The record-union., 1892-10-21
THE BOOK RING AT IT.

The book ring-there is but one now,
and it is gigantic, monstrous and the most
powerful publishing concern in the
world-has ''got taway'' with the Alameda
County Teachers Institute. That body
of teachers has had the impudence to
speak of the ''so-called cost price, of the
State textbooks. 1t has had the eff
frontery to demand of legislators that
they violate their oaths to support the
Constitution" by repeating the enacting
clause of the law providing for the text
books the Constitution demands shall be
issued.
The cloven-footed agency of the book
ring is discernible beneath the robes of
the Institute. 1t is a fair and entirely
justifable suspicion that the agent of the
American Book Company was at the In
stitute, ''there or thereabouts''; or else he
and his hirelings had industriously
worked" the membership prior to the
assembling of the Institute.
1t is a shameful piece of business, but
we are rather glad that it came to pass.
Better than figures, arguments and ar
rays of witnesses does this action of the
Alameda Institute disclose what is afioat.
and prove that the California textbook
system is pinching the rapacious book
publishers precisely where it was needed
most.
That is to say, this action proves that it
is not the California trade that the Amer
lean book concern cares for, but for the
effect of the success of the California
textbook system in other States. Indi-
ana is watching and waiting, and is about
convinced that California is right. Ohio
would ere this have adopted our system
had not a soured official of this State
given it black eye by reporting to Ohio
that it was non-successful. Iowa is
pleased with il, and asks US to report to
her 'how it works." Oregon is disposed
to follow our example. In Tennessee and
Pennsylvania, and Missouri, and even
away down in the Gulf States, the leaven
is working.
So the American book concern sees its
territory is in danger. 1t can save the
situation only by crushing out the Cali
fornia system. Secure a Legislature that
Will deal the textbook system deadly
blow, and the dividends of the ring will
spring up like Jacks bean stalk.
The book syndicate, which takes in all
the old large publishing-houses of the
country, is formed by complete surren-
der of copyrights, plates, manuscript and
stock to the new corporation, for which
surrender certificates of stock issue. and
upon which dividends are paid out of the
profits of the new concern, which thus
controls nearly all sohool-books used in
the United States, excepting only Cali
fornia.
The power Of such a concern for cor
raption is immeasurable. 1t has already
begun its assault In scores OF papers in
this State are appearing reading arti-
cles bitterly assailing the California
books, pronouncing them extravagantly
costly, poor in makeup, weak in con-
struction, and not up to a low degree
standard of excellence.
These notices are paid for so much
line, to go in without indication that they
are advertisements. One of them was
offered recently tc the RECORD U MON:
for the purpose of exposing it we ac-
cepted it and in the same issue we replied
TO it. It was signed "a Sacramento
School Teacher" 1t was not written bv
a Sacramento teacher; it was penned ane
prepared in New York and sent out here
to poison the minds of the people. 1t so
clearly exposed its purpose that we
gladly printed it, and in the same paper
turned its venom upon the source from
which it came. We made it weapon of
defense of the California system, and if
the American Book Company has more
of the same sort of ammunition upon
which to expend its money the RECORD
UNION invites it to SEND it on on cash
basis. 1t will really serve a good end
and we have no fear concerning it.
The truth is, the people are receiving