The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-11
Book Trust Tries to Buy State
Board Of Education.
MR.. LEACH IS ,NcoRRuPT,sLE.
He Refuses Large Check and Seattle
School Superintendency.
Two Othsr Members Mass Alss Have
Been Arproached-rhe Trust Said 20
Own Three Seattle school Trustees-
Detectives Conduct the Negotiations'

OLTAPIs. yune 1a-There is : genuine sensa-
ton here today in \ bald attempt ut the bribery
of l. Fl. Lescn. member Of the hoard ai educa-
ton from Vancouver. by the book trust The
Olympia 1rfbsAe ruhlishes the following
Beaten. eus not disnsyess. The book trust
II Is said, through othem made q movement on
one OF the members OF the hoard OF eiucasion
yesterday TO have the action Of the hoa-d rels-
tive TO the adoption Of certain textbooks
reconsidered. A startling charge OF sn
attempt at bribery was laid before
the members OF the board in session this
afternoon IN the shape of check for u. 900 given
to one OF the mem hers for the purpose OF nov-
ing the reconsideration. This plain document
ary evidence Eel ike . hombsheu in the board
II was . reflection on at least two other mem
bcrs OF the board. because such . large amount
OF money world not have bsen given TO one
member to make TIE motion unless those who
attempted the bribery we're sure Of fwo others.
The taird member would have made . MAJ Jority.
the board being composed OF ave members
shadowing the member of the board who Was
approached for some weeks. and that those who
offered him the money threatened to expose
him Ia certain matters which, by the way. In
yoired no moral turpitude. Thcr reckoned.
however. without their host The member was
incorraptible: he took the check and laid 1t be-
fore the board at its meeting today
I'm view OF this fact, no changes were OF course
made ia the former action of the board. The
text books will remain as they are.
"lt II UNDERWOOD that NJ c. Sullivan, OF Port
land, . detective of the Northern Pacific rail-
road. who was here day or two ago. ana his
assistant mansger, Mr.. c. Eanles. and others
said to DO connected with the book trust. are
implicated in the affair. and that the proof is
positive against Eames, who drew the cheek for
the 5000 More complete revelations will be
m la fsarfSf II fxf f<
the member OF the board TO whom the check
was given and who exposed the bribery"
Later this afterno on il was ascefsained that
Leach Was promised s. 900 yesterday afternoon
and the superiutcndency az the Seattle schools
II be would move . reconsideration Of the vote
by which the readers and arithmetics were
given 70 Tainfor Bros, Of New York and Gum
& Co, OF Boston. houses oulside Of the trust II
was represented to Leach that the trust con-
trolled three members OF the school board OF Sc
atfle. Leach made the motion to reconsider yes
terday, Tiffany. 6prasue aud Superin-
tendent Bryan voting with him. The
motion was adopted. TIFFANY and Bryan ere
said to have voted generally for the trust hooks.
Both say, however, that they vote that way te-
bause they consider some Of the trust books bet
ter than the others Tho motion having been
reconsidered and left open. Leach was given the
check by EamcS tisto be on the Fift National
hank Of Portland. Ore. This morning hc ex-
posed the matter before the board. when the
axithmestn and eeadsss adopfed lat Thursday
were aeain adopted and the board paaped the
following denunciatory resolations relative 10
- certain book company" which IS tho
American Book Company Of New York.
RxsoLur1oxs OF THE STATE BOARD.
"wHEREAs. documentary evidence having
been placed before the board Of education Of
the state OF Washington Of an attempt By agents
OF q certain book company TO Improperly infn-
ence Mr.. l. Fl. Leach. one Of the members of
said board. to move reconsideration OF
the vote for the purpose OF the adoptiou OF the
readers and arithmetics published by said CON-
pany, thereby securing TO said company 30 per
cent OF the text books OF the state: and
WHEREAS This board. believing II for. the
best Interests OF the cause Of education in the
state OF washington 10 keep the textbook ques-
tion forever open and free 10 the competition OF
all textbook publishers, Re 10
"Resolred. First-That this board heartily ap-
proves of the action OF Mr.. l. II. Leach in the
matiee
..second--That this board uuqualifedly dis
approves of the methods of the agents OF said
book. company. or Of any other school bsek
publishing house. in attempting 70 bias the
action of the members OF the board I'm free
choice OF texi-bot ks upon their merits alone.
.sIhird-Thas the interests Of the school chill
dren of the state OF Washington are above the
personal interests OF the agents OF any publish
Ing house. aud should forever be beyond the
impropertnauence and control Of any textbook
pulS. ishifg concern"