Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-03
TIE BuLLDOzlSG BOOK TRUST.


One of the worst foes the people of
Oregon have to fight Is the school book
trust. At IFS dictatiou a law was passed
in the last legislature which makes a
change necessary 10 the text books
now in use, contract now pending,
which If signed up by our state Off
cials will fasten the trust text books
upon our state for six years at present
trust prices. The book trust on its Own
statement sells $4,000 worth year to
the people of Oregon. Hence the exc
cution of this contract means trust
profits on a business amounting to at
least $4,000 without competition.
State officials who are about to retire
from the service of the people should
hesitate to sign up such contract, that
will be binding upon the people to
whom they will no longer be RESPONSE
bic, but who will be at the tender mer-
eies of bulldozing book trust.
The book trust has published pam
phlet and sent to all Oregon newspap-
ers and public men defending itself
and claiming to be identified with Ore
gon interests. OF course, this is false.
The trust,is a New jersey monopoly to
establish arbitrary prices for school
books and collect large profits on a non
competitive basis 1t claims to have a
branch house at Portland and that "at
great expense it has brought its busi-
meas aud capital to this state" This is
probably barefaced lie. 1t is doubtful
If the American Book Co. is even
taxpayer in Oregon.
The circular says: "The American
Book company has never at any time
raised so much as finger to influence
Oregon legislation in its behalf" This
is very bold statement when in the
same mail and addressed In the same
hand that mails us a copy of the
pamphlet there comes letter to the
publishers of the JOURNAL, which is in
our possession and which can be pre-
duced in evidence when needed, that
concludes with the following para
graph:
"YOur well known business qualities,
"and methods of advancing your own
personal interests, as well as those of
"your paper, are entirely consistent
with our views of business trans.
factions, and we can assure you that
"you will lose nothing by your honest
land straightforward work in our be-
"half. When In our city, please call
"and secure the compensation agreed |
"upon." The letter ls marked "per.
sonaP and 10 quite long. The JOURNAL
denounces the insinuation contained In
the above as lie and challenges the
American Book company Of Portland
to produce word or line to base its
calumniatlon that we have ever worked
In its behalf or held any intercourse
with 1t or its agents, directly or IN.
directly.
What becomes OF its pretension that
II has never sought 10 influence legis-
lation In its behalf ln Oregon, when its
agents will address such letter. con
taining such insinuatlons, and such
covert intimatlons OF attempted eorrup.
ton on their part2 Who doubts but
that II has been successful In the pact
and may be agair2 The people Of this
state and the law makers Of this state
are not done with the text book trust.
The only safety lies IN supplying the
lonR'suiiering public with a cheap
edition Of text books az cost, printed
by the state, just as California has done
successfully since years,