davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-09
Be thou as cHaske as ice and as bu1o a.
snozO thou shalt not escape oal9ntsy"
ANSWER OF THE
AMERICAN BOOK co.
TO ITS DEFAMERS.
A STATEMENT OF FACTS BY THE
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
TO THE PEOPLE OF
OREGON.

A public attack upon the methods, mo-
tives, and business interests of the Amer
can Book Company, by small sub
committee of the Committee of One
Hundred" of Portland, Oregon, has re-
Gently been published in the "Oregon-
, ian," a newspaper of that city.
The report embodying this attack is
made up of mass of misinformation,
unsupported charges, baseless rumors,
and unjusti6able suspicious.
Upon this eT-ba,te showing, with no
solid basis of fact or proof whatever,
upon mere assertions and insinuations,
our character and our business are as
sailed. Under such circumstances it is
but just to ourselves, and to our many
friends and patrons in Oregon and on
the Pacific Coast, to make full and ex-
plicit answer to these slanderous mis-
presentations.
THE sUB-coMMIrrEE's CHARGES AGAINST
I. That our corporation was fraudu-
lently and deceitfully organized.
2. That we constitute a trust and
monopoly.
g. That this alleged trust and mo-
nopoly had existed, as such 'combina-
tion," for many years before the incor-
poration of our company.
q. That we have been guilty of brib-
cry, and that we Systematically pursue
our business through policy of bribery
and corruption.
S. That our elementary publications
are without merit.
6. That we palm off inferior books on
what the se1f-constituted censors style
"backwoods states"
7. That our profits in Oregon are
$4,000 year.
I s. That the effect of this alleged mo-
nopo1y is disastrous to the public
school system," and thereby "the public
are cheated of the right to independent
teachers, good schools, and good books"
Having in mind the full force of our
words, we most seriously and emphati-
cally declare that each and every one of
the above charges is absolutely false, and
that they are unsupported by any proof
or evidence whatever; and we hereby in
vite an examination of them in detail.
THESE CHARGES WHOLLY LIBELoUs.
Although advised by eminent counsel
that the charges made against our COM
pany are clearly hbelous, and would
form the basis of successful suits, both
criminal and civil, if they were made
against us as individuals. we shall not
hide behind our corporate organization
or wait for the customary slow motion of
the courts. We do not shrink from the
broader trial of this issue by that public
before whom we have been accused, as
we have complete confidence in its sense
of fairness and justice, and therefore
make this public answer.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-09
THE SOURCE OF THESE sLANDERoUs RE-


There is but one reasonable explanation
as to the source of these attacks. They
emanate from some competitor i'll busl-
ness who has the skill to make use of
venal or gullible persons to publish and
circulate bis own attacks and calunnles
for him, expecting in this way to build
himself up by defaning the character of
his competitors. These reports, which
are copied as news by the various country
Journals, illustrate the fine art of procur-
ing free advertising.
"H;DDEN MONOPOLY"
1t is charged that the American Book
Company was incorporated i'll New
Jersey, with a capital of $1,000, and that
under this modest organization was hid
den one of the greatest inonopolies ever
known in this country" 1t is true that
the American Book Company was legally
incorporated January 9, 1890, and with
the amount of capital named, But for
what reason was this state chosen and
this small amount of capital made use Of
and what were the subsequent steps of its
corporate development?
New Jersey was chosen because its
laws are more favorable to manufacture
ing interests like ours than the laws of
some other states, and because several of
our large stockholders, who became di-
rectors, reside there. Asis required and
customary, "a principal place of bust
ness was designated in that state. The
New Jersey laws, however, are so strict
that they require the money which rep
resents stock issued to be all actually paid
in; or, when the money is not so paid in,
that actual property at a cash valuation
shall be purchased as the basis for stock
issued. In this latter case the stock
certificates issued for property must
bear stamped on their face, 'I,sued for
property purchased" 1t was therefore
Oil simple grounds of convenience and
economy that a company was at first
formed with this small capital, with a
view of afterwards purchasing the re-
quired properties a1d issuing property
stock therefor, according to the statute
law or thdt state. 10 nave done Otner-
wise would have neces5itated the locking
up, on the first incorporation of the COM
pany, Of a very large sum Of money in
cash, to lie idle until ready to be turned
over for the several publishing plants
acquired, very clumsy and expensive
proceeding which no sensible man would
advise.
Within four months after the original
incorporation all the subsequent steps of
purchasing property and increasing the
capital of the company to five million
dollars, the actual cost of it's publishing
plants, were taken aud every one OF
these steps was official and public, and
made matter of record both at the capi-
toll of the state in Trenton, and at Jersey
Citv, in Hudson County, the coporate seat
of the company. Thus, if the whole record
were quoted and published, instead of
being garbled for purposes of deceiving,
by publishing only the preliminary stepof
Incorporation, we should be truthfully
and fairly represented. As to the amount
of our capital and the size and import
ance of our busiuess we have nothing to
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-09

