Montana labor news., 1937-07-01
LABOR FEDERATION
SUPPORTS KEENEY
CONTINUED from Page y

Without aQnlltlng MS 1rlendS, Wit
nesses, or advocates, or even his
stenographer, did then open its ses-
sion and vote to concur in Profess
sor Keeney's dismissal, denying him
an open and fair hearing and re-
fusing to hear friends and support
ers testify in his behalf, so that the
new board members did not have an
opportunity to hear all sides of the
question;
Whereas, Immediately thereafter
the same majority voted to put Pro
fessor E. P. Rowe, temporary presi-
dent of the newly organized Uni
versity Teachers Union, on a month
ly salary basis, notwithstanding the
fact that for years he has enjoyed
permanent tenure on yearly contract
with the University; and
Whereas, these dictatorial and
high handed actions of President
Simmons and certain hold-over
members of the State Board are not
only designed to intimidate members
of the University faculty, are not
only indications that President Sim
mons and his supporters fear to
grant Keeney an open and fair hear
ing, but show an obvious and deep
seated bias against the Teachers I'M
ion and organized labor;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved,
that we, the Montana State Fedora
ton of Labor condemn these arbi-
trary acts of President Simmons and
the hold-over reactionaries on the
State Board of Education as violat-
ing academic freedom, injuring q
widely respected and recognized IL
brarian, plainly discriminating
against and attempting to intimidate
two men known to be active in estab-
fishing the new teachers union or
the campus, and as an act against the
best interests Of the University anc
%unfriendly to organized labor;
Be It Further Resolved: that We
demand the restoration of Professors
Keeney and Rowe to permanent
tenure without loss of salary ano
other privileges;
Be It Further Resolved: that copies
of this resolution be sent to mem.
bers of the State Board of Educa.
ton, to DR.. H.. H. Swain, to the Gov.
ernor, to President Simmons, anC
to the press.
And Be 1t Finally Resolved: tina.
the Montana State Federation of La
Dor Convention empower its Execu
tive Board or a committee appointed
by this Board to fight this case il
the name of organized labor of Mon
tana and to do all in its power t.
restore Professors Keeney and Rowe
to their respective positions on tn,
faculty of the Montana State Uni
versity.
Resolution No. 26
Whereas, Labor in Montana is no
in any way represented on the Stat,
Board of Education, and has founC
it impossible even to get a hearing
before the State Board of Education
and feeling that the rank and file O
the people of the State of Montana
should have a voice in the selection
of the members of this Board SO tina
the interests of Labor and the people
in general should receive proper
consideration,
Be It Resolved, That this conven
ton go on record recommending
election instead of appointment O
the members of the State Board o
Education; their election to be on
non-partisan ticket,
And Be It Further Resolved, Tha
this Convention instruct its Execu
tive President and it's Executive
Board to take the necessary steps Il
bring about this change.
Resolution No. 30
Whereas, the school boards of thu
various districts of the state are TO
the most part composed of bushes
men,
Whereas, Labor should take
more active interest in local schoo
affairs, both in the schools them
selves and in representation on tn,
school boards in the various districts
Whereas, organized labor in Mon
tana should put forth a concentrate
effort to organize the teachers of tn,
state, and feeling that one of tn,
most effective ways of making thi
organization possible would be Il
elect school boards that would b
favorable to teachers organizations
Now, Therefore Be It Resolved
That the Convention of the Montani
State Federation of Labor instruc
its delegates to carry this messag,
back to their respective ~organiza
tons and urge those organization
and all organized labor in Montani
to exert every effort to elect mem
bers of organized labor or those il
sympathy with Labor to every schoo
board in the state.
Resolution No. 3S
Whereas, Labor was given sucl
splendid support at the State Boar'
of Education meeting in April re
garding the Keeney case by Stat
Superintendent of Instruction Rutl