The people's voice., 1939-12-06

There are so many rumors about
the part of the Faculty Union in the
present trouble at Montana State Uni
versity that l feel that | must offer
a short statement about the Union.
| have been president of the Union
since its organization in April 1887
so | know why it was organized, what
it has done and not done, and what
it would like to do.
The main thing that worked in the
mind of those who Joined the Union
was the knowledge that the Univer-
sity had Jared none too well in the
legislature of 1897 The University
would need more favor in 1889 and
again in the 1910 mill-tax drive. Many
of us remembered that there had been
a faculty union in 1920 which had
done valuable work in enlisting sup
port from farm and labor organiza-
tions We expected that we could do
that again.
The Union was not organized, and
has not been used, as an organization
of radicals or communists. Sucn
charges have been bruited about, have
even been suggested in newspapers.
They are absurd to anyone who
knows the University faculty, but
many citizens do not know the fac
ulty.
Among the Unions membership
have been the following Deans OF
Schools: Leaphart of the Law school,
Daughters of the School of Education,
Smith of the Music school, Spauldlng
of the School of Forestry, and Stone
of the School of Journalism; and the
following chairmen Of departments:
Clark of Ancient Languages, Merriam
of English Schneider of Physical Edu-
cation, Smith of Psychology and
Rowe of Geology. Such men are not
communists nor a sounding board for
communists. Since organizing we
have enrolled Al members of the fac
ulty. We also had the good wishes
at the time of our organizing OF the
vice president, the dean of the FAC
ulty and the registrar, who are in
eligible to join.
AS a chapter of the American Fed
Grafton of Teachers we pledged our
selves to work for education in de-
mocracy and democracy in education.
We meant to ask, and have asked,
organized labor for support for the
University. We think that Labor Will
give that support even more gener-
ously than they have in the past II
they know that there is faculty Or
ganization pledged to concern itself
with those democratic values in edu-
cation that Labor is concerned fOr-
We have declared these aims in open
meetings of the Union, in printed
statements to all faculty members,
and before the Missoula county rep
resentatives to the state legislature,
whom we entertained at dinner TO
inform them both of our aims and OF
the Universitys needs.
The National Federation of Teach
ers is affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. Each local
chapter, however, is free to do as
it will about affiliating with state and
local organizations. Our chapter i'm
mediately affiliated with the Missoula
Trades and Labor Council and with
the State Federation. Our elected
representatives to the local Council
have been Messrs. Leaphart, Atkin-
son, Mansfield, Fox, and myself. Mr.
Atkinson was elected and twice re-
elected to the presidency Of the Coun- |
Gil between January 1888 and July |
1889. He retired this summer with |
the affection and admiration of La |
boris leaders in Missoula and over the
state. We count that new and def
mite achievement for the State uni
versity.
The October issue of Fortune Mag |
azine states that upward of 800 OF |
Americas big business men believe
in labor unions 1t also states that |
these men think that the most serious
fault in unionism is the lack of able
and reliable leadership. l and my
fellows have felt humble in the pres
ence of the courage and the loyalty
OF labor's representatives. But we
have felt too that we could help them,
perhaps, with little margin OF our
time to build more of that needed
leadership. We have joined in their
counsels and have even hoped that we
could speed the day when our Uni
yersity, like Wisconsin and others,
could organize some facilities for
training leaders of Labor, as we al
ready do for leaders of Business, OF
Chambers of Commerce and OF the
We may discover with experience
that all this is a mistaken idea ana
effort. If so, it is the same mistake
that many notable men are joining IN
at universities like Harvard, Yale,
Chicago, Ohio, Stanford, California,
Washington, and others all over the
states.
/ do not expect to change anybodys
mind ON the question of organized Ia
bor, but l would like to help dispel
the idea that the chapter of the Amer
lean Federation of Teachers was es-
tablished at the State university by a
group of radical malcontents who are
to cooperate for the Uni
good. Many of us shall be
sorry ii this false notion prevails to
the point that it produces action that
will ALLEVIATE the goodwill of large
section of Montana's voters from the
or that it results again IN
our University being stigmatized as
an institution that is intolerant OF
liberal ideas and action on the part
Of its faculty.
EDMUND L. FREEMAN
Montana State University,
Missoula, Mont.
WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARY
Temple of Justice
Olympia, Washington
Nov. 81, 1889
Governor Row q. Ayers