the purchase of all school-book properties
made by this company, from whatever
source was upon a uniform basis of cash
valuation, and according to the estab-
1ished rules of valuing publishing rights,
plates and plants. The price paid fo1
the Harper schoo1-book interests was no
exception to this rule. No bonus or extra
inducement of any kind was offered or
given to anybody, much less was there
any undue influence or duress exercised,
forming any alleged 'dark chapter" as
basely insinuated in this so-cal1ed ere
port"
PUBLISHING COMPANY.
The statement in the "report'' that
''this combination had practically been
in existence for over ten years prior to its
legal incorporation' is wholly false.
There had been no community of inter
ests. no consolidation of business
nothing interfering with the. entire indie
pendence of each firm, nothing that had
the slightest effect upon prices of school
books, nothing that influenced or inter
fered with their publication and regular
sale in any particular. There had been a
''Publishers' Association" which at
tempted to restrain the evils and extrav-
agances of agency work for the introduc-
ton of school books, but nothing that
attempted any restriction of the regular
business as between publishers, or as be-
tween the several publishers and the pub
lie The traffic was absolutely open and
free, and it has never been otherwise.
Nearly every reputable publishing house
in the country was represented in this
Publishers Association or co-operated
with it directly or indirectly.
eWhy was the American Book Company
formed? The answer is the simplest thing
in the wor1d-for economy and efficiency
in conducting the school-book business
It was thought that the combined skill
of the most experienced and sagacious
publishers, the combined Judgment Of
the most accomplished editors, and ju-
dicious use of large capital in stimula-
ting the best authorship, would bring
the greatest measure of success; that the
bringing together of these forces would
tend to utilize the highest educational
thought and crystalline it into the best
textbooks. Besides all this, there were
the very obvious economies in consolida-
ting the agency operations for placing
the books, and the merchandising opera
tons of distributing them to consumers.
Ali these economies enable the Company
to furnish the best possible textbooks at
the lowest possible prices. The Ameri-
can Book Company, by at once increas-
ing its discount and inaugurating meth
DDS for regulating the retail prices of
middlemen, greatly cheapened the cost
of school books to the people; and by
establishing its own depots in different
sections of the country, enabled the pub
lie everywhere to readily obtain its pub
LEGATIONS at the reduced prices
HAS TRUST BEEN CREATED AND A
MONOPOLY ESTABLISHED?
A trust or monopoly, as defined by all
authorities and by the United States and
State statue laws, must possess these two
essentials, namely:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-09

sands of the sea-" and capital and presses
are everywhere available to print a
book. There are at the present time
in the United States, according to the
official trade organ, The Publishers
Weekly, more than hundred corpora
tious, firms, and houses issuing school
publications, and there are nearly ten
thousand different volumes in current
publication. 1t is matter of notoriety,
among all teachers and school officers,
publishing school textbooks has never
been more active than since the forma-
ton of the American Book Company, or
than exists at the present moment. Cont
petition is even strong enough to stimu-
late the widest and basest ISLANDERS
against large and successful house like
the American Book Company, wherever
and whenever an important adoption is
being considered, as is at present the
case in the state of Oregon; with the
evident purpose of shifting the issue
from the merits of the books to a discus
sion of personalities.
Stimulated by the charges of such ever
present and sometimes virulept coinpeti-
ton, there were brought about two legis-
lative inquiries as to the status of the
American Book Company, respectively i'll
the states of Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In these Investigations and hearings the
testimony of everybody was publicly in
vited-publishers booksellers, educators,
politicians, and public cranks. Each Of
the two reports, to their respective legis-
latures, resulting from these investiga-
tions, completely exonerated the Ameri-
can Book Company from being, in any
sense or form, trust Or monopoly, as
had been falsely alleged. AT tue Harris
burg hearing, all the leading publishers
of New York, Philadelphia, and other
cities were present, ainl, testi;yi;;s u19er
oath, each one declared that he knew of
no case where any competitor had been
"crushed out" or oppressed by this COM
pany. And we hereby offer this cha1-
1enge to any respectable school-book
publisher in this whole country today to
come forward and declare under oath
that he has suffered any oppression in.
his business from the American Book
Company, or that it is within his expert
ence or personal knowledge that this
company has ever, at any time, at
tempted in the least degree 'to crush
competing houses and destroy ali legiti-
mate competition" as charged i'll this
"report."
WHAT OF THE POLICY OF BRIBERY AID
CORRUPTION?
In this report the old stories are re-
hearsed that the agents of this company,
in one instance in the state of Washing
ton and in another in the state of West
Virginia, attempted bribery. Where is
the proof that these agents attempted it
in either case? Observe, it is not charged
hat bribery was committed, but "at-
:empted." The Washington case, after
1ragging along in the courts for some
.i:ne, with three of the accused agents
and detectives in their jurisdiction and
under bail, was decided in favor of the
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16
ovERrlnow or rnE rwo-rHInDs
RULE.

