The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-02
GOVERNOR ROBERTS BOOK.
AUSTIN, Feb. %, 1882.
To the Editor. of the Statesman:

0OSAANs Gu. ~ Aoo<s
To the Editors Of the Statesman:
In this mornings STATESMAN appears
an article headed THAT purchase OIL
books; President Baldwin aud the board
oi local directors of the Sam Houston
Normal Institute heard FROM
l was in 81. Louis during oe-
there MIR. Gilbert, the publisher of
Governor Roberts book, proposed to
sell out the whole thing TO me. He
wanted TO reserve the right,
however, to furnish schools in Texas
the school edition. He informed
me that he was in commu-
nication with several schools in Texas
about using il as a text book in the
schools. Mhile We were talking about
my purchasing the whole edition, plates
and all connected with 1t, at much less
than cost, a letter was handed Mr.. Gill
bert from one of the schools in Texas,
which had adopted IL as text book, ana
several copies were ordered. lie in
formed me that he had not made any di-
rect contract with Governor Roberts
about the publishing OF the book, or
what per cent. he would allow him on
sales. lie said he had not paid the gov
ernor anything and all he could do would
be 10 turn the electrotype plates over to
the governor after he had sold out the first
edition. so far AS the governor having
any thing to do with the sale of the
books, 10 schools or anyone else, during
the time MIR. Gilbert had the plates and
books under his control, 1 am in a posi-
ton to know that he did not have any
control over affairs, neither did he re-
ceiYe one penny from Mr.. Gilbert as roy
atty. Neither do l believe Mr.. Gilbert
consulted the governor about the sale OF
the books. Publishers do not consult
authors AS to the sales of books. Mr..
Gilbert bore all the expense in getting
out the book and informed me that IL
did not pay him to get IL out, or any other
miscellaneous work. His business was
to publish law books. have seen all the
correspondence that passed between MIR.
Gilbert and the governor, and L am sat
listed the latter has never made u penny
from the sale of the book while under
MIR. Gilbert's control. If anything was
made from what copies were sold, Mr..
Gilbert made 1t, not the governor.
L believe Governor Roberts had no
knowledge as to whom Mr.. Gilbert was
selling books to, as IL was q matter that
concerned the publisher and not the
author. Hence, mis- proposition to me to
buy out the whole concern at less than
cost, which the governor knew nothing
about for some weeks afterwards, when
[ informed him OF Gilbert's proposition
to me. The illustrations were put In the
book by the publisher, as he. thought to
make the book sell, not by the author.
1 have not been requested by any one
to make this statement, or any statement
about the matter, and should not have
done SO IL L had not seen the article re-
ferred TO in this mornings paper.
Respectfully submitted,
o. H. ELLIOTT.
The gentleman signing the above
letter, is known as the author of
many valuable form books for
stockmen. He was init
mately associated last year
with Mr.. Gilbert, the st. Louis
law book publisher, in having his
books prepared for market, and thus
arose the facts stated by him. We
know, besides, that Governor
Roberts became dissatisfied, some
time ago, with the manner in which
the books were being handled, and
he then negotiated with Mr.. Gilbert
for books on hand and the plates,
ohN oA WOAO ohiPpSO W huSbih AlOhi
st. Louis, and are now in Governor
Roberts possession, and therefore
at present under his control.
Governor Roberts knew nothing of
any transaction that Mr.. Gilbert may
have made with any dealer or
school teacher, and had he
known could not have controlled
the sale and purchase of the books
Governor Roberts did right in per-
hitting the payment of the account,
and those who attack him because
he did approve it, are basing their
disapproval on unjust and unreason-
able grounds, injurious to nobody
but those who indulge in such in
justice. AS to the purchase of the
books by Professor Baldwin, we can
not help but repeat that his act in
this respect has demonstrated the
fact that he is needed, if anywhere,
in some other field ofeducation than
IN Texas.