Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-29
Scheme TO Force Text Book
Changes FOiled.
The OREGON MACHINE ROASTED.
1t and the American Book Trust
Are One.

All matters relating tO schools and
school business in Oregon are "run"
by two concerns acting together--the
official school machine aud the Ameri.
can Book company. OF the state school
machine, the Portland school machine
IS conspicuous part. But the Ameri'
can Book Company is boss over all,
aud teachers cannot tie chosen for the
Portland schools without It's approval
and consent. They whose property
supports the schools and whose chill
,lren are educated in them have no
voice in their direction against h. L..
lsiwards.e eOfegonian Editorial,
Mr.. Edwards is agent OF the Ameri'
can Book Trust
THE TRUsv KNOCKED OUT.
The disgrsceful sight at Portland of
az our county uperintendcnts, college
presidents and other school officers,
engaging in a wrangle with all the
agents of the publishing houses, ought
to convince anyone of the iniquity Of
the Doodle school book law. 1t was
drafted to draw the barrel of the pub.
fishers aud the barrels of the million
aire book trust into requisition and
seems to be doing its work. On votes
of the county superintendents at Port
land TIE adoption of changes in text
books seems defeated. The agents of
the great publishing houses are striving
for adoption of their books for the six.
year contract to be fastened upon Ore
gon. They are fighting among each
other for the Doodle like dogs for bone.
The agent of large Chicago house has
this in the Oregonian of December 2S:
"Rand, McNally & Co. bring no
scandal to state; morris it within the
scope of their business methods to de-
yelop and profit by the inherent cor
ruption which may exist in any state.
| In any disgraceful school. book scandal,
such as has blackened the name of
Washington, Virginia and other states,
and now threatens Oregon, the name Of
Rand, McNally d Co. will not appear.
"When In the coming session of the
state legislature the coyers shall be
lifted from the corruption which Is now
seething in Oregon, none Of the shame
which will smear the record Of the buy
ers and sellers of votes In this school
book contest will reach the skirts Of
Rand, McNally & Co. That firm will
have tried upon Oregon the experiment
Of proposing genuine, honest deal
beneficial to the people In the interest
of educational advancement, economy,
honesty, and decency. 1t will have
retired from the contest humiliated
aud disgusted with the experience.
"Much OF the obloquy which Is
heaped upon the American Book COM
pany should fall upon other parties. III
that firm thrives by bestOwing Doodle,
II Is because Others thrive by receiving
IL. Doodle business like reputable
lines Of trade, Is subject 10 the law Of
supply aud demand, II requires two
willing parties 10 make corrupt lar'
gain, just at IL does one that Is decent,
II IL infinitely mere desplcable for
school officer 10 sell hls vote than for a
publishing firm 10 buy II, The black
cloud of disgrace now settling upon
Oregon is due more 10 the moral lurd |
tude Of trusted school Officers than %
the unprncipled wlles of any book
hrm, When, Ia the near future, proper
authority shall set things right in the
school hook Affairs Of the state, due
proportion ~ the indignation of honest
men will fall upon those reereanis who
come 10 state convention 20 pfale Ia
yapld plaiitudes VI tho honor and dig
niiy and moral responsibility which
attach 20 lhe teachers oalllns while
they jlpgle their lbirlg pieces ~ silver,
the plioe ~ lheir lbfamy, IA lheIT
p0gkeia
nli Viii be- fully understood that lhe
ff0lby appearance NJ public dlsap'
proYal ~ such Offers sas " lhs spliaos
only aud was worked up by hiled
elpquea ani subsidized neNspap1p
merply 40 prelfSt ipg such action ~
could he reasonably accounted fpF 0p
pp other byp0lbesis thsp lhai " im'
ploppg lphueness lhe teachers Hna
soh00l uilinsls Yh0 Ylsil Portland and
sll ~ Hufais ai hpluallRnilY appointed
iahlfs M lhN billk ilusl, Nui Nhp Fnlf
~ lflpfluair ihs Hllp M lhe liniaplrf
M lhHl npinpua upun TOO lnINals uf
ufeson egbsflsl slll bfag lhell phsle ~
dlsgIaNf