The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-06-06

HOUSES W SHOW CnaC Cney are now
offering their books as cheap as Mer-
rill's. 1t this were true the question
arises who forced them to reduce
their former oppressive prices! 1t
was Mr.. Merrill. and if they can
destroy Mr.. Merrill they will speedily
put their prices back to the old rates.
The Faribault Democrat published
an article the other day in which it
said:
Since our last issue, six more school
districts OF Rice county have made
application for the Merrill series of
books--makins in all sixteen districts
which have applied for the State
series. The orders are all light, and
a majority Of cases are made simply
to comply W tn the demands of the
law. The total cost OF the books or
dered is S449.24. Should all the dis
tricts Of the county order at the
same ratio. which is light, the cost
would be &3.l43. The State has II
counties, and if they all should order
at the same ratio the cost Of the
State the first year would be 1923. 153.
Mr.. Merrill profits out Of this Job. at
~ per cent-and we presume they are
three times that-wOuld be SO ,315,-
SO for a single year and for fifteen
years, $334,730.7O.
Upon which the $. Paul Dispatch
made the following very proper COM
mentS.
With these figures IT'S Il basis to
stand upon, the great anxiety Of
Messers. Donnelly. Merrill and others
to aid the dear people in the purchase
of their books may be accounted for.
The patrons Of
our public schools whose children
in this country were generally
supplied with books cannot dis
cover the saving promised by the
Merrill series. when they are obliged
to throw away the books they have
and purchase new ones. Ifthe law is
fully enforced the patrons OF the
public schools Will he absolutely rob
bed of little less than 5000. 000-the
value Of their old books. \ half mil
Ion dollars is what The people of
Minnesota a~e called upon to con-
tribute to Merrill and Donnelly.
tnder such Legislation it is not
strange that we feel to poor to pay
our bonded indebtedness.
In his desperate desire to p%crpetu-
ate the old book ring system and his
u~nacCountahlc hostility 10 the new
order of things, which is sweeping on
IN spite of him To an incontestible
demonstration OF its superior wisdom.
II good friend Ravens INDUCES in
some Wild and inconsistent eXaggera-
tons. which viii be our pleasant duty
on this occasion to politely point out
to him. He shoots over the mark, as
1t we're. See
Ills own showing states the average
amount Of the orders for State books
given by the district clerks Of his
county at S2S.o1 3-4 each. there are
$500 districts in the whole State.
therefore the total cost for a full sup
ply, as above, would be Sl01 ,019. If
his statement OF the value of the
books $500. DOo) is correct, then orr
readers can see ut a glance the benefit
OF the text book law. Upon an
average, pupils Will need a supply of
new books once in two years. Then
without the law the people would be
obliged to supply themselves under
the old system within two years with
$500 900 worth OF books. while under
the Merrill law it would cost them but
Slol 90. anet profit TO the purchasers
of sos. 92l.
Even admitting that Merrill can
make ten per cent. (which is eN.
tremely doubtful.) is there a mar in
Minnesota SO mean As to grudge the
mere ~pittauce of Slo. l07. in two years
70 L man. who by our good friend
liaNens own showing saves to our
citizens S3Qs. q2l In the same length OF
time! If there is he is 4 curiosity for
which Barnum would exchange i
whole car load of prancing stations
and throw y red monkey or two into
the bargain.
The fact IS. that Just IS soon as the
people 4 get the new books and try
them the old ring publishers and theil
!, hlrehngs the parasites will find their
occupation gone. And the fact tina,
the districts are moving in the mat
ter SO vigorously accounts for tn,
desperate efforts being made TO dis
courage school officers from dis
charging their sworn obligations.
=. -