The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-12-01
By EDMUND FREEMAN, Missoul


in the death of DIR. Wesley P. Clark.
WP, as we all called him, was born
in Virginia and lived there long
enough to absorb some of the virtue
of the great men of that state. He
came to Montana in 1921 and
throughout his four decades here
was an outstanding man.
AS great teacher he was fine
instance of the influence that CLASH
cal culture can have on a good mind
His devotion to his field of classical
history and languages was deep and
thorough. His friends would often
have to smile at the way he would
maintain that every good idea turned
up by the modern mind had been
understood by the Greeks. His learn
ing transmitted itself into a profound
interest in modern society and moved
him bravely to help in the shaping
of his own community. His faith in
democracy increased through the
years, as did, if possible, his devo-
ton to making democracy work.
His kindly pity for some student
whose earnest performance was still
inadequate would often move him to
remark, "What can we do for the
poor fellow?" His colleagues will re-
member the excitement he would feel
over the discovery of some fine in
telligence among his new students at
the beginning of a term-and many
excellent students made their way
into his tutelage. Sometimes his own
humility led him into too generous
judgments; but he was severe enough
with students too.
The first impression of many stu
dents, and perhaps the only impress
sion of some, was that WP was a very
dogmatic man. Oftener than not he
would start a discussion, not with a
question but with very assertive
statement. / remember times when
he faced large class with such a
shower of intellectual punches and |
nalf-serious deriding of indifference
and ignorance that l sat afraid the
lass might rise and leave in protest.
What Mr.. Chesterton said of Mr..
Shaw applied exactly to WP: "He
orovokes; he will not let people alone.
)ne might even say that he DULLES,
'nly that this would be unfair, be-
ause he always wishes the other man
o hit back" His students came to
understand that.
Some of his colleagues may have
bought him dogmatic, but many of
hem will remember the finest of dis
ussions with him which followed on
oints that he had delivered with
ones of finality. One of his most
characteristic remarks was "You
now, | have thought and thought
bout that, and I'll be hanged if J
now what to do about it." Here was
is persistence and skepticism and
is sense of action as the proper end
f thought He published many schol-
rly papers and he wrote and spoke ,
great deal to persuade people to /
ction, but he left no photographed {
apers. ,
WP lacked nothing in moral cour- ]
ge. In his early career in a Southern !
ollege he used a part of a speaking {
,casion set in honor of Robert E. +
ee to add some praise for Abraham :
incoln, and the fact that he was the
m of a Confederate soldier did not
we him the consequences. But he
we'd peace, not fighting. In time of
larrel, he would go straight to the .
,ponent of his cause to see if rea-
nable talk could settle the issue.
n matter of principle, he would
sagree with his best friend as quick I
as with his foe. He suffered the o
IS of good friends a number of d
mes by defending persons they were
posed to. i &s-tss2 i4i5o1 .gsas 8
He did not hesitate before the most r
Dorious. tasks: the organizing of L
achers union among people who
ought unions beneath teachers dig !
'y;fthe carrying of unpopular petit !,
ms, and the collecting of money >,
r causes: Paradise Dam, Defense u
nds, Multiple Sclerosis, United Ma p
ms. The old German moralist Lava
: had man ikeiWP in mind when IL
wrote: 'I am .prejudiced in favor OF