Montana labor news., 1939-07-20
Resolutions RELATING
To Reinstatement
OF Philip 0. keeney

One of the most important actions
taken by the recent convention of
the Montana State Federation Of
Labor related to Philip o. Keeney,
the librarian discharged by the State
Board of Education and who,
through the influence of the Mon
tana State Federation of Labor and
other unions, was reinstated to the
position.
Following are the resolutions
which were adopted by the conven-
ton relating to Mr.. Keeney.
Resolution No. rs
Whereas: The Montana State Su-
preme Court has recently held that
Keeney was illegally dismissed from
the State University, and
Whereas: The American Associa-
ton of University Professors have
concluded, after thorough investiga-
ton, in published report, that not
only was Keeney wrongfully dis
missed but that he should be com
plimented for his fine Guardianship,
and
Whereas; There seems to be con
tinuous and never ending discrim-
ination against union members of
the faculty, and
Whereas; There have been recent
efforts on the part of the admin
istration to have certain members of
the faculty dismissed, and
Whereas: The State University adj
m%inistration has taken official steps
to make the faculty pay Keeney's
back salary, and
Whereas: This whole process of
maladministration and labor hating
discrimination at the State Univer-
sity seems to be getting worse in
stead of better, and
Whereas: The administration of
the State University and the State
Board of Education have persistent
ly refused to pay any attention to
the appeals of the State Federation
of Labor, the American Federation
of Teachers, and the Missoula Trades
and Labor Council; therefore, be it
Resolved: That the officers and
executive board of the State Fed
Grafton be, and are hereby are, in
structed to study this situation care
fully and to take whatever action
they deem necessary to improve the
situation, and be it further
Resolved; That if the efforts of
the officers and executive board are
ignored, they may, if they deem it
necessary, send a printed notice to
all affiliated unions asking them to
oppose the proposed three and one
half mill tax.
Resolution No. 16
Whereas: The Supreme Court Of
the State of Montana has ruled in
favor of the reinstatement of Philip
o. Keeney as librarian at the Uni
versity of Montana in Missoula and
has further ruled that payment of
salary due him be made, and
Whereas: The State Board of Edu-
cation at a regular meeting in Hell
ena, Montana, April 10, 1899, ordered
that in the event of such a decision
of the Supreme Court, money to
pay the salary due Mr.. Keeney be
raised by levying a percentage
assessment against the salaries of
faculty members Of the State Uni
versity, and
Whereas: The legality Of such or
der is questionable, and
Whereas; The faculty members of
the University were in no way re-
sponsible for the dismissal of Mr..
Keeney and loss of salary by him,
but that President Simmons of the
State University and the State Board
of Education are fully and wholly
responsible for the injustice done
Mr.. Keeney, and
Whereas: The vacancy caused by
the dismissal of Mr.. Keeney was not
filled and the money allowed for
his salary was paid to no one, and
Whereas: No accounting of the ex-
penditure of this money has been
made, therefore, be it
Resolved: That the f%orty-second
annual convention of the Montana
State Federation of Labor request
the State Board of Education to re-
consider and correct its action of
April 10, 1889, and be it further
Resolved: That if the State Board