The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-31
''ON,STANLEY,
The State superintendent
Seems to Have Caught On
With an AIacrity That Is at
Least Gratifying.
A FEW MILD REMARKS
In the estate Journal Yester-
day About Book Trusts
Seem to Have Stepped on Mr..
Stanley's Toes.

State Superintendent of Public In
struetion f. Stanley feels aggrieved
because the State Journal stated yes
terday that the Representatives of the
school book trust We're on the ground
at the state teachers meeting ana en-
ploying the usual influences to main
tain the present expensive mode of
furnishing school books to parents
or one but little better
The Journal said that it was charged
(and it Was) that they had found fruit
ful ground in certain quarters for their
efforts. The great mass of instructors
cannot be Influenced by agents OF book
trusts, but there is one here and there
who can be and who undoubtedly is.
State Superintendent Stanley was the
very first to take Offense at the State
journals remarks Why2 Can you
answer So this morning, swelling
with wrath. he arose and introduced
the following resolution.
Whereas, The following paragraph
appeared in last evenings State Jour
nal;
The opponents of the district owner
ship idea charge that those VINO are
working 50 vigorously for district own
ership are 'miniOas of the book trusts.
The opposition assert that many OF the
leading teachers of the state. while Os
tensibly Independent, really favor the
book companies and secretly receive
commissions for sales which are effect
ed through their inStrumentality." and
Whereas. We believe the leading
teachers of the state" to be innocent of
such slanderous imputatiOns; be it
Resolved. That We disapprOVe of all
such statements from whatever source
they may come which reflect upon the
honor and integrity of the members of
this association.
In presenting the resolution Mr. stan
ley said: such statements as these
are an unWarranted attack upon the
teachers of the state and the members
of this association, and it is our duty
to resent it Therefore, call upon the
members of this association at this
time to adopt the resolution"
Geo. sW. Winans of Hutchinson rushed
to the platform and announced that he
desired to indorse Mr.. Stanley's idea.
He, too, called upon the teachers to
adopt the resolution.
A vote was taken, but not one-third
of the people in Representative hall
voted upon it. Perhaps fifty persons
voted aye" The remainder did not
vote
In his forthcoming biennial report
Mr.. Stanley VIII recommend the pass
age by the legislature of a bill providing
for the creation of a text book commits
sion which shall select the books.
It is impossible to state the exact in
huences at work in MI. Stanley's mind
that induced him to father the above
resolution. But it may be that the
charge that the book trust was at work
among the educators may have touch
ed a tender spot The article was in
tended to reach tender spots.
The Journal is interested in seeing
that parents shall have cheaper school
books; and whatever practical way can
be found to bring this about The Jour
nal is in favor Of no matter how much |
opposition may be made to it by such
an important parsonage as the state
superintendent of public instruction.
Indignant resolutions introduced by |
red faced gentlemen with a great show |
of injured feelings are not going to |
deter this paper from working for a !
lighter burden on parents who have /
children to educate.
We owe the public duty that we are /
not only willing. but glad to /
perform.