Montana labor news., 1937-04-15
THOUGHT
SUPPRESSED BY
EDUCATION BOARD
Continued from Page y

what President Simmons chose to
give them. Although James Ora
ham, Hugh DeLacy, organizer for the
Teachers Union, and representative
of the Teachers Union of Butte, as
well as other friends, desired to Of
fer their side of the picture to mem
bers of the State Board, Stooge
Brennan moved to throw the meet
ing into executive session. The board
members heard DR.. Simmons for
about one and a half hours, but
questioned Professor Keeney for
only ten minutes, then finally came
out of executive session and prompt
ly voted to concur in the presidents
recommendation to discharge Kee-
ney.
Governor Rules Labor Out
Both MIR. Graham and Mr.. DeLacy
were ruled out of order by Governor
Ayers when they attempted to pre-
sent pertinent facts bearing on
Keeney's dismissal.
Reardon and Freeb0urn Stand Pat
Organized labor in Montana
should take note that the two labor
endorsed members of the Board, At
torney General Harry Freebourn and
Superintendent Ruth Reardon
showed complete understanding of
the basic issues involved and com
plete willingness to allow the full
facts to be heard. Unfortunately,
Father Riley was absent.
Simmons Machine Worked Smoothly
President Simmons machine was
SO well oiled that members of the
labor delegation were convinced that
the four new appointees on the
board did not have an opportunity
to judge since all the facts yer not
permitted on the floor. President
Simmons and the reactionary mem
bers of the State Board of Educa-
ton were not satisfied with arbi-
trarily dismissing a professor active
in organizing the Teachers Union
but Immediately moved against the
president Of the newly organized
Teachers Union on the campus at
Missoula.
Professor Rowe Punished
Professor E. P. Rowe, who has
long had permanent tenure at the
University and has enjoyed the con-
fidence and respect of the whole
faculty was placed on a month to
month salary basis instead of the
yearly contract which has always
been extended him. One member
of the board said that this action
did not mean that Professor Rowe
was discharged but merely made ii
easier to keep him under observa-
ton.
Keep Your Mouth Shut or You'll
Get Fired, Too
Members of the labor delegation
were also shocked to hear in the
discussion Of the motion concerning
this gross attempt to intimidate the
president of the newly organized
union, a member Of the board state
that if the 10 other faculty members
didn't behave themselves, the State
Board would have to take drastic
action.
GenuflectiOns Required by Simmons
AS MI. Graham of the Federation
of Labor observed afterwards, it ap-
pears that any faculty member, a
the University, who did not work
for the appointment Of Presiden'
Simmons and who refuses to bow
his knees before entrenched priv
lege is AN undesirable element. 4
J plot has apparently been cooked VI
by President Simmons and the more
{ reactionary members of the STATE
Y Board to rid the faculty of all pro
fessors having the courage of theil
D convictions and the integrity t.
. speak them.
Union Activity Punished
/ The salient facts for members o
organized labor to bear in mind arr
/ that both the professors discrimin
: s.ed against by President Simmons
: and by certain of the hold over ap
/ pointees on the board were promi
< nent in the new organized Teacher
t Union on the campus. Both of then
D had been outspoken in their objec
( ton to the appointment of DR.. Sim
mons a year and a half ago. Pro
fessor Rowe has always been active
/ in attempting to improve the salary
4 and conditions of the faculty. Pro
0 fessor Keeney who is widely recog
4 nized as a leader, in his profession
| has long been marked for decapita
: ton as a liberal element or the facul
: ty and for his sympathetic attitude
4 toward the cause of union labor. M
S reasons have ever been stated pub
t licly for the discrimination practices
: against either of these men. Pro
i fessor Keeney in particular, who wa
dismissed, without having charge
preferred against him, without
hearing, without an opportunity TO
friends, witnesses or counsel to ap
pear in his behalf; although full op
e portunities were given to DR.. Sim
n mons to place vague representation
n before the State Board.