The Daily Missoulian., 1914-11-02

Ac0AucuC EFllCHGtC 1uTynCE A01S.
Nor does the history of the Montana
College of Agriculture and Mechanic
Arts hold out much hope that 1t will
avoid this danger" He further adds:
1T is to be regretted that the admir-
able movement to create greater
University of Montana has not led to
more parctical results"
l did not refer to the University of
California in this connection, but as
, for the University Of Minnesota. 1 may
, say that President Hamilton's figures
are entirely incorrect. The bunctin Of
general information Of the University
Of Minnesota for 1s12-13 states that
there were during that year 1897 stu
dents in the department Of agricul-
ture, and this number excludes the
large number of students at the three
schools managed elsewhere in the
state by the University OF Minnesota.
President Hamilton says there are
only ia Of such students. President
Hamilton further says that there are
but 3.701 college students at the Uni
versity of Minnesota, whereas in 1912
13 there were, according to the insti
| tution's own catalog, 4,052 students of
| collegiate grade, and $500 students Of
non-collegiate grade. making total
| OF 6,642.
| President Hamilton states: II have
remained at home during the cam
tpaign attending to my work as in
structed by the state board Of educa-
tion. I have discouraged the faculty
and students from taking part in this
campaign and they have respected my
wishes"
have only to say in reply, and
do so only because President Hamil-
ton has repeatedly intimated that such
| was not the case. I also have at
| tended to my duties as best can. and
also have had regard to the spirit of
the resolution of the state board
touching the action Of the faculty. The
faculty Of the state college, during the
past year. spent over $4,000 for travel
| ing expenses; the faculty Of the uni
versity, about $1,500. Is it possible
that President Hamilton means to in.
| innate that the faculty IF the state
college, who, in large numbers, have
travelled up and down the state, have
not expressed an opinion on this sub
Ject? Will he tell the people of the
state that such is the case? Have not
/ the faculty, in conversation with the
people. spoken against consolidation?
Does he mean to intimate that the
students and alumni of the state coll
lege have not expressed their opinions
on this subject? OF course they have,
and they had a right to do SO, and I
respect them for doing SO.
At the same time the faculty OF the
university have favored consolidation,
and they have favored it in the open
light of day. When invited to speak
upon the subject, they have spoken.
If, responding to an invitation to ad-
dress the people, we have gone out
solely to make a talk on consolidation.
We have met our travelling expenses.
In this connection I wish to deny en-
phatically, as the press has repeatedly
charged, and 1 fear that President
Hamilton and his faculty have been
partly responsible for this charge that
the faculty have neglected their du-
ties, and, so far as I know, not a sim
gle member of the faculty has missed
! single lesson in order to make a con-
solidation speech. Does President
, Hamilton mean to say that professors
| may go out and talk on any educa-
) tlonal subject except consolidation?
Does he think that the state board of
education would declare such pol
icy? Although professors of the state
r college have written articles and let
? ters against consolidation, I was sur
3 prised to learn they were unwilling
, until recently to sign their names. II
t appears, from facts presented to me
: that one of the deans of the state col.
lege was unwilling to sign his name
9 TO an article until he got President
r Hamilton's permission. Professors ir
!, the state college in favor of consolida.
g ton have kept their mouths closed
and they have told me why. AS lont
j as remain president OF this universe.
n ty, I shall encourage freedom o1
speech and freedom Of thought. Pro.
: fessors here may write for or agains
Y consolidation as they wish to do; the,
may speak for or against it as the,
s desire to do. Without freedom, a uni.
I versity, no matter how splendid its
buildings, is dungeon. do not be-
e iieve that the majority of the state
0 board of education or the people Of
8 Montana will be willing to suppress
t. freedom of sneech in a university, es-
pecially where the professors discuss
Q educational questions.
e Very respectfully,
EDWIN b. CRAIGHEAD.