems Causes of poor health in the country Rural health work of state and federal agencies Rural nurses County hospitals. IX. RURAL HEALTHMENTAL 169 Feeble-mindedness, rural and urban Social effects of feeble-mindedness Methods of control Insanity in the open country Methods of control of insanity. X; THE RURAL SOCIAL MIND 183 Factors determining mental reactions Characteristics of the rural mind Tendencies toward urbanizing the rural mind Influence of the country on the city Rural ideals that should prevail in national life. XL RURAL MORALITY 203 Source of urban vice not rural Extent of venereal dis- ease in rural communities Rural interest in control of urban moral conditions Illegitimacy in the country Crime in the country Divorce as an evidence of moral conditions. XII. THE FARMER IN POLITICS 220 Farmers not represented by their own group Farmers control through exercise of voting power Progressive CONTENTS xi CHAPTER PAGE attitude of farmers' organizations Stability of rural vote. XIII. FARMERS' ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS . . 228 Types of economic organization The cooperative movement Cooperation a principle antagonistic to com- petition Factors essential to success of the movement Social effects of cooperation Cooperation a permanent and growing factor in agriculture. XIV. FARMERS' SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS . . 244 Types of rural social organizations The Patrons of Husbandry The Farmers' Union The Farmers' Na- tional Congress The National Chamber of Agriculture Commission The Ancient Order of Gleaners The Na- tional Agricultural Society and the Agricultural Organ- ization Society Principles of efficiency in organization. XV. THE SCHOOL AS A FACTOR IN RURAL LIFE . 264 Changing ideals in education Social functions of the school Social activities The village school and the rural community The school or the church as the social center Adjustment of the school to community needs. XVI. OTHER RURAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES . 286 The development of agricultural education The work of the United States Department of Agriculture County farm bureaus and county agents Office of Mar- kets and rural organization United States Bureau of Education Other agencies. XVII. THE CHURCH AND COUNTRY LIFE . . . 297 The social function of the church Church member- ship Changes in religiotis life in the country Handi- caps to rural church progress Summary. XVIII. THE RURAL CHURCH MEASURES FOR IM- PROVEMENT 319 The village as the center of religious life Equipment Beliefs Finances Vision of service Interdenomina- tional situation. xii CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE XIX. THE COUNTY FAIR 331 The history of the fair Weaknesses in fair manage- ment Types of exhibits The social possibilities of the fair. XX. THE VILLAGE IN RELATION TO RURAL LIFE . 341 The place of the village in American social organiza- tion The relation of the village to the rural community. XXI. THE VILLAGE IN HISTORY 347 The village the natural human group Characteristics of the primitive village Contrast of modern village with primitive group Tendencies toward communal life in modern village. XXII. VILLAGE GROWTH AND DECLINE . . . 356 Causes of growth or decline Economic reasons for in- terest in village growth Social reasons for interest in the small community Village contributions to social welfare. XXIII. SOCIALIZATION OF THE VILLAGE . . 374 Objects to be attained Unsettled questions of village organization Types and characteristics of village or- ganizations. XXIV. HEALTH AND SANITATION IN VILLAGES . 386 Some problems of sanitation Constructive health meas- ures. XXV. VILLAGE POLITICAL LIFE . 399 Village attitude toward local government Vagrancy in villages Relief in villages Constructive program of municipal government needed. XXVI. THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE RURAL PROB- LEM 405 Popular belief in superiority of country bred boys and girls Changes in source of urban leadership Where most of the rural immigration to the cities must find a place The retired farmer The social significance of the farm element in villages and cities. CONTENTS xiii CHAPTER PAGE XXVII. METHODS OF APPROACH TO THE RURAL PROBLEM 419 The survey The program Cooperation between or- ganizations Qualities of leadership Over and under organization Social progress versus maintenance of standards. XXVIII. CONCLUSION 43* INDEX 435 LIST OF CHARTS AND MAPS CHARTS PAGE I. Typical Distribution of Interest Centers in Average Community . . . . . . . .18 II. Interests Centralized, Social Bond Strengthened . 19 III. Decrease in Rural and Urban Death Rate, United States, 1800-1915 152 IV. Admissions to Michigan State Hospitals, 1913-1914 . 179 V. Forms of Insanity Admitted to Michigan State Hos- pitals from Urban and Rural Communities, 1913- 1914 1 80 VI. Membership and Population Distribution, 1900 . . 305 VII. Where Are the Young People? Age, Record, Etc. . 306 VIII. Ministerial Vivisection and the Growth of Churches . 314 IX. The Failure of Absent Treatment . . . .315 X. The Survival of the Fittest 315 MAPS 1. Per Cent. Farmers, Native White, 1910 .... 122 2. Per Cent. Farmers, Foreign-born, 1910 .... 122 3. Area in Which Foreign-born Farmers Less Than 10 Per Cent, 1910 123 4. Per Cent. Farmers, Negroes or Other Color, 1910 . .124 5. Area in Which Negro Farmers Constitute Less Than 10 Per Cent., 1910 124 6. Per Cent. Farm Laborers (Working Out), Foreign-born, White, 1910 125 7. Per Cent. Farm Laborers (Working Out), Negro, 1910 126 xvi LIST OF CHARTS AND MAPS PAGE 8. Percentage Farm Laborers (Working Out), Native White, 1910 126 9. Per Cent. Farmers in Total Farmers and Farm Laborers, 1910 . 127 10. Maximum Open Country Population, Ohio . . . 131