Montana labor news., 1950-04-20
WHO .uN.co.oPERATEs" WITH WHO?

In recent wears we We heard a growing clamor about Amer
canism. "Un-Americanism, etc. The virtues OF the Amer
can wav." Of the right Of every man to a fair hearing, OF this
of that. have been dnned into our ears much the same way
you stuff grain into capons before sending them to market
Tuesday. action of the State Board of Education in firing
President Van de Bogart of Northern Montana College, and at
the same time. refusing him a hearing OF any kind thus comes
/. a shock. 1t is not my purpose at this time to discuss the merits
or dement's of the dismissal action. Rather the question OF the
moment concerns just how devoted to the American way IS
the majority Of this state board.
The firing of Van de Bogart because, according to Doctor
Selke. he was "un-co operative. and the threat OF the Chan
celor and three other university heads to resign it Van de
Bogart was not fired, raises further interesting speculations
So far as the first item is concerned. it depends on whose
levelins the charges Of non -co-operation. It's only a few weeks
ago that Chancellor Seke. Presidents Mccain and Renne. and
several others of the palace guard of our state s educational
halls Of ivy" at a meeting in Missoula issued a statement Of
absolutely no compromise in connection with resolving the
funds ALLEGATION dispute. Either the larger units get every
thing the want-or else. The various caesars would take
no direction from the elected Board of Examiners. o anyone
else, if such did not agree with their setexalted pontification
on how the taxpayers money wa. to be spent.
Al regards the second item. Greatly as admire Dr.. Selke,
both az an administrator and a a man. cannot condone the
big stick" tactic apparent in his threat to resign. That the
board acquiesced and did his bidding does not speak too highly
To-, the substance from which backbones are usually made.
Faced with such a threat any board worth its salt, had only one
course to follow-accept the challenge-and let the Chancellor
and the three other unit presidents carry the ball from there.
Frankly. for one, am getting pretty well fed up with the
steamroler tactics continuously INDUCED in by representatives
of the University system-paricularly the major units. Leg
i,lative session after legislative session, the major units and
their well-oled lobby of alumni invade the capitol and get
away with legalized grand larcency: Any protest raised owe,
Jesse james UdCuCS Is COnolucIc ~ Idnkcot Oh cIeSy
In view of the "insolence of high office so frequently dis
played by the heads and friends Of these various units is it moi
time they were brought down to at least a speaking level witt
the folks who pay the bnl2
*The following members Of the State Board Of Education
voted to dismiss Pres Van de Bosart, and, to also refuse him
hearing: Mrs. Agnes Ulman, Big Timber; c A. Bosley, Grea
Falls; c. M. ~Brandborg, Hamilton; D. S. Baldwin, Kalispell
c. ". Lund. Reserve; and Mrs. F. N. Pero, Miles City. Thos
voting against both actions cited above: Gov. John W. Bon
ner. Attorney Gen. Arnold Olsen, Supt Public Instruction
Mary Condor. and Education Board member Hoarce Dryer
Anaconda.
From The Peoples Voic