The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-27
THAT. DISTRUSTED TRUST
KNOCKED HIeHER'N elLDERoYs KITE
The Democratic Senate, Following the
Lead of the Democratic House, Deals
Death Blow to the schooI-BoOk Trust
An Odious Monopoly Killed.
Sunday sesiinel.l

bling the parents and the children OF
Indiana for years. The people of Indiana viii
no more pay an annual tribute of 81, 100000 to
that grasping mOnOpOly-Nan Antwerp, bragg
& Goa corporation that has turned out one
millionaire every three years during the last
two decades, a devilfsh which had its tentaeies
upon every school-houSe OF lndlana which
made and unmade county superintendents
nominated the superintendent OF p"ohe In,
structiOn paid his campaign assessments, anu
used his office as a headquarters for the school
book trust lobby.
Session after session bills have been intro
duced to relieve the people from this
MONOPOLY but the book agents were
ever more powerful than the lee stature
and the people continued to be piucked until a
reform democratic legislature took hold OF the
greatest question that has ever been considered
In this state.
To smash the trust was such a great under
taking that few members were at
first afraid 70 attack the job-but
fortunately for the people and the democratic
partv there were men in the legislature who
had the courage to undertake whar some con-
sdered an impossible piece OF work. Fort
uuately there was 6 speaker in the house
who framed committees IN laVor
OF the people, and not 10 SUIT
the book lobby, committees composed OF able
and courageous men and Representatives OF the
people in the truest sense oil the word. lhe
house did its duty we'll and the senate yester-
day made record which ought to entite
the war against the trust to have
his picture hung in every schOol-rOom OF the
state. When a senator or representative who
voted on every stage OF the bill IN favor oil me
people dies, there should be erected over ms
grave at the expense of the state, monument
with the simple inscription: He voted 10
smash the schOol-bOOk trust
When the senate met yesterday the school
book lobby met too. On the democratic side.
Lobbyist ROOSe took his stand. Pretending to
be democrat. he expected to be able 10 induce
some democrats 10 Oier amendments prepared
In La Follette's office in the interest OF the
trust But he could not get democrat TO talk
so him. A lobbyist on the democratic SIDE
was AS much out OF place as the devil would be
IN heaven.
Inc republican agents, however, Jared better.
They found the republican senators good listen
ers, and had no trouble to enlist themntO their
cause Supt. La Toilette, Room Mate I'd
Robinson, "Cncle" Cyrus Smith, Mr. Fry, Mr.
Palmer. and other book trust Lobbyists
OF lesser note, occupied seats in the
aisle next 10 the republicans. Mr.. Smith
posted himself near Mr. Hays. Robinson re-
manned most of the time behind pillar
IaFOllette felt nervous aud spent most OF his
time with MessTs. johnson, Hubbell, shock
ney and Harness. The other book agents, who
were not SO well known, scattered all over the
house.
Ii was about II 80 when Mr. Andrews called
UP the Peasants bill III. r. Pr The republic
ans obiecsed on point OF order, but the chair
was not with the trust and did not sustain the
point Mr.. Shockney then offered the sub
stiJute which was prepared in Supt. La
Follette's Office the day befOre-the same to
which TIE SENTINEL referred yester,,
day morning having been revised
and approved by Uncle Cyrus
desk Mr. Afford did not offer the substitute
on account OF the exposure made by IHE
SENTINEL. An examination Of the substitute
will reveal the interlineation OF Uncle Cyrus.
The substitute provided that each county or
city board could contract with any pub
fishers to furnish school books. When
majority of a township voted in favor
of free books, the county commissioners
were to see that the people were
taxed TO furnish free books. 10 short IL was
local option free textbook bill, which would
have given the trust a 6rmer hold upon the
people But the peoples friends, the twenty
eight democratic senator's, voted il down, the
republican voting for the trust substitute.
Having won the first round the democrats
adjourned the senate for dinner The book
agents adjourned to the hotel Hobbies. They
tried hard 70 talk with demOcrs tic senators, but
the latter only turned their backs on them.
When the senate recOnvened Mr.. Howard
offered a committee amendment which gives the
right OF any private schools or private stu
dents to buy books on the same terms; also.
provision for the exchange OF the books now IN
use.
Mr.. johnson offered a printed amendment
printed by the book agents. If the johnson
amendment had prevailed, Van Antwerp.
Bragg & Co. could have retained their
monopoly of furnishing books, but
the solid democratic vote smashed
his amendment, Notwithstanding that he used
his tongue freely and pointed with his seven
inch index finger dozen times. Messrs-
Howard and Griffith put in some hard lieks a.
the trust at this stage of the fight, while Hub
bell and HAYS spoke for the other
side Mr.. Harness was then handed
an amendment BY Book Agent Fry and some
statistics by another agent and spoke in favor
of its adoption. Again the solid democratic
vote and ave republicans voted II down.
When the breach was made In the republican
ranks the book-agents were thrown into q
panic, and Isaac ROOse left his lonely place on
the west side, and found Robinson, LaFOlleite,
Smith and the other agents behind the pillar
We are gone up" mOurnfully said Isaac.
Il don't give up yet" replied La
Toilette. who Immediately went over 10
Mr.. Hubbel The latter at once introduced an
amendment requiring that the board IN accept
Ing bids should provide Tor free exchange, and
in support Of it spoke from notes furnished
him by Supt. la Palette. lie quoted statistics
showing that the books cost the people less
than $4,000 per annum. and when asked by
Dir. Barrett if the governor had not said in his
message that the school books cost the people
of Indiana over SlC04OOO year.
Mr. Hubbell renled that the governor was
not good authority upon this subject. Mr..
Hnbbeh preferred TO take la FOllette's figures
rather than the governors.
Mr. Barrett showed that the amendment was
Van Antwerp, Bragg x Co. scheme, whose
boOks are used in nearly every school in the
state. These publishers, having their books in,
could make better terms than the other pub
fishers. He made Mr.. Hubbell admit that his
amendment would tend to make the publishers
put in higher bids, which, in the long run,
would make a big difference TO the people
buying books. The Hubbell amendment was
voted down by party vote.
Half dozen more amendments were offered
In behalf Of the book ring and voted down by
The democrats.
Mr. johnson moved to strike out sec. T. the
section which limits the price for which the
books are 70 be sold, to one-half of the present
prices. He said he had been informed
by school men La Follette) that the publish
ers would not sell the books at such low prices.
Messrs. Barnett, Howard and Griffith, how
ever, showed that the firm Of Van Antwerp.
Bragg & Co. had sent circular letter prOpOs-
ing to furnish the books TO the state AT contract
prices for less than the limit provided in the
bill. The motion was lost
II give il up; we are heathen," remarked
Mr.. Cyrus Smith. of A. $ Barnes * Co, and,
picking up his notes, he left the chamber.
The other agents leaned against the pillars,
half dead. La Toilette drew johnson, Hubbell
and Harness together for five minutes, during
which time Mr.. Hays was speaking on another
amendment
Mr.. Barrett then called the previous ques-
ton on the passage Of the bill which was
oxdered There were ahout TWENTY-FIVE demo-