The state convention took an I'm
portant sten yesterday IN the imc OF
reform OF party procedure IN the adop-
lion Of majority rule In making nom
nations While personal eonsldera-
tons may have entered somewhat into
the vote, IN the main II reflected tho
deliberate conclusion OF the people, en-
phesiaed by recent events in Texas pol
tiles.
The two-thirds rule long ago oatlived
tic usefulness and survived only be-
eause from time to time Il served the
purpose Of trickstele end inanipula.
tors 81 conventions. Common sense and
good conscience suggest that rule
which is good enough in an election M
the polls ought to be good enough in
political conventions Minotluea which
have not the grace 10 aocept uneom.
plaininsly the VIII of mHjoritles ought
N form a party Of their owa for he
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

The Startling Confession Made ny -
Chicago Anurcht.t.

Chicago. ILL.,, NuH ib.-Carl Iicrltz
ana Wife wore held over 20 the Grand
iurv under bonds of $4,000 and $4,000 re.
anoeuvciy hy Justice Caldwell OF Jhg
linElewoud police court today ON
chatecs OF arson. Hcrlts pleaded
guilty 70 the charge. but the wife de.
Tie couple have been living NJ wash
lhrton Heights, and 10 was declared by
Fire lnSnector Conway IN court this
morning that they are at the head ~
u gang OF Rnarchlsts who have boon
guilty OF committing anarchlstc of
fenscs. not only for sentiment, but fot.
revenue TO be derived therefrom In
giving his testimony against Herlitz
and Wife, Inspector Conway told re-
marknblc story. lie stated that he
had indlsputable evidence 20 show that
an organized gang Of students OF Herr
Mosts theories and methods had been
opcrating In Chi sagc and vicinity. They
had been carrying out their theories
by burning down or blowing up housed
In order 20 recure the Insurance After
the proceedings in court HerlitS made
full confession lie said he came
here from New Orlenns i've years ago
and met man named Scharf who in
struotod him in anarchistic doctrines.
Later Schprf suggested the most Ia-
uonal way TO secure reprisals for cap
ltaliatic robbery was 10 got after the
Insurance companies, Bombs nd ether
anrrchlstlo work commenced SchArf
did the preliminary work, but left the
actual trlng 10 lIcrllta aud was TO re-
ceiNc per cent ~ the money recovered
from the insurance companies. Schdrf
had many other pupils and derlv-b y
good revenue on the per cent lt Is
claimed that the compensation OF Her
lltG Tor zach nr7 for which he was
responsible was 500.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16


