Bouncer Bilbo

One evening last fortnight some 200 University of Mississippi students stood about watching a dummy burning high on their campus flagpole. It was an effigy of Mississippi's stormy, scarfaced (from a pistol-butt) little Governor Theodore Gilmore Bilbo. No riotous impulse but a well-organized gesture was the effigy-burning, representing student disapproval of Governor Bilbo's lavish dismissal last summer of 179 officials and faculty members in four of Mississippi's state-controlled institutions (University of Mississippi, Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, Mississippi State College for Women, State Teachers College).

"Boys, we've just hung up a new record," Governor Bilbo had told newsmen. "We've bounced three college presidents and made three new ones in the record time of two hours. And that's just the beginning of what's going to happen." Presidents bounced by the Bilboard of Trustees (composed of two dentists, three lawyers, a physician, a bank cashier, controlling all but State Teachers College) were Chancellor Alfred E. Hume of the University, Buz M. Walker of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, Nellie Kiern of the Women's College.* New heads appointed were Chancellor Joseph Neely Powers, realtor (dismissed from same office in 1924); Hugh Critz, public relations counsel for Mississippi Power & Light Co.; Robert E. L. Sutherland, one-time president of Hinds Junior College. Lists of new faculties were given to the new presidents. Professors dismissed got no notice, discovered it by reading newspapers. They noted that they were replaced by Bilbomen, that many an extra job had been created; state legislators were listed as proctors and night watchmen, one was "honorary captain of grass-cutters." Results of the shake-up were soon apparent : U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Mastick Hyde objected to a Bilbo appointee at Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College, one Lee Denson, threat to withdraw Federal aid ($340,000 Governor Bilbo gave in, re Mr. Denson with L. A. Olsen, agree to Secretary Hyde. The American Medical Association served notice that unless members of the University's faculty of medicine were re it would use its influence to pre vent Mississippi graduates from practicing any other State. Governor Bilbo rein stated medical teachers, gave the new head of the faculty (approved by A. M. A.) a raise. The Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States in its meeting three weeks ago suspended Mississippi's four colleges, barred their representatives from participation in Association business. Mississippi students transferring to other colleges will get no credit, will have to take examinations anew. Hardest hit are medical students, for after their two-year course at Missis sippi they must transfer, finish elsewhere.

* Acting president since the death of John Clayton Fant in 1929.

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