The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-04
BATTLE OF THE READERS.
Superintendent Davidson flakes a
Heated Protest
BEFORE TIE CITY SCHOOL BOARD
Against Charges Made Against Him
ina Regard 10 the Readers He Has
Recommended.

Against Charges Made Against TAAHHxA
zn Regard TO the Readers He Has
Recommended.
At the full meeting of the board of ed
ucation last night it was decided that the
Harper's Fifth readers should be thrown
out of use in the Topeka schools. and
that pupils who had bought the old Hill
readers and been compelled in former
year to exchange them for Harper's
should return their Harper's in exchange
for their old Hills aud receive of Mr..
Crane Excelsors for their Hilps.
All this was done after the members of
the board had been allowed from two to
six amendments each to the original
resolution and MIR. Wilder had summed
them all up in a substitute resolution.
MIR. Priddy, who rather enjoys the
annual fuss, objected to the five year
clause.
"If the readers are not up to standard"
he said, 1--WE should want an opportunity
to drop them."
ait is in the contract that they must
be-" said Mr.. Wilder, ''and for my part
should not vote for the contract If it
were in such shape that it should be
abrog ated in year and the children be
compelled to buy new books again"
It was too late to object, SO the matter
was dropped.
City Superintendent Davidson arose to
a question of personal privilege and said
a good many warm things about the story
that he endorsed the Crane readers He
wasn't doing any such thing, he said, and
wanted it understood. In speaking OF
the Crane readers lately adopted he said:
Il believe il is Impossible TO find
among any other of the series of school
readers published in this country such
another collection of glaring and mex
cusable errors, such another collection OF
bad English, such another collection of
garbled masterpieces. such another illus
tration of inferior editing as this series
of books represents.
'1n former resolution by this board it
was implied that the opinion of your SUI
perintendent. principals and teach
ers, in whose ability and integrity the
resolution expressed confidence, would
be consulted when any important change
in text books was contemplated. At no
time have | been asked by this board to
prepare myself by examination Of these
books to give an opinion of than.
"In all this controversy l have been
| very careful not to say anything which
could in any way be construed a pre-
| JUDGE against Mr.. Cranes interests.
1.-The insinuation has been brought to
my ears. and indeed was made by Mr..
| Crane himself, at the slime of the SO
vote, thaLy superintendent was preju u
diced and was acting III the interests of
the American Book Co.; indeed, one in
situation even went SO far as 10 imply
that he was acting as the agent of the
American Book Co / have treated all
these accusations with silent contem pit
they are the claptrap of inferior and de-
mented book agents. No respectful
| book agent or respectable publisher
would ever resort to such book work.
ga day or two since, received a letter
| from a superintendent stating that at
| leust one of Mr. Cranes agents was max
! ing damaging statements rejecting upon
| the honor and integrity of your superin-
! tendent, and that Crane is power in
| politics and intends to have Davidson
ousted in the spring.
| In reply all I have to say is that have
| never asked this board for position at
any time Whenever you desire to dis
! pense with my services you know when
to mako the suggestion and also how
readily that suggestion will be fol-
! lowed But if it is understood by any
member of this board or by any citizen
of this city that I expect to hold this po-
sition and not express myself without
fear or favor on any proposition which
touches the interests of the public
/ schools, / wish to have it distinctly un-
derstood that he is mistaken.
1.-THE superintendent who informed me
| of tbs above statement of Mr.. Cranes
agent also makes the statement that the
same agent told him that the American
| Book company had paid me 500 to
| criticise the Crane readers. That Crane
! had a stenographer present who made
notes of all my criticisms and that they
| profited by them in new edition.
''My friend rubs it in then by adding
! in his letter, i hope the edition I saw
| had not been criticised by YOU
THAT l have acted as agent for the
| American Book company or for any
school book company or ever been paid
| one dollar or one penny by any school
book company is willfully and mali
ciously false no matter who make the
sta ement or who cowardly iusinuates
il. The only time I have ever criticised
| Cranes readers was done in executive
meeting of the text book committee in
the rear of Mr.. Wilson's drug store. If
any stenographer of Mr.. Cranes was
present he was hid behind the drug
box es."
MIR. Crane himself was present at the
meeting and leaned composedly against
the door post during this speech with
out a change of countenance. He after
wards said to JOURNAL reporter,
II have said and had cause to say
during the school book fight that Mr.
! Davidson was acting in the interest of
| the American Book company but the
statement that I have said or insinuated
that he received money for it from them
| is absurd"
At this stage of the proceedings George
| W. Crane asked to submit the following
statement. which was read:
TOPEKA, Feb. 3. 1895.
To the Board of Education, City of Topeka:
The great confusion and dissatisfaction
among the pupils of the public schools
today, resulting from the inability to ex-
change readers by those who expected