The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
ABOUT SCHOOL BOOKS.
The SnIy Assertions of Ring Organs. Eject.
lively Answered.


Lafayette Journal
The school book publishers Of this country
have formed a trust and will take all their
agents of the road. The people MUST have
books for their children. The trust will di-
vide profits and sell at its own extravagsnt
price-meanwhile saving all the expense of
agents. Indiana, under the operation Of her
new law, will escape from this octopus, and,
after September next school books will cost
not much over half the present price.
IL IS amusing 10 note the objections the subsi.
died newspapers Of Indiana are making TO the
forthcoming new school books The head Of
tins coterie OF collectors" is the Indianapolis
Journal
IL says the new books are of an inferior order
and tor this reason abuses the company that is
TO furnish them. Ii overlooks the fact that this
company was competitive bidder and sub
mitted its books TO the State board Of educa-
ton, in which is vested the sole power
OF determining the quality OF these
books. That board is composed Of the
superintendent Of public instruction, the gov
ernor the presidents OF Purdue, the state uni.
versity ana state normal school and the superin-
tendents OF the indianapolis, Evansville, Terre
haule and Fort Wayne city schools. Ger
talnly this board is competent to select good
school books and will do so. The response
bility Is with the board and not with the COM
pany. After the hooks are selected con-
W.
viii be the duty Of the board TO see that the
company complies with its contract.
But, says the Journal "this new law creates
monopoly"
Does it, Ii fixes a low, minimum price and
opens competition 10 the world-fayoring only
the lowest and best bidder under the terms of
the law. The best bidder is the one having the
best book
Again, the journal says "such law will
force state uniformity in text books" That's
so. Tut what is the objection That is Just
what the people want Van Antwerp, Bragg
a Co, that now furnish Indiana S. per cent. Of
ITS school books, secured their large sales BY
tins very argument-and il is a sound and
logical one.
state uniformity means that family can
move from county 30 county all over the state
and use the same school-books. Lack Of uni.
iormity means that G move from one county 10
the next may encounters different make Of
school-books. and, as a result, purchase Of a
new set of school books.
Indiana has been irving for years 20 systems.
TIE her public SCHOOLS and secure uniformity
IN corresponding grades, so that the vast mum
Der OF children, who change their residence
every year may not only continue their school
work without interruption. but without having
TO buy new books every time their parents
move
There are as good fish in the sea as we're
ever caught out OF It," and as good school
books can be written as have been written
Such will be the case under lndianas new law
and. best Of all. there will be a saving Of - 70
80 per cent. in the cost 10 purchasers. IL Is not
the people, but the school book rings, that
are obiecting 10 the new law. When sons
newspaper gets up on lis launches in defense
OF the present system Of robbing the people,
It Is safe TO say that the cloven hoof Of some
school book ring has made track in that office
and its editor has been seen"