The people's voice., 1958-05-23

Dear Harry and Gretchen:
al ohaveI been tempted to write tc
you many times to thank you for con
tinuing to keep the VOICE to the
high standard which has characterized
it over many years. Such letter some.
how did not get written, though the
intention is still good.
Now, because of what I read in
the TRIB. and the VOICE, feel
impelled to express some views
which you probably won't like.
l object to the harassment of the
State Board of Education for its posi-
ton in the Mcfarland case. I know
the majority of board members as
people of integrity and sincere in
terest in the welfare of education in
Montana. They did not always agree
with me, but they always decided any
issue on the basis of what they
thought was best for the young peo-
pie concerned. I am convinced that
this is their sole objective in accept
ing McFarland's resignation. 1t is no
secret that in my opinion such resig-
nation is long overdue for the sake
of higher education in Montana and
MSU in particular.
|, too, share your disgust with the
recent display of idiocy on the part
of some self-appointed witch-hunters
acting in the name of the American
Legion. | am sorry that so much at
tention was given this group of crack
pots who gave not only Montana, but
the American Legion a black eye
| wish that at that time I had been
on the board, along with Guthrie,
bless him, so I could have raised my
voice, along with Popham, in indigna-
tion against the investigators.
But I am shocked to find that you, |
in the editorial in the May Voice, |
are trying to bring a connection be- |
tween the witch hunting and the presi- |
dents resignation. 1t is not unthnkable |
that Mrs. Chambers voted against Nc
farland, as you imply, partly because
of her pro-Legion feeling. O know,
however, that she has many other valid
reasons to be opposed to him. But to
be fair, when you pointed out this pos
sible correlation, should you not have |
given the total picture by showing that
the board member most quoted in the
press as commencing the University
for bringing outstanding men to the
campus is also the same one Mr.. Pop
lam, who moved to accept McFarland's
'esignation? l.
Without having any contact whatso-
ever with any member of the State
3oard since 1 left Montana, and being
Is 1 am, completely disassociated with
he present problems, 1 know, as surely
Is lilknow anything, that the correla- /;
ion of the Mcfarland resignation and
he Legion witch-hunt is almost en-
irely matter of coincidence. I am
disappointed that your paper has limited
hat it might be otherwise. Somehow I
o me this smacks of not the type of {
journalistic ethics I have long associ-
ted with you both. You and l both t
now too we'll the evil results of half I
ruths and innuendo. /
| believe that great mass of mis- I
nforma t1on ha b n circulated I
throughout Montana under the auspices c
f the Montana State University alumni i
fficers. / read one of their blurbs in S
tic Reinemer's office and was appalled, t
t the thfnly veiled attempts to imply s
lat MSU academic standards are higher
han other units and, therefore it's en- t
oflment is going down. 1t may be t
leasant for the alums to believe this n
ut it simply is not true, and anyone i
Tho attempts to prove otherwise will O
oon learn what house of cards these .
o. called high standards at MSU are. t
[ontana State University, hard as this p
lay be to face for Montanans, has not l
enefited from an enhanced reputation s
l.