New York. Aug. 1s.-An lnsider In
Chicago gas says that there II every
evidence now that the city authorities
are DISPOSED to let the gas companies
alone for the present. II Is now going
to be n struggle OF the competitors to
make Roadway The present gas com
panieg OF course have the inning
In the municipal buildings and It Is a
question whether others can afford the
expense Of getting there with cut prices
before them. The buying by London
yesterday was estimated by one of the
foreign houses as about 10000 shares
OF various stocks with St Paul and
Louisville and Nashville predominant
ing. London bOugnt Atchison bonds
ana stocks. There has been quite a
respectable short interest In Atohlaon
bonds abroad dating from the time
that Mr.. Llttle's report was presented
to the committee. Bache was n seller
OF D. c. L. all day Gocdbart bought
heavily around 20 after the first rush
Of orders from both sides The stock
acted consistently. being well support
ed.
Bankers report that the company Is
making extensive preparations to re-
move lts stocks The delay In rcmoy-
ing splrlta from bond is caused by tho
re-gauglug II Is understood that the
company has had gaugers at work for
several weeks ana that the only step
necessary TO complete Withdrawals Is
TO pay tho tax.
ST. PAU sold Yesterday 6 l-2 above
the lowest az tho opening OF this
month This In Vei~ of the crop dam
age VIVA considered n good advance
and there was cautious short selling
above G3. II was argued that ~. Paul
was high enough on II 4 per cent basis
IN view NJ the earnings to be expected
during the coming year
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy was
sold on n scale. There was some Bos-
ton selling and good deal Of dlsoua-
sion over dividend. A rumor lat the
regular rate would be declared found
some believers, but the prevailing view
that Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
would 20 up 10 Il 4 per cont basis this
month This, It was thought by bears
would arop the price back 40 much aG
IL has Ealned la the last two weeks.
The fIlluwng changes are noted
Lake Shore 1-N up. St Paul IA.
louisville and Nashville a. Rrle az
down, Union Pacific 49, htohlaon Ia
mgher Northern Pacific preferred m-
changed, Heading Ia hlrh
a washington special says; Socre-
tary Carlisle Is preparing Il letter 10
tho Democrats or tho anHnoe commit
tee " thr senate Informing them that
free sugar would mean a loss OF {AS,
100000 IN revenue TO the trehsury, and
would force another bond issue.
There viii he no bill paased 10 chang"
% single shedulc in the senate tariff
this session. Gresham and Carbide
are urging the precedent to sign the
tnrin bill at once 80 as to prevent
further Withdrawals Of whlaky from
bond nj the present low rate and 10
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

Little Rock, Ark, Aug, l6,-wnIiam
Avery ana John Hancock, two farmers.
became involved IN a quarrel az Big
Flat, Marion county. several days ago,
Yesterday Avery waa passing Han
cocks house with ride on his should
er when the quarrel was renewed. Han.
cock pointed his weapon al Avery
when the latters wife threw her arms
about her husbands neck and took
him into the house. Hancock then
tired through the door and killed Avery.
Arthur Jackson, Il railroad man. went
over into smoky row. suburb OF
Fort smith last night ana became in
volNod IN a row with tough. named
Johnson Johnson used long knife
and siashod Jackson TO death.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

extension. 3; Atlantic and Pacific SIS,
2 IL; Central Pacinc G's OF ~ and
Hooking Valley 6's. 2; is, /; l.. & N.
4s and Richmond and Danviiie C's.
] 80; st. Paul II & ID. rs and l.. n. A.
consols, | IA; Fort Worth and Denver
City 6'a, Illinols Central 1-2 Milwau-
kce, Lake Shore and Western eHssn-
sion Us, Peoria, Decatur and Evansville
rs, Wisconsin incomes and Union Pa
ellie Is OF %, l per cent
Declines: 81. Paul and Pacific b'a.
1-2 per cent; Toledo and Ann Arbor
rs, ] IL; Atchlson rs, 1 3-s; Chicago
and Northern Pncinc f's, trust receipts.
and Union Pacific sinking fund SIS,
per cent
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

The line did not prove a paying ven
lure. and In q few months Mcdonald.
Shea & Co.. constructors, SECURED
judgment against Il for $4,000 sHd a
lion for that amount on the property.
The Tellleo company then entered INTO
a contract With the Holland Trust COM
pany 10 conduct negotiations for the
purchase Of the line. For the purpose
$50 97i.48 was Deposited with the trust
company. and $40 900 paid IN advance
for the company's services. The trust
company sol the lien transferred irom
Mcdonald, Shea & Co. to It's vice-pres-
ident Vermeule, who as assigned TO-
coived 100000 which the Tellico COM
pany had ordeted pa d as part salts
faction OF he contradictory claims.
when the road wns sold at auction
Harry Montgomery bought It for S25,-
600.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

