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

| HouScS ~ SHOW CnaC Cney are now
offering their books as cheap as Mer-
rill's. If this we're 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--making 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 $442.24. Should all the dis
tricts of the county order at the
same ratio. which is light, the cost
would be Ss3,l43. The State has II
counties, and if they all should order
at the same ratio the cost of the
A'ItSCC CAC il oU y Cttl NUUIu DC SZZO, LOO
Mr.. Merrill's profits out of this job, at
10 per cent-and we presume they are
three times that--would be $22, ,315,-
SO for single year, and for fifteen
years, 1884, ,730.70.
Upon which the st. Paul Dispatch
made the following very proper COM
ments.
With these figures rs 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. If the law is
fully enforced the patrons of the
public schools will De absolutely rob-
bed of little less than $500, ,00O-the
value of their old books. A half mil
lion dollars is what the people of
Minnesota are called upon to con.
tribute to Merrill and Donnelly.
Under such legislation it is not
strange that we feel to poor to pay
our bonded Indebtedness.
In his desperate desire to perpetu.
ate the old book ring system and his
unaccountable hostility to the new
order of things. which is sweeping on
III spite of him to an incontestible
demonstration of its superior wisdom,
our good friend Havens indulges in
some wild and inconsistent eXaggera.
tions. which will be our pleasant duty
on this occasion TO politely point out
to him. lie shoots over the mark, as
it were. See
His own showing states the average
amount Of the orders for State books
given by the district clerks of his
county at $2S.07 3-4 each. there are
$500 districts in the whole State
therefore the total cost for full sup
ply, as above, would be SlO7, ,O79. II
his statement Of the value Of the
books $500, ,OO0) is correct, then our
readers can see 1T glance the benefit
of the text book law. Upon an
average. pupils will need supply of
new books once in two years. Then
without tho 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 bu,
Slol .079. anet profit to the purchasers
of s39s.92l.
Even admitting that "Merrill car
make ten per cent. (Which is ex
tremely doubtful,) is there man in
Minnesota so mean as to grudge the
mere pittance of $40. l07. in two year:
to Il man. who by our good friend
Havens' own showing saves to ouI
citizens S39S.Q2l in the same length oi
time! II there is he is curiosity TO,
which Barnum would exchange s
whole car load of prancing stations
and throw red monkey or two int
the bargain.
The fact is. that just rs soon as thu
people can get the new books and try
them the old ring publishers and theil
hirelings the parasites will find theil
occupation gone. And the fact tha
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.
Nc give herewith Somo items tho