The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 86, July 1982 - April, 1983 Page: 252
616 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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252 Southwestern Historical Quarterly
possibilities for making money by various means. Roy Bedichek was
dispirited by Shurter's actions. In November, 192o, he wrote to a
friend, "my work this year is being shot to pieces by reason of the fact
that Shurter is endeavoring to float a big national organization and
pays little attention to the League except to interfere and trade it off
for his big scheme on every possible occasion." In June, 1921, Bedi-
chek wrote directly to Shurter, who was in California teaching summer
school and promoting the Interscholastic League of America, suggest-
ing that the director should beware lest his actions be construed as
conflicts of interest. Bedichek warned Shurter against giving the im-
pression that the state and national organizations had any official con-
nection. He urged the director "to drop either your national organiza-
tion or your state organization." Bedichek cautioned, "the interests of
the two are plainly in conflict and you cannot serve two masters.""'
When Shurter did not desist in promoting both organizations, Bedi-
chek took the matter to President Vinson, who had already expressed
dissatisfaction over having his statements associated with the actions of
the Interscholastic League of America. Indeed, the University issued a
flier, disavowing any official connection with Shurter's organization.
Bedichek believed that Shurter's indiscretions extended beyond his
implying an association between the two organizations. On December
27, 1921, he wrote to Vinson, putting on paper what he previously had
spoken about with the president. Bedichek believed that Shurter had
misused the University Interscholastic League's travel funds, statio-
nery, clerical service, and mailing privileges to promote his own inter-
ests. Bedichek thought this all the more objectionable because Shurter
was due to draw a $1o,ooo annual salary from his national organiza-
tion. Shurter, it seems, had also mandated the adoption of his own text-
book for the 1921 University Interscholastic League declamation con-
test, which resulted in the sale of hundreds of the books to the state's
public schools. Bedichek also decried other efforts by Shurter to com-
mercialize the state organization. Finally, Bedichek was critical of the
director's tactics in repeatedly delaying an audit ordered by President
Vinson. Yet Bedichek's tone was apologetic, and, however damaging
his revelations, he refused to charge Shurter with legal improprieties.8
37Bedichek to Tom -, Nov. 12, 192o (first quotation); Bedichek to Shurter, June
25, 1921 (second quotation), Bedichek Papers; Guy Montgomery to Alta B. Hall, Jan. 12,
1921; Hall to Shurter, Nov. 18, 1920, Jan. 22, Mar. 12, 1921; Shurter to Hall, Jan. 29, 1921,
Shurter Papers.
8SVinson to Shurter, Feb. 28, 1921; University of Texas, Extension Council, "Do Not
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 86, July 1982 - April, 1983, periodical, 1982/1983; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101209/m1/288/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.