Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-06-27
Book-Ring Bribery.

Iu the HERALD of Tuesday morning
the attempt to bribe the Board of Edu.
cation'of San Bernardino county was al
luded to. Later reports have since come
in detail. 1t seems that after Van Ant
werp, Bragg L Co. failed to nominate
their agent for Congress in Los Angeles,
SO that he would be instrument tai in get
ting national series OF textbooks, of
which they have the stereotype plates
and could make $50, 900 by the operation,
they turned their attention to Kern
county, where they started business in
the most approved corruption style. The
Kern County Californian Of May 18th
says.
''At an adjourned meeting of the
County Board Of Education last Monday
one of the most brazen attempts al brib-
cry that ever occurred in this county
was publicly exposed by A. b. McPher.
son, County Superintendent Of Public
Schools. According to Superintendent
McPnersons statement, maize before the
Board OF Education. one j. Il. D5rland,
agent for Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.,
school-book publishers of Cincinnati,
Ohio, approached him at the Arlington
Hotel on Friday evening, May 9th, and
offered him bribe of $50 to support the
adoption of the Eieetic Biographies
against Harper's Biographies. which are
now used in the schools of this county.
Superintendent MCPHERSON further sta.
ted before the Board of Education that
the said Dorland approached him again
during the meeting of the Board ON
Monday last, and raised the amount of
his previous bribe TO 500, which was in
dignantly refused"
AT the meeting of the Santa Clara
County Board Of Education, as reported
in the San Jose Mercury of May 22d,
there appeared to be the same spirit uf
corruption. The Los Angeles Congress
man and his employees, Van Antwerp,
Bragg & Co., were left out. The Mer-
curry Of the 22d ult., in the proceedings
OF the BoarL of Education, Publishes the
following interesting item:
"Mr. Welch here rose aud laid before
the Board the following kilograms:
San JOSE, May l6, 1884.
To A. B. McPhersoa, Superintendent
| Of Schools, Bakers6eid, Calitornia:-Is
it true that Dorland, the agent for the
Eclectic Biographies, offered money to
members Of your Board for votes and
was exposed in open Board. Answer
Immediately. II. I. WELSH,
BAKERsrIELD, May l6, 1854.
TO II. r. Weich 1t is true.
A. b. McPHERsoN.
Mr., Welch said that il this was the
manner in which it was sought to INTRO
duce biographies. he was opposed to it,
and he would always oppose the books
presented by corrupt men in the interest
Of any publishing house. He was op-
posed to dirty work, and he would never
consent. as far as he was concerned, to
the adoption Of books presented as the
Eclectic Biographies seem to have been
in Kern county.
That was pretty good start, but the
movement in San Bernardino last Sat,
urday oyertops all. At the meeting of
the County Board Of Education, Hon.
Byron Waters appeared before the
Board and presented q corruption fund
of $3.50 which Lad been offered to a
member of the Board to get him to ad-
yocate Van Antwerp, Bragg 4 Co. :
series. The fund consisted OF a check
of Van Antwerp. Bragg l. Co. for $500,
S2l0 in notes and $40 in gold. The
money was turned over to the County
Treasurer, and the Board decided, un-
der the advice Of Hon. Byron Waters,
that no books for which bribe had
been offered would be accepted rs text.
books.
Arthur kearney, member OF the
Board, testified as follows:
have been approached indirectly in
the same manner as Mr.. Richardson by
Bynan, agent for Appleton. He asked
ne if would work for money. or il l
| knew Of any one who would. l told him
| couldn't, as / was q member of the
Board. Didn't know any member of the
Board that would. Told him personally
in order to get rid Of him that l would
be guided by my own judgment. con.
suited Mr.. Waters next day and at our
next talk with Bynan, gave him evasive
answers Had no further conversation
with him OF any moment, was finally
!, approached by an agent, Mr.. Cable, who
| represented that these agents were in q
pool against Bancroft. Under advice OF
Mr.. Waters, who said he would prose
cute his own brother If he would be
guilty OF such thing, led him on last
night to commit himself. and the pool as
l understood it deposited $3.50 in the
hands Of third party, OF which was
to receive one-half for my action.
have that statement down in writing
Saw check, paper aud money deposited
immediately sent for Mr.. Waters, who
consulted with Mr.. Satterwhite, after.
ward Mr.. Waters and / consulted with
Mr.. Brooke; came down town the thres
of us, between 2 and 3 in the morning,
Mr.. Waters went of leaving Mr.. Brook
and me on the street. He returned and
took such action, procured the delivery
of the $3.50 into the hands of Mr.. Brooke,
in the presence of Mr.. Waters and my.
self, who gave it to Mr.. Waters to pro
duce it before the Board"
| The above is from the San Bernar9ino
Tinss of Monday. The Iader of that
date has ths same statement. The at
tempt is audacious, and the agents have
skipped the town. The candidate fol
Congress. in Los Angeles, that has beer
whooped up by the daily Daily Time
of this city, is the Pacific Coest managel
of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. His nams
has been Withdrawn from the list.
The saddest words Of thought OF pen,
Are these few words, II might have been.
| Who Ia the NEXT Congressional bool