The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-31
rho school Book Trust.

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The School Book Trust.
When the war on the infamous school
book trust was begun last winter it was
understood perfectly we'll by all con-
cerned that the trust would make a des-
perate resistance. The leading firm in
the trust had made hundreds OF thou
sands of dollars-perhaps millions-by
charging the people of Indiana extortion-
ate prices for school books. Other firms
In the trust had also made large profits in
this state. so enormously profitable was
their business that the leading house
that of VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG d Co.-had,
according to Gov. HovEY, retired a mill
ionaire every TWO or three years for long
time back In his inaugural address he
declared that the ring was selling its
books to the people Of Indiana at profit
of 500 to 600 per cent. This extortion he
very properly denounced as outrageous,
and he urged the legislature to take some
steps to stop 1t.
Perhaps Gov. HovEY did not realize
how strongly the trust was intrenched in
Indiana. Others who attacked it did,
however, and understood from the begin
ming that the fight would be a desperate
one. With almost unlimited moneyed re-
sources, with a superb organization, and
with its very existence at stake, not only
in Indiana but all over the country, it was
idle to suppose that the school book
octopus would not employ every means
in its power, fair or foul, to
break down the movement for
the destruction Of its monopoly.
TIE SENTINEL, for one, appreciated fully
the resources Of the trust, and understood
perfectly what kind of a struggle it would
make in the effort to perpetuate its grip
upon the state of Indiana. At the very
beginning THE SENTINEL predicted what
has already come to pass and what is now
occurring.
For many years the octopus had been
engaged in systematic efforts to corrupt
the school officials of the state. Wher-
ever among them was man who could be
bought with a money bride, the ring bought
him. IL loaded trustees, teachers, super
intendents, members of school boards and
others connected with school affairs
with books, pictures, articles Of fur
niture, bric-a-brac and other "pres-
ents." It's agents took them on
expensive excursions. Scores OF young
men in this state who began life with an
honest purpose and good prospects date
their ruin from the time they were taken
20 Cincinnati by school book agents and
shown the round Of its houses OF prostitu-
fion and other dens Of infamy When
school officials could not be reached by
money bribery, or by debauching them in
the manner stated-and it is proper to say
that a large majority were not sus-
ceptible to such temptations-otherm meth
DDS were brought to bear upon
them. They were iawned upon, fiat.
tered, lied 70, coaxed, bullied
brow-bcaten or inundated. Social, po-
Iitical, financial and even church influ-
ences were brought to bear upon them.
And If, after being subjected to all this per-
secution and pressure, school official re-
fused to play into the hands Of the ring.
he was marked for official death. Hun
dreds Of worthy teachers, school superin-
tendents and trustees have lost their
official positions, 10 the great detriment
OF our educational interests, because they
had stood between the people and the
school book ring.
A combination which had systematically
employed such rascally methods TO build
itself mp, was, Of course, prepared 10 re-
sort % any means, however disreputable,
30 save itself when attacked. No con-
scientious scruples would stand in it's
way. Falsehood, perjury and bribery
were right in its line. They we're weapons
in the use Of which il had be-
como skilled by long practice It's mo-
nopoly was so valuable, It's profits
20 enormous, that it could afford TO spend
unlimited amounts OF money in the effort
30 preserve them. II would buy every
newspaper that was for sale. 1t would
corrupt every legislator who was corrupt.
ible. II would manipulate every school
official who could be reached by its pecu-
liar methods. 10 would assail tho charac.
Ter Of every person who should enter the
lists against Il. II would raise tho hue
and cry Of ''backmaiP at every assault
upon it. II would obstruct the passage Of
every measure that was proposed against
Il. And finally, il, in spite Of it's exer'
tons, a law should be passed that threat
ened its monopoly, IL would spare nc
effort 10 break this law down.
This has been the policy Of the school
book ring, in this and other states. In
the adjoining states Of Ohio. Michigan.