The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-17

This letter vas delivered at The Muscular office yesterday noon, by a
member of the faculty Of the state university. In some of it's phases it is
interesting; in others, it is surprising; in every phase il reflects the nature
o the fanacious arguments which have been advanced in support If the
proposition to consolidate the states institutions of higher education.
First off m a The Muscular for a moment indulge in a paragraph which
is purely personal? When the subject Of consolidation vas first preached,
We said in comment that the presentation "a attractive and that, upon the
face of it, admitted of n o argument against it.. We added, we believe, that
the first thing to do va to settle the question Of consolidation, by itself
and not to allow the matter of1ocaion to influence The decision of the question
upon its merits We later expressed the belief that whatever opinion we're
expressed by Missoula in the matter would be historic. and ascnbed to selfish
motives On this account The Missoulian has taken nc part n the discussion
OF the consohdatio question. ~ remarks yesterday morning we're prompted
by friendship of long standing FOR the university. They we're not inspired "by
wv ." '"ee men of means H. dictate the policies of The Nissoulan" The
policies of The Muscular are not dictated except by a desire to serve best
tits community and state Believing that the state university is being seriously
sent forth.
The letter which heads this column will be seen, is a personal commune
addressed to the editor of The Muscular. Yet a copy of it was fur
nished to another newspaper: Common courtesy would have dictated with
holding the letter from the public until, at least, its addressee had failed to
make recognition.
We have red the letter carefully. The las perusal suggested Madame
F'nands words: 80, Liberty! Liberty! how nan crimes are committed in
thy name" For it will be noted that thetfacultys protest against the ati-
ude of The Muscular is made in tho5name Of freedom"
The agitator upon the street corner assaiing his country, its flag and it's
institutions, makes this san protest when he is called to account I'm the
name Of freedom he appeals to nbertyloving comrades to protect him from
he pena'y of the 1aw. His position is false .4s. ara @
So we believe, is the position of the university faculty false. 1t is just as
fase as the statemen which are made regarding The Nfssouians attitude;
it is Just IS fake as the premises in the address, emanatins from the faculty
We are sure The menn,rs q, IN acu1t,r ho ' tna nn W. vnssnna"u ,ata, do
not realize what they are doing. Either through dlusion or through con
pusion, they have go to extremes in this consolidation matter. They d not
admit that here is n argument possible against The cons,idaton mar,
And it is a fact that o argument "a be made to hold against the plan as it
has beer proposed by President Craighead-but the trouble with it is that
the presidents premises are not all tenable. If he ou1d make good-but this
is drifting into "a discussion of consolidation. and we do nt propose to enter
upon that discussion this morning.
The question % at issue is III correctness of the statemen which The
Muscular made yesterday morning, that the university faculty is neglectng
its duty. To tist the faculty has added the assertion that The Muscular
is seeking to muzMe the professors
There nay b. some question as to what constitutes The duty of the uni
IVersty faculty, out there can be II o question as to what does not constitute
this duty. For instance, a member Of the faculty, on Wednesday, asked a
Missoula man to sign a petition in favo of consultations. That nan refused
saying he a satisfied with the present rransene and that he had two
boys whom he wished to send o he state University '
y woud not send your boys to this university would you 2" exclaimed The
faculty member 1T is onlya third rate school | would not send m " children
there' w e 10 not believe n farmnded mn would contend fol a minute
mat this faculty member was performing his duty. The incident indicates
The extreme to which the members Of The faculty are going. They have lost
their perspective, entirely.
"A to the charge that The Muscular seeks to muzzle. h members O. the
faculty hat is absolutely false Every line which The Muscular has been
ASKED TO PRINT for the faculty has been published and has been given con-
sp'cuous place h faculty members should now this-some of them 10
hh" !! ne Mssouha as rfrained from advocacy of thu proposition for
reason already stated-the same reason which has prompted us to refrain
ron opposition.
appealing LOT freedom of Speech. the faculty members would den The
MNsso"ah I'M sam RICH. We have always done our best in support If te
university. we want a greater university, bt there is a question as n
"hehei y" not Inc craighead plan of putting the institution upon h auction
oiock VIII give us a greater university. We challenge tn faculty. or nv
ime"oei oh II :" snow one instance in many long years where The Mssouli,n
ana us star ave lot been loyal to the university n Jealous in its c,,sa
U'NF" e"ei"s "e eraighead plan, We nave desired, lest our