The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-06
ONE OF THE FACULTY
Professor Maiden Of the Agricultural
College States His Case.
HE WANTS AN EXPLANATION
Since This Is Denied Him. He Is
Left to Infer That His Sympathy
With the Citizens League Has
Worked to His Injury.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Bozeman. April At was understood
here to-day that the three members OF
the faculty of the Agricultural college
who were lately dismissed by the ac-
ton OF the executive board, had been
given hearing by that board last
night. Mr.. Koch, secretary of the board
however, stated that the board had
nothing to say regarding what passed
at the meeting last night. He said that
the board took no further action; that
there was no further action to be taken
after the matter had been carried be-
fore the state board, and therefore, as
far as the board had anything to do
with the matter, ii, was settled
professor Ryon, it was found, had
not attended the meeting, and Profess
sor Foster was seen only a few min
utes. just as he was leaving town. He
said that what passed between himself
ana the board was not of q private
character. but that he would be pleased
10 answer any questions upon his re-
turn, tomorrow.
Professor Maiden said: my inter
view with the board was in no way
satisfactory to me. What said to them
i have in writing, and you are welcome
TO the manuscript" He addressed the
board as follows:
Gentlemen: By your permission I am
here tonight to make a short statement
of facts in connection with my recent
dismissal from the position on your
faculty which l have held during the
past three years. l wish to say, gentle
men, that, as il has been limited |
ought, l could have remained perfectly
quiet about this action of yours; but, in
the face of the whole truth, and consid-
ering that, in a general way, the action
OF your board wes commonly known
about town before L myself knew that
i had been dismissed, for me to have
been silent and quietly have given out
that had resigned for reasons of my
own, would have been the least truth
ful and least manly way to act. could
have told any other board of trustees,
on applying for a place, that / had re-
signed my position here; yet how easily
they could, and surely would, find out
that i had lied Under such circum-
stances 1 could not possibly have rem
dered satisfactory explanation, for
you leave me none If there be one it
is locked up with you.
Il have been certified to the state
board, and, incidentally, to the public,
as one whose presence in the college
faculty required a cleaning out of that
institution. / am published as one who
TOOK for granted that he had life po-
sition in the college and taking advan-
tage of such supposed security made
himself disagreeable and injurious as
a member of the faculty, and persisted
in so doing until forbearance ceased to
be virtue. When all this has been un-
questionably disproved, it would seem
that misstatements so injurious to my
reputation ought to be retracted. And
II there be no law that requires the
board to give any reason or explana-
ton Whatever to a member of the facul-
ty for any action whatever that the
board may choose to take concerning
him, yet ii cannot be forgotten that
there are certain obligations of courtesy
and fair dealing still commonly ac-
cepted among gentlemen, and that Off
clal position confers no exemption from
these perpetual obligations. But il col !
lege trustees need give no reason; then
why not give no reason? rather than
proceed to give a reason which is not |
true?
1T is impossible for the board to |
know more about my own conduct than |
j know myself. / know that the boards |
charges against me are entirely mis- |
taken. Fortunately, / have been able |
TO prove this, and / have proved it, / |
have proved that the charges did not |
apply; and may say, further that l /
am not only conscious of having en-
deavored to do my whole duty to my
classes and associate teachers, but / |
have had personal assurance from the
president that my work has been sat
isfactory-Mr. Cooper also said as
much, In behalf of the executive board,
during his recent visit to Helena. In
any case, whatever mistakes 1 have
made, it is only fair that be told them,
for IL means reputation and dollars to
me to be able to correct them.
I'm view of these facts, 1 would ask
the board to consider further it's ac-
ton of discharging me on any such spe-
cious pretext. / can not believe that
there is any special charm of official
dignity that will entirely transform &C
tions which, in themselves, may be
termed unjust. / am already confronted
with difficulty which your kindness,
in giving me four months notice to
quit, does not enable me to surmount
In formal list of questions. submitted
TO me by an institution in which am
trying TO secure place. is the follow
ing: State the circumstances connect
ed with leaving your last employment
The only explanation / can give is to
send them copies of the Helena indie
pendent dated March "a and %. Such
an explanation is neither satisfactory
TO you, to me, or would IL be to them. |
Almost without exception, everyone
With whom i have spoken concerning
he recent action, both within and with
put the faculty, seems TO think that /
have been dismissed because Of the |
prominent part / have taken in the |
Citizens League work. and my we'll
known opposition TO the saloons and
saloon interests and influences. This
S the most reasonable explanation / I
Inn able TO give other college boards in
answer to their questions. unless you ,
furnish me with a better one.
What l have done in such anti-saloon ,
work / have done not only without re- ,
from any member Of your ,
,Oard. or from the president. but have :
lone IL with the open approval OF the | :
president. l do not question for a
moment that the public actions OF any
member OF the faculty are largely l I