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and emergencies when "we can't afford to make mistakes, “ and can't take a chance on letting a lese-trained person do a job and learn at the risk of having him make mistakes. Unless deliberate decisions are made by the group to expand the techniques of the trade, techniques (such as running a meeting, writing a leaflet, running a mimeo machine, being picket captain, etc.) will remain the property of a few "experts, " who tend gradually, and frequently without realizing it, | to exclude the rank-and- file members a > eo orga iwation r) In civil rights groups conditions of crisis always exist. In addition, you run into the argument that decision-making should be limited to those who fully participate in organizational work-- something that is not possible, given the speed of the movement and the constant meetings required, for everyone. A second-class mem- bership can develop under such circurnstances, and a type of clique arises in which the "true revolutionaries," that is. those whose entire lives are taken up with the movement, have a ‘different life from the rest of the members, ‘— different values, slang, etc. Insofar as such a clique criticizes current values it may have a contribution to make, but when it separates itself from its own rank-and-file, and from the community at large, because of its style of living, it does the movement a disservice. Democracy in any case suffers. lf you need to fight against the growth of non-democratic tendencies in an organization, you must organize your action (that is, form 22 This makes the situation more serious. caucuses). group is informal, or whether a clearly anti-demo- cratic faction exists. You must organize pro- democratic people to conduct a clear-cut fight on this issue, otherwise, after a time, the organization is doomed to deveiop in such a way as to under- mine its ultimate goals: the democratic and just develupinent of society. Whether you are conducting a struggle within your own organization, or working as a democratic minority in another group, several suggestions may help: (1) All organizations have three primary func- tions: policy-making, organization, and education {including both education of the group itself and Rana rdiaas af what hadwu makaa Se ee reer ST -) 7 muhlie ralatinneal PUMsit OCs. policy (conventions, executive committees, etc. } he who is in charge of carrying policy out ultimately determines what happens, The organizer, secre- tary, coordinator of committees, administrator is the man to watch--or the manto be. This fact can he used either for evil or for good. (2) You must organize your group into a caucus, meet ahead of meetings plan strategy, and have a floor leader. Sit in a scattered position through- out the audience. Keep your beat speaker for last in an exchange from the floor. Know your parliamentary procedure so as not to be out- maneuvered, and so as to make best use of your numbers. {3) Remember that you, as a leader, are no good without an organized following, just as an officer is no good without a top-notch first sergeant. 23 eS This is true whether the non-democratic A 2 YAR rye