Montana labor news., 1938-05-26
KEENEY CASE

A clean, clear, unbiased report is
in the May issue of Bulletin OF
American Association of University
Professors and in April %, 1888,
Congressional Record, P. 1904. About
80 Montana professors have the
AAUP bulletin, which contains
startling details of report of investi-
cation here.
0'Connell
In having report written into Con-
gressional Record, Jerry O'Connell
said to House of Representatives of
the u. S. on last April %: Mr..
Speaker, because the question of
academic freedom is of such vital
importance to the educational sys-
tenn of u country and because
there has been such fragrant viola
ton of academic freedom and tenure
in the U. of Montana in conjunction
with the now nationally known Kee-
ney and Rowe cases, l should like
permission to include here the re-
port of the American Association of
University Professors on academic
freedom and tenure at Montana
State University"
Early in June, 1887, Professors
Clements (WSC) and Mckinley
(Reed College, Ore.) spent a week
in Missoula and Helena interviewing
Simmons, other officials, and pres
ent and former students in the uni
versity. Following are excerpts
from their report, word for word.
A faculty committee (appointed
by Scheuch) ascertained an over
whelming faculty preference for the
choice of an outsider for president.
1t also ascertained that if a member
of the faculty were to be chosen,
five or six individuals were favored,
none having any decided preference
over the others. Asst. Prof. Sim
mons, ultimately the successful can
didate, was not one of these indi-
viduals. In fact, his name was men
toned by only one person in a third
choice vote. The initial figure
presidents pay was $4,750 and
residence. This was later raised to
SIS, AGO and residence.
Simmons
Pres. Simmons, because of activity
of certain business men in Missoula,
gradually became a leading candi-
date, Mr.. Brennan finally pressing
vigorously for his appointment. The
faculty committee unanimously and
emphatically opposed the appoint
ment of Prof. Simmons: In II ex-
perience with him during the is
months (Simmons had been in Mon
tana Is months) and our knowledge
of the attitude of the faculty toward
him convinces us that he is not a
suitable person for the presidency
Despite controversy on the point,
the investigating committee was
completely convinced that Simmons
was unacceptable to an overwhelm-
ing majority of the staff and that
this majority regarded his selection
as a distinct calamity. Some faculty
members, including Professor Kee-
ney, felt so strongly that they
wished to present a formal protest
to the state board. Hence it was in
an atmosphere of faculty defeat, dis
trust and reluctant a%cquiescense that
President Simmons assumed his
duties in January, 1886.
Censorship
At the end of a long, detailed dis
cussion, investigators stated that
Zone of the reasons (for dismissaI
was Professor Keeney's opposition
to the election of President Sim
mons and his inability to keep silent
about the dislike of the president.
Another was Keeney's participation
III Ine protest over tne censorship
question"
The opinion of the committee
states that Prof. Rowe should be
returned to permanent tenure, and
Keeney should either be reinstated
on permanent tenure or if he pre-
fers to sever his connection, should
be granted a leave of absence of
one year on full pay.
The report quotes DR.. Simmons as
saying, 6" certainly have no inten-
ton in the future of permitting Mr..
Merriam or anyone else to engage
in deliberate activities of trouble
making or interference with the adj
ministration of this institution and