The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-03-06
The Board Of Education

The report of the State Board Education it's nvega
ton of the University situation released last week. represents
nothing but the purest kind of suberfuge insult to
informed public opinion 1t definitely cassifes the majority
the members of the Board scophans the interests that
placed at the head of the University whose unness for
the position recognized by the majority the people of the
At the time the Board stoops open obvious
effort pacae the public by reversing their previous orders
for the designations of the faculty members recognizing that
their failure would mper the mill levy for the
the institution the coming vote of the people of the state
And under the control of the University affairs by Sim
mons and with the type of ckspes which this report def
ny shows the appointed members of the Board of Educa
ton be- it question If the people should not refuse
to support it longer.
When the hearings held in Mssoua, the Board
handed two petitions faculty One of these petitions
signed by faculty members requested thorough nvesga
ton the Simmons administration president the other
signed by 40 members asked for the resembling of the
asking the resignaonsor elseof five outstanding
teachers of the institution previously issued by this Board
Unprudced reports of the testimony adduced the hear
ngs dcoses that evidence brought to the attention of
the Board by reputable witnesses that reflected the truthful
fairness and justice and the ability of Simmons adj
ninsator that proved him dictatorial and ntolerant
The testimony of Dr. H. jesse of the college of arts
sciences the outstanding members of the faculty
and who had up to the time of the hearing taken active
the situation testified Simmons personal vndc
veness his flair for intrigue and his disregard for
gave his considered opinion that there
chance under his (Smmons leadership that the people
of the University cooperate"
The testimony of Dr. Lennes brought into the the sub
servency of Simmons to business influence The
influence brought into the picture in the testimony
Of State Representative Morrison.
Offsettng and reung all of the damnng testimony against
Simmons presented his statements the testimony
the treasurer of the State Pharmacy Board and Sid Coffee
of the downtown Influences head of wholesale drug
concern little other testimony Yet the Board able
vndcate Simmons with report issued the unanimous
opinion of the members In justice to two members must
that Judge Borton Glasgow absent
Attorney General Feebourn who had refused to sit in
executive sessions Freebourn insisted that the hear
should be and the opinion of the Board arrived at
in open meeting.
Before publishing findings called number of
of the faculty before and told these teachers
plain that hereafter they expected to conform to
Simmons policies without question or else One dean
with charges he failed cooperate with Sim
His reply that he would welcome investigation
and charges.
To the average informed person. the report Smells 1t
show that the members of the Board still willing to
toady the large business interests and yet afraid
upon their previous demands the teachers who had
been ordered practically speaking, to resign.
must be the opinion of all intelligent people of the state
that it was the heat the governor
coming campaign for reelection without hurting the feel
ngs the business interests and alternating them
pears establish low in the level to which
mental agency sink.
The people Montana will decide whether of their
vital interests shall become political football They will fl
naly decide they shall educational
stution special through their cats
paw Hitlerian head of the school, They will decide if it is
longer worth while support institution where they expect
children to have the advantages of instruction from
who freedom of thought and
from instructors permitted study think
press themselves with reedom who dictator
ship be ousted from their work.
The influence exered by the large corporations and other
special interests ndious They are
precautions Their selection of Simmons stooge
University masterstroke and have given them
many a headache. But long they have political Board
responsibility for the results of their actions
they can stay the background their influence
without any harm to themselves