The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-26
B1ackba11;ng Ideas

There was great Indignation among the students
and faculty Of Columbia university last week at the
suppression of Count Tostoy, who had come to lee
tnre on his fathers ideals. The reason assigned
by the authorities that a head Of a department
could at any time prohibit any speaker from APP
rearng on the campus. A professor Of Slayonic
languages had objected to Tolstoy. The novels of
TolstoH, Sr., are studied in the Freshman English
courses of the university, and his theories dis
cussed III the advanced philosophy classes But to
have a lecture by close relative of the dstin-
guished Russian at this time would, the professor
OF Slavonic languages felt, upset the nerves Of
the Columbia undergraduate that the whole future
of the country would be mpcrilcd.
good many callow people may sympathize with
the Columbia students who felt that one mans veto
should not bar a person idea from a great
university. They may think with the undisci-
Filmed radicasm Of youth, that place where young
men are trained to think is good place for the
t'rashing out Of new ideas. 1t might indeed occur
to a few of them that most universities would have
to shut down altogether If the doctrines taught
could be backballcd by single Veto
There probably isn't a philosopher living or dead
VINO could get the vote Of members of the Co
lumba faculty and the law of gravitation itself
would be lucky if it got the unqualified support of
everyone mrudlng the professor of interior dccora
ton in the school Of household arts A little re-
Election, however, will demonstrate the beauty of
inc ancient DS-laW. In -Srntten world there
must be some haven Of harmony some sanctuary of
peace. Students will have enough time after they
get into the world to learn that PEOPLE disagree on
everything, from birth control to free verse and
for four years at least they should be allowed the
'm'apic conviction that everything is all settled
and that If anybody disagrees it's because he hasn
looked 1t up in the index at the back of the book
Probably the chief of the worlds woe is the
| lack of just such bylaw kept Tolstoy out of
a fin,,
ilaous II one blackball could have accomplished
anything in August. 1914 And the editorial IA rcs
OF all the papers We don't approve would disappea,
! from off the face Of the newsstands. The differ.
| ence with living in a free country where anybod,
| can say anthng that comes into his hcad-and ever
get 1t printcdis that it robs of that comforabl.
| sense Of righteousness which comes from havint
| ideas that arc too good for an hour or two L
sometimes spoils whole afternoon. being continu
, ally contradicted and having ones cherished no.
IONS knocked all to pieces. It's hard to keep one
| temper IN dcmocracry, and freedom of speech i.
a good deal Of Il nervous strain.
| Equip a university with a Mackball rule such a:
Is operative at Columbia and You preserve a tran.
quill spot for recreation and repose. If a man get.
| tired hearing all his favorite notions brutay han
died by PEOPLE who have lost all of reverence
all he will have to do will be to become a professor
| IN university and keep his eye open for infringe
| ments. If he is professor of anthropoogy h,
may object to talks birth control because afte
deep study he has come to believe in the perpetua
| ton Of the human race. He may have a passio,
| Tor Nictzsche and think all other PHILOSOPHERS re
| fined forms Of foolishness. A disappearing frown
| and his colleague who worshps the wishy- wash,
notions of Plato would have to resign his OPINION.
! or his job.
Not only would this be admirable ARRANGEMENT
for the professors, but it would improve the lot o.
| the students incredibly. would reduce the mum
Der OF ideas taught in university; there probabl,