Montana labor news., 1937-12-30
Union al University
Needed Tor Freedom

At the beginning of the fall quar-
ter 1897 every new and old member
of the Montana State University
faculty received a simple statement
of the aims of the Teachers Union
organized on the campus last April,
and each faculty member was in
vited to attend the first union meet
ing where these aims would be dis
cussed.
Some fifteen or twenty persons
not belonging to the union turned
out at this meeting. At its CON
clusion three or four indicated their
desire to join. Since that time no
others have presented their names
to the Credentials Committee, and
the number stands at twenty-nine
members, three less than the total
membership last spring although the
faculty roster is larger by ten or
fifteen than it was then.
Why this decided lack Of interest
in an organization which stands to
do more for the faculty as a whole
than any other campus group?
In 1929 the voters of Montana
we're asked to decide at the polls
whether or not they wished to sup
port higher education on a millage
basis. Had it not been for the solid
support Of labor in several counties,
this measure would have lost. This
same issue is to be faced again in
the coming election of 1888, and its
support is one of the main measures
on the program of Local 497, A. F.
of T. Surely every new and old
faculty member knows that this
measure is his or her greatest salary
surety. If this millage tax is de-
feated, the budget for higher edu-
cation depends upon the will of the
legislature. The budget may easily
become a political football in the
next legislative assembly, and in
the desire to economic, it may be
kicked to pieces.
Despite the denials Of the admin
istration and the ~censoring of The
Kaimin, the student paper, the fac
ulty knows that Professor Keeney's
summary dismissal without hearing
and Professor Rowe's disciplining
without warning of any kind were
both due to their union activity. Is
this the main reason for lack of
healthy union growth? Many promi-
nent labor leaders in Montana and
in other states, who have followed
the Keeney-Rowe case, believe that
fear Of further administration re-
prisals prevents the normal expan-
sion of Local ACT.
So long as this condition persists
on the campus of Montana State
University, it is impossible for stu
dents to obtain the free and liberal
education which organized labor
considers to be the birthright of
every child.
What has labor done to wipe out
this administrative victimization?
1. Labor has applied economic pres
sure; 2. Labor has hailed the Keeney
case into the District Court; 3. La
Dor has gone on record as opposing
the expenditure of state taxes for
the payment of extra fees to defend
President Simmons and the State
Board of Education, since the At
torney-G General is elected to defend
the board whenever it is caught in
a jam. Labor has made the entire
state aware of a monstrous situa-
ton existing on the Montana State
University campus.
But labor can do even more. 1t
can elect to the 1899 legislature
members who will do away with
this paralysis of fear that grips the
State University, who will see to it
that Local 497 of the A. f. Of T. is
recognized by the State Board of
Education, and who will restore
upon the campus that free and in
dependent teaching without which
education is a mockery.