Montana labor news., 1937-08-12
n. Y. Unions Condemn
Board Of Education
Continued from Page u
and are lending their vociferous OBJ
lection to their conduct:

4~iSi3i6 Il fOtl1Cl JUS W.
lection to their conduct:
HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION
OF MONTANA
Billings, Montana, July 10th, 1887.
State Board of Education,
Helena, Montana.
Gentlemen:
AT a recent meeting of the state
board of the Holiday Association of
Montana, we analysed and thorough
ly discussed the recent atrocities
against academic freedom at the Uni
versity of Montana at Missoula.
We found during our discussion
that President Simmons, who is re-
sponsible for these atrocities, is not
a Montana man. We found that he
was brought into Montana by the
Chamber of Commerce elements and
that he carries out their every wish
while we taxpayers foot the bill. We
taxpayers have fed, maintained and
succored this outsider for some time
without protest but when he strikes
a blow against academic freedom
and would thereby limit the field of
liberal education at the expense of
our children future patience is no
longer a virtue.
We send our children to the Uni
| Versity of Montana for a liberal edu-
cation. We want our children to
know all the facts. We do not main
tain the University of Montana at
great expense-with ever increasing
taxes-and make further personal
sacrifice to keep our children in
school to have their learning limited,
the facts sifted, propaganda instead
of education and the realities of life
perverted. We + opposed to a
University of Copper, a University of
Sugar or a university dominated by.
any private and selfish interests that
represent capital. We believe that
the recent action of President Sim
mons, Governor Ayers ct al, can be
traced directly to selfish and private
interests "copper".
After due and careful study of all
the facts we taxpayers and members
of the Holiday Association of Mon
tana demand Of the state board of
education:
/. A free and open hearing for
Professor Keeney and Professor
Rowe, and
2. Their immediate reinstatement
to full pro~fessorship.
If we find that the State Board of
Education gives our demands no con-
sideration, we thirteen thousand tax
payers and members of the Holiday
Association will hold a public hear
ing of Montana people and invite
lawyers, labor organizations, farm
organizations, taxpayers organiza-
tons and every one interested in lib
eral education. We believe that by
SO doing we can bring enough pres
to bear to guarantee liberal
education in Montana. The action
against Professors Keeney and Rowe
smacks too much of Hitlerism.
We are categorically opposed to
any further. acts of terrorism against
Union, Local 497.
THE BOOK AND MAGAZINE
GUILD
Local Is, United Office and Profess
sional Workers of America, c.. I. o.
New York City
The State Board of Education,
Helena, Montana.
Dear Sirs:
All that we have been able to
earn about the case of Professor
Keeney convinces us that his
dismissal was an outrageous viola
ion both of academic freedom and
his rights as an employee of the
state of Montana; that the excuses
given for his dismissal are PATIENTLY
that the real reasons were
lis enlightened policy as librarian
md his work in organizing a local
'ranch of the Teachers Union, and
hat your manner of considering
President Simmons recommendation
vas in violation of your own regula-
ions.
AS organized workers of the pub
ishing industry, we protest against !.
attack on academic freedom and
n the right of teachers to organize.
Ne call upon you to hold a fair !
hearing on Professor Keeney's
ase and to do everything you can
o bring about his reinstatement.
Does the state of Montana want to
isgrace itself by violating the Wag- /
.er act?
Very truly yours,
Theodore McClintock, Chairman /
Civil Liberties Committee.