The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-01
THE SCHOOL BOOK OCTOPUS
TRYING TO BREAK DOWN THE LAW.
Another Audacious Circular From Van
Antwerp, Bragg & Goa Scheme to
Seduce County Boards of Ed
ucation Wednesday.

who are the school-book trust, so far Indiana is
concerned, the other firms in the trust having
agreed to allow them full control in this ter
ritOry, are moving heaven and earth 10 defeat
the operation of the new textbook law. 4
few days ago THE SENTINEL published
audacious circular, sent by this firm TO book
sellers throughout the state intended TO create
prejudice against the new law. and point out
methods by which il could be rendered dead
letter. The circular was full OF ridiculous
falsehoods and transparent sophistry. Van
Antwerp, Bragg & Co. are now sending out cir
culars and price-lists to all the county superin-
teudents, township trustees and members of
school boards in cities and towns in Indiana.
Perhaps fifty of these circulars have been re-
ceived by THE SENTINEL during the last two
or three days One teacher, who sends a circu-
lar from Shelby county, writes: For my part
! think the new school book law is one of the
best ever passed by an Indiana legislature, and,
as teacher eft eight years standing, think L
am qualified 10 judge Others write in
similar strain. The circular spoken of is very
long. 1t says il is sent out in reply to many
letters from county superintendent, tr Istees
and teachers of Indiana with reference TO the
uncertain condition IN which the law recently
passed by the Indiana legislature has left the
question OF textbooks, asking US for such in
formation as we may have upon the subject,
and for suggestions as TO what will most likely
take place"
Ii proceeds
Ia hope of obtaining some information for our
our own guidance in this respect, have had quite
an extensive correspondence with many leading per-
sons OF the state, aud personal conversations with
many Others. We find that the law has not vet
been published or circulated by authority. The
constitution OF Indiana provides that mo act shall
take eject until the same shall have been published
and circulated in the several counties of the state by
authority" Considerable Tine NAV yet elapse be-
fore this official circulation will be made. After
that time will be required Tor advertising, eXamin-
ing books, receiving proposals, making contracts,
etc, 50 that under the most favorable crcum-
stances II cannot be expected that any books
school year Ii is impossible to state at
this time what publishers, il any, will offer their
books al the prices and upon tn terms provided
IN the law. il does not seem probable that any pub
Usher OF hrst-cass schOol-bO0ks can afford 10 offer
their publications at the specified prices OF TO dis
tribute them by the methods proposed. Some prin-
TT may offer an inferior list Of books, procure
plates of obsolete and wOrn-out schOo-boOks, OF by
some sort o. eontrvance make bid for the sake Of
z ting the job. tut even in this event the state
board has the right 10 reject any and all bids ana in
case the books offered should be inferior either in
size quality merit TO the books in use, the state
board will not only have the right, but would be
obliged BY the very terms OF the law 10 reject them.
% lar as We have been able to learn,
there is interest among the educa-
but the contrary il is heartily disapproved by all
with few exceptions. We can safely sly that nine
and very large PROPORTION of the trus ees have
pressed the opinion that the is impractical
bic and that its execution would be highly detri-
mental 10 the educational interests OF the state. So
crude, so unwisr and so unreasonable measure is
unworthy OF the great state OF Indiana 1t was
ruShed through the senate ana hOu upon false
issues aud under stress oil gross exaggeratOns and
atrocious alsehOods. 1t was instigated and backed
up BY parties who hoped that il would carry with il an
appropriation OF money from the treasury Of which
they expected to realize the plumber Ii the sum OF
500 600 had been appropriated you can readily see
how the pntters would have had fat Offices and big
profits for themselves and friends.
Considerable space is devoted to statements
as TO the cost of school books in Indiana. The
assertion is made that in no single year have the
people OF Indiana paid out so much as 100000
for school books and that the average cost of
school books per pupil is less than 40 cents per
annum. IL is stated that Van Antwerp, Bragg
Il Co.'S total sales of school books in Indiana
during ISIS aggregated only $97. 957, and that
there now about 100000 worth of school
books in the hands of the people of the state,
which will be rendered valueless If the new
law is carried out IL is also alleged that the
people OF the entire country have never paid
more than Si,000,0O0 in a single year for school
books, while they pay annually Sl,200,000,000
for wine, beer and whisky, and S4O0O000O0 for
tobacco. What this has to do with the matter,
however. is not explained. The remainder OF
the circular is as follows:
The alleged object OF erOWding through this incOn-
sderate and incomplete measure that Of supply
pared, in cooperation with county superintendent
and trustees enter into plan for the accom- psh-
ment Of this object without the necessity Of the great
loss involved in the entire change OF the system of
school books. without breaking up the schools, with
out destroying the OF study and uniformity,
and without producing the radical change, EN- bar
rassment and delay involved in that scheme.
You will ind herewith Enclosed our contract price
list al which ne are prepared AZ all times to furnish
education desiring 10 purchase them or to any
dealer or other party authorized by the board TO
pun" iei AZ THESE
prices the Eclectic school books already in in
your schools, be furnished Just low they,
any other books, furnished TO any state in the
Union having contracts under state uniformity laws
If purchased these prices the entire cost Of our
publications Tor Indiana would not exceed 100000
for a year, nor more than $4,000 with the dealers
profits added. Whereas, II the people were COM
PEELED to throw away the books with which they are
now so well supplied, and purchase an entirely new
outfit OF contract books the cost o. the books, in
Guiding expense Of distribution, could not be less
than 100000 for the fret year.
There IS evidently no desire the part of any
portion Of the community TO have the books changed
but the contrary hundreds of letters which we
constantly receiving from all classes of people,
teachers, trustees county superntendents and citi
zens-all indicate a very strong preferences TO con-
tnue the present system OF books.
We shall he pleased TO cooperate with boards of
trustees and superinte ndents in making arrange
ments with all such dealers favorable to the
plan by which they NAV be supplied at Oh Sc con-
into an agreement with the trustees 70 retail the
books at reasonable advance OF profit. In CORE
spending with upon this subject a large number
OF booksellers have already proposed act agents
for the trustees and TO retail the books advance
above these net prices OF 20 per cent.
Adding 20 per cent. 10 our net contract
prices would make present list or wholesale
prices the retail prices for Indiana which would b
most likely u satisfy the greatest number. Should
your board Of trustees desire 20 all themselves OF
this proposition they can authorize the county
superintendent at their May meeting 10 confer with
and designate such responsible and reliable persons
in each county as they would wish 10 have appointed
10 out the plan. We should be pleased to cor
respond with YOU and learn your views upon this
whole subject aud assure you Of hear cO-Opera-
ton in any effort yOu may be pleased 10 make with
view Of supplying the people with the books now
in use at the lowest possible prices
Space does not now permit the refutation of
all the msstatements in this circular. Van
Antwerp, Bragg & Co. of course know that the
new law contains emergency clause, and
has, therefore, been in force from the date OF
its passage. The board OF education has already
advertised for proposals under the law which
are TO be opened May Is.
Van Antwerp. Bragg 4 Co. juggle with
figures in order to make it appear that school
books, under the present system, cost on an
average less than 40 cents per pupil. Every
parent in this state knows that this is ridicu.
lousy false. Let the father who has to supply
five children with school books answer
whether 8 per year, or five times g,
will pay his annual bill for this pur-
pose. All the figures set forth in
this circular are correspOndingly wild" As
to the amount of sales made by this firm in
Indiana the figures given are grossly mislead-
ing. Van Antwerp, Bragg IL Co. claim that
. - L Il Il -. 4 L.