The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-13


not consult with associates on the
board about the matter. They left it
to him and he thought that it was but
Just to give the dealers time TO
clean up. After he thought that they
had been allowed q sufficient time TO
sell out their stock on hand he issued
circular No. GG. informing them that
the Spencerian copy books were the
ones adopted, and that in the future
they must sell no othera. He did not
confer with his associates about issuing
this last circular.
THE CANADA TRIP.
Mr.. Massey said MIR. Womack was in
Charlottesville, stopping with his uncle,
Mr., Andrew Parrish, ut the time he
was invited to attend the convention in
Toronto. Cau., aud while speaking OF
the matter to him he remarked that he
tWomackl wanted to attend the con
SeutIon aud would accompany us tmy
vile and myself. We fixed the date,
and together We took the train to New
York. He did not remember what
hotel he stopped ut in TINT city.
Capt. Wise--Nne st. Deuis
Mr.. Massey thanked AIR. Wise for
prompting him and said he was glad
he WAS SO we'll Informed.
.hi. -uuescJ Salu tuul at tue Motel
Mr.. Nomack introduced Mrs. Massey
and himself to MIR. r. l.. Edwards aud
his wife, and they ali travelled together
from New York to Torouto. He said
ha thought MIR. Womnck came back
with blm us far as Niagara Falls. Mrs.
Massey aud himself went TO Massachu
sets, where he had to LOOK nfter some
property.
lie said Mr.. Womsck was very pleas.
ant anu agreeable on the trip. 1t will
be remembered that il was charged
that MIR. Womaek paid MIR. and
Mrs. Masseys expenses to Canada.
On this point Mr. Massey snid II will
say no man paid one cent Of tho ex.
pense of myself aud wife on that trip
but myself"
He said he would not have been
offended If his OLD and warm friend
tmeaning Captain Wise) had offered to
take his aatchel. Captain Wise
smiled, bnt made no reply.
TIE BOARD MEETING.
1t WAS charged that the attorneys OF
ljinn X Go. were not allowed to appear
before the meeting of the Board. Mr.,
Msssey said Oh this point:
No oral arguments were heard by
the Board ut the meeting in 1890, 1t
was merely an informal meeting. No
two members of the Board could agree
Us to which arithmetic should be adopt.
ed Attorney General Scott favorina
Fenahie's aud | preferring Whites,
We therefore concluded to leave 1t to
the teachers. L read letters from
teachers preferring Whites, and that
book was adopted.
MIR. Massey said his circular stating
that no oral statements as to the claims
of books would he allowed, was made
necessary owing the clamoring aud
persistence of the book agents. they
becoming a bore and their claims a
persecution, as they took up so much
Of the time OF the members OF the
board. They reminded witness of bows
at mill. each waiting for his turn TO
get his corn ground. He knew of no
greater persecution than to be forced
10 listen to the relative merits OF the
books OF these many book agents ar.
gned by them orally.
lie said he did not run the Board as
charged EI Gov. Mckinney, Altor
ney-General Scott and Charles f..
O'herrail are not men TO set with their
hngers IN their mouths and let any
body run them. The man who thinks
so is mistaken. He had never known
two men more careful and con.
scienteous as to their duties than these
men. He said 10 oral argument was
allowed by book agents before or Mt
the meeting Of 1874. This fact was
known before the meeting was
held. lie said he gave oil
He gnve all who called to see him 70
understand that when tho Board met
they would decide as to what books
should be adopted according to their
opinion OF which we're the best books
from the information furnished. There
was no discrimination against any
publisher. Specimen copies of great
many books were sent to him. At the
first Board meeting during my term OF
oi!ice III 1880 he recommended Web.
sters S Dictionary III preference to
Worcesters. lie again advocated it
IN the meeting of 1894. Ho preferred
Webster's because the dlacriticnl marks
used III Wehster's were the same ms
the diacritlcal marks used III Nc
Gniicy's reader, which latter book
had been adopted ard WAS IN
use III the schools, and the con
Tistency of the two aided tho children
III their studies. Gov. O'Ferrall voted
with me 10 keep Webstcr's books on
tue Ist. He did not think the entire
amount expended for the purchase OF
school books III Virginia would reach
10000 IN any one year. The average