The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-11

Ff AsS WI UAO 'oC"eO 0lo
vigorously asking the men who op-
posed cheap textbooks in the last
Legislature why they did so; and this
simple question seems hard to answer.
ltwas all very well to cry Monopoly"
on the floor of the House, but the
people seem to feel that a law that
gave them 20 cent book for 10 cents.
a 40 cent book for 20 cents and a
$l.75 book for 60 cents. was lust the
kind of monopoly an over-taxed and
struggling people have been longing
for, 10 these many years.
In this connection, the Martin Co.
Sentinel whose editor, Mr.. Day,
achieved a proud reputation on the
floor of the House for ability and &.
deity, says:
That school book ring whieA5AfI
tempted to ObStruct legislation d{3rYnT
the recent session of the legislature
was the most unscrupulous and cor
rupt that ever invaded the State there
can be no doubt. That it selfishly
fought the interests of the people and
hesitated not at the means to accom-.
pllsn its purpose was evident and I'm.
pleasantly convincing, that it failed
is an honor to the State and "A blessing
to the people. The Merrill l,w NAV
not be just what it should be in all
respects but as it stands it is a glori.
GUS victory for the people. and the
wisest and most economical measure
ever adopted IN the State. It passed
by just the constitutional majority uf
81 votes and that majority could nor
be lessened by the cojolery, theft, nor
money Of the powerful monopolv
which fought against il. Now let the
law be tested upon its merits.
The Rush City Post says:
The measure that attracted the
most public attention was the revision
OF the merrill text book law" The
larger number of members who were
induced to vote against it IN the
Senate and House affords a martial
endorsement Of the adage that every
man has his price. While there NAV
have been some membersso 80 utterly
unit for their positions that they
were willing to rob the parents OF
this State Of sl50,OOO per year, to
curry favor with certain plrtias.
there is no doubt that the large num-
Der of the opponents of tie Merrill
law, were purchased outright. and
voted the way their bribes compelled
them.
When Mr.. Brandt exposed the
scheme in which Liberty Hall figured
as the disbursing agent of the ring.
and proved that men were being
bought up, the ring simply moved
their quarters from the Merchants
Hotel to house of i'll fame, and con.
tinued their infamous work. To the
credit of the House Of Representa-.
tives be it said, there were found 81
men who were not purcliasable: men
who realized that they were sent
there to work for the interest Of the
people, and honestly performed their
duties. The record of that vote is a
roll of honor.
In some parts of the State the
character Of the Merrill contract has
been obscured by the persistent living
of the School Book Ring. but the
people are rapidly coming to under
stand that the measure is one o,
economy for the citizen while it will
increase the efficiency Of the public
schools. Hereafter the same book.
will be used in all parts of the state
and the people will escape the onerous
and constant changes made in the
textbooks by parties who pocketed !
commission on the books sold.