Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-01
MIR. MASSEY AND THE SCHOOL
ROCKS.

Very grave charges have been prepared
against State Supt. of Schools, John +.
Massey, but up to date he has not thought
best to snlghten the people. or prove that
any of the charges brought against him
are false.
1t is positively asserted that Missouri
gets her books for nearly a third less
than Yirgina-that South Carolina,
Louisiana. New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
and almost every state has advantages
over Virginia. II this IS not true, why
does Nr. Massey remain quisti
In Mt. Jackson there are not less than
twenty Holmes histories, fer which the
owners thereof paid twenty dollars cash.
On the back Of lunber of these his
tories we fnd these words stamped,
| JVed Tirginia Contract Retail Price EiOhty
| Cents. These histories were sent here by
mistake. II .hey had been sent to West
Virginia they would have been wsrth
only SIG, but we are compelled to paw
1 $40. Thus in L. S. history alone, our
little town is forced to pay 81 moro for
the same number Of books, than eur West
Virginia brothers. We should be very
glad to know why the same history is
worth 90 per cent more to Virginia than
to West Virginia. Allowing an average
Of six histories TO each of the 127 schools
II our county, gives us 762 histories. This
number multiplied by 20 csnts, the price
that we pay more than West Virginia,
would give rs the snug little sum Of
s152. 40 in eur county. This sum multi
piled by the number OF cities and sOun
ties ia the state Wonld, perhaps, run the
amount to $50 900 or more, on this one
book. Remember that ne haYo figured
at 90 cents per copy. If this history
were placed in honest competition with
others, we might figure at 40 cents per
cspy. Who gets this extra amount Of
money, the Book Trusli
II we are taxed 20 per cent on one book
! for the benefit of the Trust, it IS safe to
infer that we pay at least that much en-
every one OF the 1l5 books on the list,
which means the unnecessary sxpendl-
ture of more than = million Of dollars to
the taxpayers of this state.
The teachers of Shenandoah County
arc expected to rlgldly enfsrce text book
regulations, as laid down by the State
Beard, yet it is said Mr.. Massey allows
the Portsmouth schOSls to use MaIwelrs
Grammar, book not on the State list.
Isn't Harvey's grammar good enough for
Portsmouth or too gOodi The Supt.
should explain.
1t has been charged repeatedly that the
State Board would allow no competition
among book publishers; that when the
present list of books were adopted, it |
held secret session. "withOut bids. with |
out competition, and without the knOwl- |
edge Of any publishers, save the Trust
and the University Publish ng Co. and is
ally" II this is not true the Supt can,
AID should give the people positive proof
10 the contrary.
At the Institute Hr. Massey told tho
teachers, that he had been out of Office |
but two days 10 tWsnty-thrse ysars.
Surely goodness and mercy has followed
Linn all these years, and he owes the lsng
suffering people of Virginia full expls
nation ut the earliest possible moment,
especially so since they have given him a
seat at the first table for Aquarier Of .
century.
He also said, in effect, that the reason
Small was after him was that he Massey
bad demolishel Mr.. Small in political
discussion. The people are not much
interested just now in the political tiltS
OF Massey and Small, but this attention
Is centered on this Book Trust business.
The question is not whether Parson
Massey gave Parson Small black eye,
but do our Free School books cost us 80
per cent more than they ought Was
competition closed against all publishers
save the Trust and its allyi Does West
Virginia now, or did she ever, get
Holmes history for 80 cents, while we
pay 81 80 7 And il so why. Are POrts-
mouth schools allowed to use Msxwells
grammar Is it fact that South Carolina,
Louisiana and other states get the same
books fer less moaey than VirElnisi Is 1t
a fact that sll Of our most inportan t
school books are furnished by the Ameri-
can Book Trusti
The people waHt to know the truth,
and will patiently hear any thing Mr..
Massey has to say on this subject. but
Rnk.tQ hear it sson. hr. Massey is
libel suit, bat while he is
1 ~ shape the people are