The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-13
Mr.. Merrill the state contractor:

They are stubborn facts, and II more were
needed they could be given. Omsted coun
ty, through their school superintendent, re-
pudiated the law, and Immediately the book
sellers of Rochester advanced the price OF
school books fifty per . The supel nten-
dent OF Blue Earth county repudl ated the
law, and at the general election a short time
thereafter, the people repudiated him by cleo
ting another man to look aft r the interest OF
their schools. 1t does seem to us that it is
high time for the people of this state to rise
u o in their might and effectually stamp out, |
not only the school book ring, but all other
rings, by W hich the state is now cursed.
Amen! to that last proposition; but
the first man to ''stamp OUT is David
Burt, the state superintendent of pub
lie instruction. He has been the ''col-
ored gentleman under the wood pile
all along. H has thrown every OBJ
stacle IN the way of the execution OF
the law. He has refused to permit
any books to go out until the boards OF
county commissioners Of the several
counties would, months in advance,
agree to pay for them. The law makes
it obligatory on the commissioners
to pay for the books, and what right
had Mr.. Burt to suppose that they
would not do their duty under the
laws of the state! If they had refused,
the remedy was plain, a writ OF. man
damus to compel them. The COVER
nor might Just as we'll refuse to issue
an order for the execution of muir
derer, properly convicted, because the
county authorities might refuse to
pay for the rope
If the people of Minnesota to-day
are without cheap school books for
their winter schools. the blame rests
with David Burt. He could not, in
any particular. have acted differently
if had been hired by the book pub
fishers to prevent the law from going
into execution.
Mr.. Philip Crowley, the faithful
school superintendent of Dakota coun.
ty, stated in "a public speech at Men
dota, that he had received several
offers from book publishers, that if
he would nullify the law in Dakota
county and introduce their books they
would give him One-hdT of all the re-
ceiDts, 1t is easy to see why mess:
Kirk. HolbroOk, 1t al. are fighting the
law but they never would have dared
to show their han Is us boldly as they
did, if they hid not received counter
ance and support from David Burt.
He has even gone 50 far rs to write to
the county uperintendent of Rice
county, rejecting on the business sol
vency of Mr. Merrill. anxious to
break down, if it were in his power.
the man whose efforts will save Min
nesota $4,000 to 100000 per an
mum.
A few days ago the school book
commissioners met to approve of the
last of the series of books. Here i:
the Pioneer Press report:
1T body held meeting yesterday in tn
Office the superintendent OF public instrnc
ton. Mr.. Merrill presented first and sec
ond rea Ter, but had no third or fourth reade
to submit. Two members of the commission
voted IL accept those two books as equal L
Harvey's first and second readers made tn
standards OF comparison in the law.
Superintendent Burt voted in the negativ,
without expressing any opinion against tn
books, but for the reason that he deems
improper to pass upon two books OF a serie
of readers before knowing what the characte
of the other two will be. Third and fourt
readers are promised TO be ready in two weeks
That is to say. Burt would refuse t.
eat his dinner to-day, no matter hoy
enticlng it might be. unless he knew
what his dinner would be two week
: from now. Sensible Mr.. Burt
On motion OF Mr.. Benson it was voted tha
the matter which has been added to til
grammars and the practical arithmetic, I
: make the books equal in size to the standard:
be adopted. Mr.. Burt voted in the negative
F Voted to diourn sine die.
d. BURT. Chairman.
|, Mr.. Burt is not willing to eve
; amend the books to perfect them
The Pioneer Press adds:
In an interview with Mr. D D. Merrill II.
reporter learned that the readers offered b
the commission are the first and second read
3 ers of the Appleton 5 series. These are an en-
tirelv new series of books prepared by cele
brated authors-Prof ". t. Harris, superin
. tendent of schools Of St. Louis for abou
: twenty years. Prof. A. j. Kickoff, for lon
t time Superintendent of schools OF Cleveland
: and Prot. Mark Bailey, OF Yale college. name
recognized by all educational men as havin
no superiors in their professions. We IN
: derstand that the third and fourth readers
, this series are in press and are expected in
: few weeks, which will complete the full lii
;. of state text books as provided by the te,
/. book law. The people will congratulate them
: selves that Mr. Merrill has so nearly com
5 pleted the task assigned hlm, ana IN view
: has had to encounter, he has surpassed
= own most sanguine expectations.