The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-24
AT THE STATE HOUSE.
D. o. McCray Talks About the
SchOolbook Commission.
Introducing Them in a Way to
Kansas People.
Some Things About the Commissions
,Work-Items From the State
Department

The crowd of book agents are still
camping about the office of the state
superintendent of schools. The school
text book commission vii probaly be
in session all this week and it is doubt
full if even then the work before it will
be near completion. Because of the
wording of the law, the anxious book
men who have submitted bids cannot
know the decision of the commission
until it shall have compiled and print
ed the proceedings of the fist 10 days
session.
A reporter for the State Journal asked
u. O. McCray about the work of the
commission today. He said:
We are engaged in very important
work, and every member of the com
mission feels that a great responsibility
rests upon him. Every member of the
commission, with the exception of Mr.
Hurd and myself have for many years,
been actively engaged in school work.
Mr.. Hale, the only lawyer on the com
mission, is an old teacher abandoning
that profession when he went to La
crosse, several years ago. Prof. Black
has served the schools of Pittsburg,
Chanute and other points as superin-
tendent and stands among the first edu-
Gators in Kansas. Prof. Nees resides at
Independence, where he has made
splendid record in the position of sup
erintendent Of the city schools. He is
a young man of great energy and abil-
ity. The same can be said of Prof. Nc
Donald, the popular superintendent of
the Usage City schools. Mcdonald is
a tireless worker. He goes about his
work here as earnestly, faithfully and
conscientiOusly as he does in his
school work at home I have conf
dence in his judgment. Then there is
my good friend A. Y. Jewett of Abilene
who has spent 25 years in the school
room. He is up-tO-date on every sub
ject, and let me say that it Will be an
exceedingly cold day when an inferior
book passes
EFT is the right man in the right place.
Senator Lupfer, an all round farmer
out IN PaWnee county, is also a teacher
OF VIDE experience. He led the fight in
the senate for the present school book
law, and his appointment was an as
surance to the people that their inter-
ests would be cared for.
Superintendent Stryker the chairman
was connected with the Great Bend
college for many years and in fact, has
been engaged in educational work all
his life. Certainly a commission COM
posed of such Well-kn0wn educators
will be able to select for the schools Of
Kansas series of text books that will
be the equal in standard authorship to
those of any state in the union. For
example, one of the books offered the
commission and which is recognized by
educators everywhere as standard, is
sold in wholesale lots in New York city
for one dollar per copy. 1t is offered
to Kansas for rs cents.
4 mention this to show you that the
class books and from the best known
authors in the country
What book companies are bidfng?''
4 cannot tell you"
Did the American Book company
submit a bid?"
THE law prevents me telling YOU who
submits bids"
When his attention was called to
published interview with Mr.. G. c..
Burton, the American Book companv's
agent, who said his house could not
supply the kind of books being offered
to Kansas, Mr.. NIcCray said the com
mission expected criticism from this
source, but that it would not swerve the
members an iota from the plain path Of
duty He said the criticism in the in
terview in question might have been
made to influence the commission and
the public for other books of the same
character offered by competing pub
fishers.
Even book men, he said sometimes
try to accomplish an object in very
roundabout way"