Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-08

The little paragraph OF forty-sN words
quoted above has created no end OF trouble
!; has brought on an estrangcment between
members OF the state textbook commission
has created Hl feeling between the state
suDerinteudent Of schools ana prominent
textbook publisher, and may b. the 'du'
Of the rejection Of 5000 copies OF one OF the
textbooks being printed now under con-
tract with the state commission. Lines az
closely drawn. and the only way that these
bccks can be put into the schools Is for one
side or the other to back down. At present
re!ther shows a disposition TO do So
There IS an interesting story connected
with the affair. Some time ago the stdte
textbook commission adopted Kuhn's 'Civil
Gcyernmen: and Constitution Tor the
schools Of Kansas. in accordance with lhe
pfoyisions OF the new textbook law. w ID.
Kuhn. one Of the authors, ~ president OF
the Campbell university at Holton. Inc
hook adopted IS a revision OF their old book,
and after its adoption the textbook Do3rd
entered into contract with crane * o.
NJ Topeka. 10 publish the book. State su-
perintendent Stryker. chairman Of the text
book board, claims that he was appointed
ss a committee by the commission to re-
y-isvr the book and eliminate or change any
OF iectionable matter in II, the object belhg
10 get I'D a work that was absolutely nom
partisan. The copy was sent 10 the printer
and. after it had been set up. PROOF was
sent 10 the superintendent for CORRECTION
and revision. In serutinizing the proof Su-
perintendent Stryker found on page lV9 TINS
paragraph:
..Treas,iry notes. commonly called green
hacks are a promise Of the government 10
uav. From 1861 to 1875 they were not re-
seemabIe. and for that reason they hoated
below par. After 1s7S the promise OF the
government TO take them for all Dues
brought them up to par
striker cut this paragraph out. He
claimed that the paragraph contained a
disputed question, and that IL should not
be inserted in textbook as fact lie
law where Il would create trouble among
he patrons of the schools in the state. ~
vas contrary to. Populist teachings and
doctrine. II Popuiist doctrine could not be
Ised. then this goldhug doctrine would
ave TO stay out. He called Professor
Suhn's attention TO the matter, ana the
Tofessor agreed TO cut il out entirely. The
,roof was sent 10 the printer with this
paragraph cut out, and some minor
hanRes made in other portions OF the
sook But the publisher did not cut II
mt. as Striker ordered. Stryker claims
hat Crane & Co. threw the corrected proof
ato the waste basket and ran the book
n Just as the matter was originally set.
tbout 600 Of the books are now almost
HOrnnlefHQ.
ray got hold of one OF the uncompteted
,ooks to-day. and found that this objec-
aonable paragraph was still there. He had
consultation with Kuhn, and claims that
he author admitted that the printers had
rade a mistake by inserting IT. He then
,alled on the publishers. and they
asserted that their contract called
or the following OF copy; that they
Gould not. in accordance with their con-
"a gFraul 10 q -
Ter In the manuscript as furnished. rms
provoked Stryker. and he notified them
that If the paragraph was not eliminated
he would prevent the book going into the
Kansas schools. The publishers do not be-
lieve he can prevent IT.
The fight has ragged to-day furiously but
very secretly. The greatest precaution was
taken TO keep il away from the news
papers. Professor Strykcr was amazed
when The Journal correspondent asked him
about il: George Crane hit the desk with
his fist and wanted TO know what d-n
fool" had LEI II out: while Professor Kuhn
was simply overwhelmed. All asked that
nothing be said. When told that the re-
quest could not be granted. Crane and
STRIKER talked some, but Kuhn kept quiet.
There was a fair and square agreement
TO leave that Objectionable paragraph out
Ct the book" said Superintendent Stryker,
II will cost Crane 6 co. about 500 to make
the correction hut it will have 10 be made
or the book will never 90 into the public
schools Of Kansas. The paragraph contains
partisan question and proceeds 10 settle
II in accordance with the goldbug idea,
The majority Of the people Of Kansas dc
not look at II that way. and ! insist on 4,
being left out altogether. / DO not ask that
the publishers substitute the silver people s
version Of the 'grcenback' question. A par
tisan question should not be found in a
text book. The author has admitted to me
to-day that he agreed to cut that out.
made the correction in the proof. but II
seems that the proof was thrown in the
waste basket and totally disrcgarded."
Mr.. Crane said. Mr.. Stryker simply pre-.
varicated when be said We threw the proof
away and disreEarded IL. We have that
proof now. We are printing the book ac,
Cording 20 contract and expect to put q
out On the market. regardless Of the threats
OF Striker. We are absolutely right in ou,
position. Stryker is wronz'
While he did not say so. yet Mr. Crane in
timatcd that Stryker did not ask that thi
paragraph be- eliminated until all Of Jh'
sheets had been run OF tie SAYS that 4
will be Impossible now to make the chang,
on account OF the limited time h. has 1,
get the books out. And. besides be doc
not care % go 10 the additional expense
He saws the printing alone cf new pLE
will have to b. split and rebuilt at a COS
OF several hundred dollars.
Professor Kuhn denies that S'rykcr VA
appointed as "a committee 10 edit his book
but he declined absolutely 20 say auE1hiui
about the agreement spoken OF by the si
perinteuCCut about the eliminating Of IN
Objectionable paragraph on page l04. II
said he thought the tua'r would b
stTaiChteued out.
W. J. Hgr5 OF HoIton. member Of Ia
state text book board held "a consultation
with Superintendent STRIKER to-day an
urged him 70 C8H a special meeting Of N
commission 20 adjust the trouble
Il viii do nothing Of the kind" respond
ed Striker Il have the bull by the horn
and / propose TO hold him 7 was ssIsCte
a. "A committee 20 look after the book q
civil government and / propose TO do -
viii MOI cT.t-e adoluonal expense 10 th
state by calling the commission together
] propose 10 have my way about this mat
ter and Crane 4 CO. can either climinat
that Objectionable paragraph or their book
will be barred out OF the Kansas schools
That f. my ultimatum.
MIR Hurd Is a great friend Cf Crane & e,
In fact II was currently reported that d
voted for everything submitted lv tha
firm and that Ee was about to go on m
road as the general agent OF that cornpan
ancTwa-d 20 establish local Hgencis
throughout the state. This information va
given out by member Of the comnissita a
and he said that Hurd would have done $
had not the other commissioners laid dow
on him Hurd denies the story
Professor Kuhn limbered uD enough LAT
tonight 20 remark 20 friend that STRIKE
wanted him TO substitute the definition {
Ereenbacks as given BY the Populist "a
Congressman Davis. instead Of the defn
tion already in the book. Striker prepare
the definition and ordered II printed Strvl
er told Kuhn that II Il were not used n
definition Of greenbacks could be use,
Kuhn saws he viii stand pat and back NJ
creme He claims that the textbook con
mission adopted his work in manuscrip
and that Striker was never authorized
In to soi