Montana labor news., 1937-04-22
Falls Unions Condemn
Discharge Of keeney
By Board Of Education

The central labor body of all the
unions of Cascade County has wired
the members of the State Board of
Education protesting against the dis
charge of Professor Phillip o. Kee-
ney. While technically Professor
Keeney was not discharged, never
theless the action of the Board in
conforming to the recommendations
of President Simmons in which the
name of Professor Keeney was omit
ted, is equivalent to a discharge. The
result is the same insofar as the pro-
fessor is concerned.
The unions here feel that the name
of the professor being omitted from
the list of recommendations of tea
cheers, was principally due to his UNI,
ion duties and to his liberal treat
ment of subjects coming under his
control.
The Great Falls Newspaper Guild
added their voice to the action taken
by the Assembly and asked that a
resolution dealing with the matter
be read and a copy sent to all affi-
lated unions for action.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Philip o. Keeney, en-
ployed at the University of Montana
for six years as librarian with the
rank of full professor, has been re-
lieved of his position, and
WHEREAS, the quality of Pro-
fessor Keeney's work has never
been questioned but has been univ
ersally praised, and his professional
standing is above reproach as evil
denced by his being past president
of the Montana Library Association,
present vice president of the Pacific
Northwest Library Association and
editor of this latter organizations
Quarterly, and
WHEREAS no specific charges
have been preferred against Mr.
Keeney nor any suggestions made
for improvement of his work, and
WHEREAS, Mr.. Keeney's liberal
policy of attempting to make avail
able to students library material on
all sides of important questions has
previously incurred the wrath of the
university administration, and
WHEREAS, his dismissal was an
nounced two days after he had OBJ
tanned a large number of signatures
lor the purpose of forming a local
of the American Federation of Tea
cheers, an American Federation of
Labor union, and
WHEREAS on April II, 1887, the
majority of the state board of edu-
cation Excluding Attorney General
Freebourn and State Superinten-
dent Ruth Reardon who voted 'no"
and Father Reilly, ABSENT having
heard President Simmons recite YER
bal charges not made in presence of
accused or his counsel, and having
questioned Professor Keeney with
out admitting his friends, witnesses,
advocates or even his stenographer
to record the proceedings, did then
suddenly open its session and con-
cur in his dismissal without open
and fair hearing or opportunity of
his supporters to testify in his de-
tense, and
WHEREAS, Immediately there
after the same majority voted to put
Prof. e. P. Rowe, president of the
newly-organized university teach
ers union, on a monthly salary basis
Notwithstanding the fact that for
years he had enjoyed permanent
tenure on yearly contract, and
WHEREAS these dictatorial ac-
tons of President Simmons and the
majority of the board of education
show obvious design to intimidate
the faculty, also prove prejudice
against the teachers union and or
ganized labor, and betray their fear
OF open and fair hearing for Mr..
Keeney, and
WHEREAS protests against this
procedure were met by press state
ments constituting quibbling and
evasion.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
That the Cascade County Trades and
Labor Assembly protests these ac-
tons of Pres. Simmons and the ma
of the state board of educa-
ton as violating academic freedom,
lnIuring a widely respected and re-
cognized librarian, discriminating
against and attempting to intimidate
organized labor and two men known
be active in union organization on
the campus and as actions against
the best interests of the University
and OF organized labor;
AND BE 1T FURTHER RESOLV-
ED that we demand restoration of
professors Keeney and Rowe to per-
manent tenure without loss of sal
airy or other privileges, and that COP
- -
les OF this resolution be sent to the
state board of education, to Pres.
George f. Simmons of the Univer-
slty OF Montana at Missoula, to the
governor, and to the press, and that
otner unions be requested to con
cur.
S1hmittnd IL Axaa-u