The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-02-14

They came together and they said to enc
firm "You take the geographies;"-t an
other You take the grammars;" Don't you
interfere with me in Minnesota-we won't
interfere with you IN Iowa or Ohio"-and
the result was there was no competition;
there was no cheapening of price; it was
an utter and an absolute impossibility.
At length the State broke through
this powerful ring, and at once, as soon as
the knowledge Of the fact that Minnesota
had undertaken this legislation reached
those school book publishers, the ring
broke to pieces. Our superintendent OF
Public Instructruction, with zeal
cannot comprehend), sent out a circular
letter to publishers in the
United States to get the views of those
firms to show that it was not our legisla-
ton that broke the ring, but that the ring
was broken before that legislation was
had. have here in nv hand the Pnb-
lishers' Weekly, the official organ of this
great school book combination. In its
issue of March the 18th, ind the follow
ing: 1.-THE Board of Trade,' that is the
name of the school book ring ,)'sis no more,
there was very decent funeral on We'd
nesday last" Mark you
OUR sCHOOL-BOOK LAW
passed some three or four weeks before the
\ issue of March 18th 'The explanation
of the withdrawal of Wilson, Hinckle &
Co.. is that they had previously expressed
their belief that they could not afford to
remain on the board with any one large
house out. 1t was hoped that the board
would be able to stand notwithstanding
the withdrawal of the Ivison house," sc.
Then it goes on to say: "The mistaken
feeling at the West that the Board was a
ring, doubtless had its influence in making
some of the publishers DESTROYS
Kidding themselves of this imputation
unjust as it was; there is now no ring
or other organization to trouble the public
and the agents have full swing at them
again. The door is again open to the old
abuses" What acere the old abuses?
Competition? s'But it is hoped that the
trade has learned wisdom by experience,
and that it will be sometime before things
get as bad as they used to be-.
Now this proves conclusively that
1T WAS THE LEGISLATION OF MINNESOTA
that broke this gigantic ring A ring that
had existed for many years, ring that
had taken millions upon millions of dol
lars out Of the pockets of the people of
the United States, a ring that had taken
millions of dollars out OF the pockets OF
the people of Minnesota during the
time it had been in existence. Finding
their ring broken-tinding that they were
driven by the force of this law TO compe-
tition-finding that if this system stood,
and il under it men got cheap books in
the State of Minnesota, the same system
would be applied to other States; know
ing that in fifteen other States this snb-
ject was being agitated?-knowing that a
law of similar principles had
ALMOST PASSED IN WISCONSIN
and other States, and had only been de-
feated by terrific exertions, the ring
has concentrated its whole power to break
down this law. Why? If the law breaks
to pieces here,if it can be
nullified or defeated in any
way, no other State will ever at
tempt it. The ring will reform; it will
commence its old system of plumber; it
will be undisturbed from one extremity
of this country to the other And hence
the efforts that have been made to defeat
this law.
Now what is
THE CONTRACT THAT THE STATE MADE
WITH MIR. MERRILL
in pursuance of the law passed last win
ter. Nothing could be clearer quote
from passage of it "For and during the
period of fifteen years from and after the
time when the books to be furnished in
pursuance of the provisions of this con-
tract shall be first introduced into the pub
lie schools of thisState, in accordance with
the provisions of said contract, the party
of the first part, to-wit: the State, shall
purchase and receive from the party of the
second part, his legal representatives or
assigns, and the party OF the second part,
Mr.. Merrill, his legal representatives or as
signs, shall sell and deliver to the party of
the first part suitable books for use in the
public schools of this State''
HERE Is DIRECT AGREEMENT;
on the one hand to furnish the books, and
on the part of the State to take them
Then in section seven oil the contract it
provides for the payment of them: "And,
thereupon. it shall be the duty of the State
Auditor to draw his warrant for the
party of the first part. his
legal representatives or assigns, upon the
State Treasurer, payable out Of the school
text book fund provided by the act of the
Legislature hereinbefOre referred to-
one side, Mr. Merrill agrees for fifteen
years
TO FURNISH THE BOOKS AT A FINED PRICE,
price some IS or 60 per cent. less than
the old prices. He binds himself to that
and takes the chances of the books going
up in price. A war, civil or foreign,
would, in all probability. raise the price
of material, so that under that contract
MIR. Merrill would be ruined. He takes
his chances upon it, He has tried
to carry out his part of the
contract; he has furnished his bondsmen;
he has made his contracts for the books:
he has produced the books; and they have
been approved Of by the majority Of this
commission. No bill has yet been intro
duced to repeal that law Of last winter.
No bill oan be introduced to repeal that
law without it 10 preceded by some neso-
tiation with Mr.. Merrill for . settlement.
He has
HIS RIGHTS uxRKR rR CONTRACT.
The State of Minnesota already stands,
Mr.. Chairman, am sorry to say, disgraced
before the world, whether justly or not
because of its course with reference to
those old Minnesota railroad bonds. Are
we going to add TO that repudiatiou
of bonds = reputation Of Z solemn con.
tracts Can any man here have the auda-
city to propose that after Mr.. Merrill haa
gone into this work. he's embarked his
whole fortune in it, that he is to be kick
ed cut Of these halls without any rights