II neEnn Yesterday ana wm Con-
Time Week

sequoyah, l, r.. Aug i5.-rhe Chero-
kee payment began at this place NJ 10
O'CLOCK this morning The amount To
De PAID out here Is about S70OO03 and
VIII continue all the week. Last yenr
TINS place consisted OF q oourt.house IN
ithe woods eight miles from Muldrov
Neday IL Is thriving city Of gOjO non
ulauon with nearly every branch az
the mercantile business roprpsl ntad
The town IL laid on In blocks w m
streets eighty feet wide and evervboiv
Goes business and lives In tents Iowa
Senule ana Turk urc represented i1
Tue mercantile business while tho negro
wash woman has the laundry fold tn
sne exclusion OF John Chinumans r..
Heshment stands and eating housed nra
numerous and the city boasts OF nearly
an the metropolitan attractions. inclni-
mig dance halls, gamblipg houses thea.
ues' barber shops. news stands etc.
anu surpassos the other payments In
hNNinE two blacksmith shops and n
pnlh house. Vice and immorRlitS. nre
uhlhecked -Four large gambling
houses are doing a big business whilc
NE camp swarms with the very lowest
viasees OF fallen women. No dlst,rb.
anee OF any kind has occurred ana
very little drunkenness IS seen 90 he
ouloers are watching closely for whisky
peddlers "N's"s
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

New York AUX l5,-rhe Evening
Posts London cubl0grHm says; The
took markets were luicter today and
experienced healthy reaction after
the recent sharp rlhe. Americans open
ed ilrm and then gave way on ronlizo-
lions. closing In the hour at the lowost
point. After un hour there was renew
cd activity and an advance, Luuisvllle
and Nashville leading. The tone 10
sull hullinh, south Americans continue
very atronE. China IL buying silver
largely The present price applies four
weeks ahead. The India council sold
IA lalhs today at a fraction over l3d.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16

Temple, Tea. Aug 15.-The state
grange meeting closed here tonight
with a memorial service and the con.
fering of the sixth degree The mex,
place OF meeting will be Itinaen, Bell
county, on the second Tuesday In
August, 1896 The executive com
mittee composed Of W. II, Harris OF
McGregor, a, j. sharpe Of Negbett. b.
J, keHdtlck OF Waco and John H. Long.
worthy master We're empowered 10
appoint speakers for series Of lee.
lures bearing on matters pertaining Ia
the grange, who viii be placed in the
Held nj the earliestt opportunity.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16
LADY HENRY somnnsnr.
she Denouuces the Living Pictures"
They Are DisgrHce.

IhcF Are a Disgruce.
New York, Aug. 15.-Among those
VINO arrived by the american line
steamship PariA was Lady Henry So
merset. With her We're her son, II. ).
Somerset who VIII go to Harvard a.
H. Pollen, secretary, and maid.
Lady somersot'B party spent a few
hours al the Brunswick. and then
started FOR the Catskills. The English
reformer was still Indignant at the
exhibition Of living pictures in London
music halls, 81 have seen them They
are Disgrace to civilization" she
said. land degrading to those who
take part in them and TO the public
who view them. l am told that the
pictures In New York are just as bad,
but Ill let Americans manage them"
Lady Somerse> Adeclared that she
would agitaS The matter until the
London authorities interfered.
On the temperance question she grew
enthusiastic "The temperance cause"
she said, us making great progress
In London and It is getting to be
an issue In political campaigns Prom
inent EngllHhmou are beginning TO adj
vocate IT,"
Lady Somerset intends to remain for
two months In the Catskills and then
make brief trip to England. She
Will spend the winter m Boston, and
her son Will attend lectures at Har-
ward She may lecture here in the
winter She said she was worn out
by her lccturlng IN England, although
she looked extremely well yesterday.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-16
LosT-A R,ILRoAp.
hiE salt in New York ny Teiiico
Misunderstanding Company.

~, CHATTANOOGA, Team. Aug. Is.
SharEes OF fraud ana conspiracy have
nesn brought IN The uaited States dis-
tlliei OK New York, against John %
Nermeulc, former yico- president ~ The
tpuand Trust company; Robert ri
iSeofeNelt George NJ Van Hoescn and
M.e5len Van Nurdqn stockholiers. by
we Aehieo Misunderstanding company Of
hied N The United States circuit court
u rs ollseed that the defendants fraud
Nlehly assumed coatrol Of the Nash
Nille aud r1lliro railroad. which they
the plaintiffs.
The Tellico company owns 80 900
acres OF land IN Tennessee. which IL
rich In timheT --',r'fural products
and mincral G4. - laracticaliv var
ueless without & railroad transporta-
ton 70 market. In 1885, the Teliico
f7l Nashville railroad was Construct
. terminus on the property.