The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-09-26
COMMUNICATED.

Mr.. EDITOR There appeared in your
issue of last week an article over the
signature of r. B. Stevenson, purporting
to be vindication of that gentleman's
transactions with the school book bust
ness in this city.
AS far as the vindication proper is
concerned, it is no affair of mine and l
should be perfectly willing to let it
pass for what it is worth without crit
icism or comment. But since in vindi-
eating himself he finds it agreeable to
bestow gratuitous smirching upon me
(for of course do not hesitate to apply
to myself his sarcastic reference to 50
distinguished correspondent"); since in
Setting himself right" he has gone out
of his way to set me ,rrong, l feel bound
in justice to myself, to make few state
ments Of fact.
In his article these words occur: 81
cannot claim for myself the honor of q
distinguished correspondent of yours re-
Gently who not only recommended a
book without receiving any consideration
therefor, but as he admitted himself pri-
vately without even an examination of
the book recommended
This is rot the first time that this charge
has come to my ears. When AIR. Stew
enson was engaged recently in soliciting
signers to his petition, it was reported
to me that he was using this charge
against me as one means of procuring
names. Immediately went to him and
requested an explanation. He admit
ted that he had made the charge and
said that he had good authority for his
statements. 1 asked him for his author
ity, but he refused to give it. l then
told him that had never made any such
admission, from the simple fact that l
had never recommended book without
a previous and thorough examination of
it. l said further that the charge placed
me in one of two positions, neither of
which was very agreeable, viz: Either
that had stultified myself by making
such an admission even if it were true,
or, what considered much more serious,
that l had given my recommendations
for pecuniary considerations without re-
gard to the merit of the book in question.
He said very frankly that the latter was
the construction he placed upon it him
self, and the idea he meant to convey in
reporting it to others. l then told him
that it was absolutely false, and request,
ed that if he had occasion to repeat the
charge in the future, he would at least
have the kindness to give me the benefit
of my explicit denial at the same time.
1t seems that the response to this civil
and reasonable request is reiteratiOn in
public print of the very same charge with
out single word of qualification
l say now positively, as l said then,
tbet | have never recommended single
book without having examined it sufiici.
emily to form an intelligent judgment of
its merits. If Mr.. Stevenson sees fit after
this to refer me to his Authority" for
statements to the contrary, l shall be
only too glad, as told him in our CONVEX.
sation, to seek satisfaction from head
quarters. And l say also, notwithstand-
ing persistent insinuations to the con-
trary, that l have never accepted or
received single cent of reward for any
of mine, not because l
have not been offered remuneration for
what influence my recommendation
might carry with it, but because l con-
slider it nothing less than bribery to which
no honorable man will stoop.
do not pretend to say how much in
fluence my recommendations had with
the board, or, in fact, that they had any
weight whatever. But 1 do say that
they were given in perfect good faith and
from no other motire than the best inter-
ests of the school. l was, in fact, SO far
as hope of gain tor myself, or anyone else,
was concerned, absolutely disinterested.
After the board had made their adoption
thought they had made an admirable
selection, and became hearty supporter
Of their action. When the effort was
made {from ostensibly philanthropicsl
motives-though Mr.. Stevenson disclaims
any right to that title) to nulIify the
action of the board by returning to the
old books, acknowledge l ceased to be
disinterested and did what l could to
have their action sustained for l consid-
cred it an insult to the judgment of the
three intelligent gentlemen composing
that body to summarily discard without
any trial whatever the books which they
had selected after mature study and
painstaking examination.
In conclusion ! would say that with
regard to this book business, have moth
ing to conceal and no apologies to make,
but stand ready to answer all charges
and insinuations, from whatever quarter
they may come or whatever phase of
malignity they may assume.
A. G. SCOTT.