The Daily Missoulian., 1913-01-26

university was a good small institution.
and was doing good work. A member
of the Womans club has told me that
the opinion of the worthlessness of the
| university was not expressed there by
faculty member and that such an
expression could have been obtained
only from misunderstanding of what
was said.
The burden of proof should rest with
those who make these charges, because
it does not seem likely any member Of
the faculty is 50 foolish as to make
such a statement.
statements that the university Is not
yet true state university are being
misrepresented as statements that the
university is mo good at ALL"
| will stand on Mr.. Durstons defini-
ton and ask whether we have yet a
real state university. "A state univer-
sity should be made up of all it's in
sttutions of higher education, usually
known as colleges
Any man who went to Helena pre-
pared to take a strong stand in favor
of consolidation and Withdrew his
support because he did not like meth
Jus VI SoiIle advocate, WltnurGW With
out reasonable and good cause.
Bad advocates or bad methods do
not affect the merits of the cause or
render it any less for the public good
AS to inspiration of the warranted
activity, it is due to the president to
say that members Of the faculty were
told in definite terms that they were
free to assist in the work or not with
out personal prejudice. I do not believe
the university is suffering in conse-
quence of activity for consolidation, ex-
cept for the accusations made by The
MiSsoulian and spread throughout the
state real des re for the welfare
of the university should have been
shown by quietly presenting the
charges to the state board of education
and having them Investigated, and the
wrong conduct stopped if the charges
were proved. From the method of at
tack it seems to have been for the pur-
pose of frightening the faculty into
silence: this has failed and will fail
If there have been things said at
the university by members of the fac
ulty which call for the sternest re-
proof" let the reproof be given by the
proper authority in the proper way.
Constellation is said to be dead;
possibly it is. But cause supported
by the state board of education, by
the teachers of Montana assembled in
the state association, by three out of
four of the presidents of the schools of
higher education in Montana, by the
unanimous voice of all the great uni
versty presidents and other great edu-
Gators of the nation. such a cause does
not die easily; perhaps some life yet
remains
While our employers remain pledged
to use all honorable means to promote
consolidation, the faculty of the uni
versity may consider itself free to do
the same, without neglect of other uni
versity duties.
So far as l am aware the university
work is being done in the usual man.
ner If it is not, let the state board
and not the newspapers attend to any
neglect. The faculty is attending to
running the university, and we hope to
be allowed to do so.
1t is not with pleasure or a light
heart that this reply for which l am
solely responsible, is written.
The bonds of friendship which many
years have formed forbid that. How
ever, conscience and sense of honor and
duty did not permit silence.
WIN. M. ABER.
MisSoula, January IS, 1918.