Denver labor bulletin., 1915-06-26
All-P0Werful Rockefeller
Influence Again Felt
Pays Penalty Of Exercising Consti-
tutional Right Of His Freedom
Of Opinion and Speech

Prof. James II. Brewster has been
dropped from the faculty OF the Colo
rado State university at Boulder. When
the regents met a few days ago to make
up the roster for the various depart
ments the name of Professor Brewster
was made conspicuous by its absence
when the faculty list had been COM
pleted. This was not surprising to the
professor or his friends, and only proves
the statement made by Mackenzie King
TO the industrial commission that the
influence of John d. Rockefeller. jr., is
all powerful in Colorado, has again been
illustrated at the college supposed TO
be the peoples popular university
Professor Brewster was dropped be-
cause he exercised his supposedly con-
stitutional right Of free speech and
smoke out in public in defense Of the
fersecuted miners and labor in general
Hc was not afraid TO indorse labor un-
ions a. the only hope for workers gain
ing their rights in Colorado. Thus freely
aid the professor speak without consult
ing Rockefeller's agents or subsidized
state officials and university regents,
and % he will no longer be permitted.
90 serve as a member Of the law faculty
in the Colorado State university.
Before coming to Colorado some years
ago Professor Brewster was a member
OF the law faculty in the University OF
Michigan at Ann Arbor, and i the
nuthor of several university text books
or legal Jurisprudence. He has issued
letter TO the faculty of the University
of Michigan explaining why and how he
was dropped from the law faculty OF the
Colorado State university. This is of
more than ordinary moment to all who
believe in the right of freedom of opin-
ion and speech in universities. and there
for The bulletin prints Professor Brew
ster's statement in full as follows;
Professor Brewster's Statement.
To the Faculty of the University OF
Michigan:
SO many inquiries from friends in
Michigan have reached me regarding
economic and industrial conditions in
Colorado that | send you the following
statement OF facts relating to one phase
of the situation. No argument Is made
on the principle involved the facts
speak for themselves.
About three weeks before the begin
ming of the academic year of l9ls-l?l5
Professor William II. Pease of the fac
ulty Of the law school of the University
of Colorado met death by drowning. He
worked with all three classes of the
law school and taught the following sub
jects: Contracts. convcyancing. elemen
tary law, equity, evidence and real prop
crty. IL is Just to him to say that he
had resolved TO continue this amount OF
work but one year more; he hoped that
at the end of this current year some
means might be found to relieve him
- - u.
the three classes In real property" alone
he used Blackstone's Commentaries
Book ~. Tiffany's Real Property. and
volumes II. Ill and V of Gray's Cases.
He did his work well. but often deplored
the fact that he lacked time and strength
10 consider the subjects he taught as
thoroughly ms he wished to consider
them. His character. his ability. and his
indefntigablc industry had won for him
the esteem OF all who knew him, but his
friends realized that he was greatly over
worked. When | was asked, a few days
after his death. to join the faculty ]
declined to undertake all of Professor
Pcasc's work: mention this fact be-
cause | have been ridiculed by certain
ignorant persons for not attempting to
do what Professor Peasc had been COM
pelled, against his better Judgment, TO
do.
Was Counsel For Strikers.
When IL was suggested that / take at
least n part of the work, ! reminded
President Farrand that l had been of
counsel for the striking coal miners dur
ing the investigation of conditions in the
coal mines of Colorado which had been
conducted by the subcommittee of the
committee on mines and mining of the
,f ,t..t uv,l
| further reminded him that my views
on that subject were Objectionable to
many citizens of Colorado. He and the
dean of the law school nevertheless re.
auested me to take up the work in real
property and equity I therefore under
took real property with the senior and /
Junior classes and equity with the
juniors and have never discussed the sub
jcct of the strike in my work with the
students.
On December I and s, 1914, having
been subpocnacd as a witness. l ap'
pearcd before the United Sthtcs commits
sion on industrial relations, then sitting
in Denver. and testified concerning the
strike and the conditions arising from
II.
Governor Ammons Demanded Discharge.
No one has indicated any false testi-
mony on my part. nor can any one do
so Governor Ammons, however, so Pres. '