St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-16
FREE Free SCHOOL BOOKS.
Good Speakers EXpatiate on
r the Subject in the SWed-
ish Tabernacle.
Resolutions Adopted Asking
the State to Grant Free
Text Books.
Annual Meeting of the Grand
Eneampment, l. O. o. F.,
Of the State.
Judges Finish Up the Decem-
ber Term--Lottie Col
Inns Case.

A mass meeting in the interests of the
free text book bill was held last night
in the Swedish tabernacle. There was
an audience of over 1000 people and
galaxy of speakers. Mayor Eustis acted
as the presiding officer. and, as the pre-
am6le to the discussion, delivered him.
self of short but eloquent plea for free
text books. There were three footing
stones. he said, in the life Of the indi-
vidual-homp. church and common
schools. Without these footing stones
no man could we'll rear himself
to a character of worth. The common
school should be tostered and the mayor
said one way to do it was to give the
people free text books. The state fur
msled teachers and paid them; the state
should also furnish books TO the chill
dren. No state suffers for the money it
eXpcnds for education. 1t was for the
interest OF the city, and, as herepre-
scented the city, he was in favor of free
| books.
A. Il. Ankeny, president of the board
Of education. explained why the state
should furnish free books, and gave
| several legal opinions tending to show
| the duty of the state i'll that regard. A
| public school could not be made thor
| ough nor efficient, when 1t could offer
but bare walls. seats and teachers. How
| could any educational institution
| bc made efficient without books? The
| people had awakened to the fact taht
the legislators had been Sittiug like
| stocks for thirty wears without doing
| their duty. Now the sentiment was
| for compelling them to furnish the nee
I'm IA
| city that adopted the free text book
system was Philadelphia seventy-tive
| years ago. A number of other cities
and several entire states are working
under the same system now. A law
should be passed compelling the various
districts to furnish books. The cost TO
the individual by the state pur-
chasing the books would be moth
ing In fact there would be
saving, for at present it is estimated
| that $4,000 Is Spent annually i'll the
state for books. while if the state pur-
chased them they wonld be secured at
first cost, or from 25 to 80 per cent
cheaper. The cost would then not be
over $4,000 year. The taxation upon
property should buy the books the same
as it pays the teachers and builds the
schools.
Er. AnkenYs In CLOSING,
adduced statistics which demonstrated
that the system. as operated in other
communities, was complete success.
Rev. SkogSberg. pastor of the Iaber-
nacle. delivered his address in the
| Swedish tongue. He stated that there
was heavy opposition 70 the measure,
and every possible hindrance to the
measure was being employed in the
n1t Ia rtrn
| ly from the Catholic church, he said,
whose advocates were aware that if free
books were given the people, there
would be a mighty rush from parochial
schools to the public schools. 1t was
for the benefit of tine laboring people to
| secure free text books. for, as rule, the
laboripg people had more children than
the rich. He hoped they would uplIft
their voices ami with their plaint pene-
trate the ears of the derelct Legislators.
| Superintendent of Public Schools ID.
| l.. KIehle gave voice to his sentiments.
! He was III favor of free text books. He
! deemed 1t would be for the interest of
education for the state to furnish the
| books, the same as it now supplies the
! building, the furniture and the teacher.
| The school system could not be perfect
| ed without the free text books. The
| legislature should enact law whereby
every district in the state should be
| allowed free books for the children, so
thev could be taught according to their
merits and needs.
Judge J. o. Pierce said there were
two reasons why the free text books
should be granted. First, they were
needed to round out and complete the
public school system; second, it was
against the fundamental principles of
| republican government for the people
to pay for benefits they were entitled to
under the spirit of the constitution.
| The legislature must be taught to know
that school books must be as free as
everything else, and that when child
brings his brains to the public school it
is the business Of the state to develop
it free of charge.
Hon. p. B. Winston stated that he had
endeavored and would endeavOr to Sc
cure the passage of free text book law.
He did not believe the school system
could be made perfect without it. AS a
! matter of Justice, the books should be
given to the people. AS matter of
economy to the taxpayer, the legiSlat-
ure should adopt the system for the
state. 1t would enhance the condition
of the poor people and increase the eff
cheney of the schools. He was of the
opinion that before sixty days had gone
by there would be a law on the statute
books authorizing every school board in
the state to purchase books for the use
of the children.
Rev. G. L. Morrill, urged four reasons
for the passage of free text book bill 4:
! Economy. consideration, philanthropy
and patriotism. In the name of these
four reasons be conjured the legislature
to give the children free books. During
his speech the reverend gentleman re-
ferred to Mayor Eustis bachlorhood.
and, at the conclusion, when the latter
replied to it, Golightly jumped to his
feet and remarked:
"If you'll get the girl and license Pll
marry you for nothing"
by that time Well have free text
books" put in Judge Pierce.
These sallies caused the mayor to
blush and the.audience to applaud up
roariously. Rev. Wayland Hoyt said
the lights of the schools were the text
books, and everybody should see to it
that the buildings were kept luminous
with them. The schools were not fin
ished without them. Rev. NJ. Falk
Gjertsen, secretary of the school board,
followed with remarks that showed
plainly what his sentiments were.
He urged immediate legislation in
behalf of free books. They were
needed to aid the development of civil
ization. They would put on level the
children of the poor and the children OF
the rich. He SAID the church and state
should be divided. The church went
beyond its province when it attempted
to teach other than the Gospel. 1t was
the states duty to give every citizen a
secular education. This education
should be given free of cost
A set Of resolutions were presented
and adopted by rising vote. The res
olutions asked the legislature to pass ar
act giving the people free text books.