The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-12
STUDENTS VOICE PROTEST
Ask Faculty to Reconsider
Action in Demanding Pat
terson to Resign.

versity which played against the Hell
ena high school five in an unauthor-
lied game during the holidays, war
thrashed out yesterday, when the stu
dent body Of the university received
| the report Of special committee
| which had been appointed to investi-
gate the case.
John Patterson, manager OF the As
ISOLATED Student activities, had already
presented his resignation, which had
| previously been requested by the fac.
ulty, but the ruling sentiment OF the
| mass meeting was that though Pat
terson should not hold his office, they
| objected to the faculty repudiating the
constitution Of the A S. U. NJ. in de-
manding his resignation and not al
lowing the students to remove their
officer. whom they had elected.
Recommendations were made to the
faculty that they reconsider their ac-
ton in requesting Patterson to resign
and that he be considered as manager
until the students should have time to
take action as provided under the inn
parchment clauses of the constitution
and that they reconsider the action
taken in discriminating in the punish
ment of the upper classmen, who took
part in the game.
The history of the affair is too well
known to be repeated. OF the seven
men who took part in the Helena
game, Ricketts, and Prescott were dis
qualified for the remainder Of the
season, while Patterson was disquali-
fled for the remainder of the year,
and asked TO resign his office, the
faculty contending that as manager of
the Associated Students Patterson ar
ranged the game without any consent
from the authorities. The other four
men who played We're let off with be-
ing censured.
This is not the first time that an
affair of this kind has happened. In
1909 the five men who made UP the
university basketball team, made u
trip to Anaconda during the holidays
~
Not only did they fare as badly in
the game as did the team this year,
but they were all barred from the
team for the rest of the season, and
as there were no other players avail
able, the season came to u sudden
cropper right there.
Manager Patterson and the players
who made the trip to Helena contend
that the game was merely arranged
as game between the Helena high
school and an independent team from
Missoula. They claim that all the
trouble was caused by the team being
advertised in Helena as the state Uni
versity basketball team.
Yesterday The Muscular received
the following letter from Edwin S.
Thomas. physical director of the Hell
ena schools and coach of the ba SIX ct
ball team, in regard to the arrange
ments for the game:
The following is a copy Of the tel
egram sent me from the University
Of Montana basketball teams man.
| ager:
Professor Il. s. Thomas, coach Hell
ena high school basketball team, Hell
ena, Mont: Have open date Wednes-
day or Thursday night, December 81
| or Is. What guarantee will you give
for basketball game on either night
viii have four of last years team and
should draw a big crowd. Wire an
swer at once.
(Signed) JOHN PATTERSON.
Manager University of Montana
basketball team"
Il desire to say that we do not and
will not do business with any set or
group of men or players claiming to
be an Independent team from any of
our state institutions. As far as we
are concerned, we played the univer-
sity of Montana basketball team here
on Thursday, December 2S, 1916"
When the faculty met to consider
the case of the players. copy of the
| preceding telegram was introduced as
evidence, and as no defense was DOS
sible against such an discriminating ex-
hlbit, the men We're disqualified
| Though there has been considera BILE
feeling about the matter, it at present
being bone of contention among the
fraternities, it is said that IA majority
of the student body recommends the
action taken by the faculty commit
tee on athletics
The case is not yet concluded. Pat
/ terson has presented his resignation
| TO the executive committee of the stu
dent body, and though no action has
been taken as yet, it is claimed around
the campus that the committee will re
fuse to accept the resignation.
The faculty, it is believed, will b,
adamant. as it is said that statement.
have been made to the effect that if i
had been thought that Patterson woul,
not resign Immediately after he ha,
been asked to do so, he would hay,
,,;1