Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-05-13
PEGS. GATES AND Tns BOOK TRUST.

PEGS. GATES AND TnH BOOK TRUST.
Pres. Gates, Of Iowa College, recent
~ issued from the press Of the King
dom Publishing Co., Minneapolis, a
book entitled "A Foe to American
Schools" It was careful and Wig
orous attack upon the methods OF the
American Book Co., in very much the
same strain a. Lloyd's wealth VS..
Commonwealth which made things
lively for the Standard Oil Co. some
two or three years since. The first
edition Of 1000 copies Of Pres. Gates
book was exhausted in q few days, and
preparations we're at once made to
issue another and larger edition. Last
Friday attorneys representing the
American Book Co. applied for an in
junction against the Kingdom Co., re-
straining them from issuing the second
edition on the ground that the book
was an intentional and malicious at
tack upon the business and credit OF the
plaiutiff. A temporary injunction was
granted, and the defendant will have
the opportunity next Saturday to show
cause why the Injunction should not be
made permanent.
The American Book Co. has become
almost as much Of monopoly as the
Standard Oil Co. They practically
control the school book trade. Much
can be said in their favor. They issue
q good class Of books. OF q quality be-
yond criticism, and In many cases at q
reasonable price. Indeed It might be
claimed by the book trust, as it is by
the oil trust, that their combination
has had the effect OF making their
goods much cheaper to the buyer. All
this and more may be admitted. yet
the fact remains that the purchaser Is
In every respect at the mercy Of the
trust, and other dealers, making COM
petition at all possible, have been en-
tirely crowded out Of the field. We
ought to learn something from our ex.
perience with tho older Organization,
the oil trust. There are plenty of
towns in this and adjoining states
where concerns independent OF the
Standard Oil Co. have attemoted to do
business. The latter would at once cut
under the competing prices, establish.
ing their claim Of making oil cheap,
and winning the custom OF the multi
tude through the specious claim OF
cheapness, would thus drive out the
competition. When this il secured.
the old rates are established, and the
quality Of the goods suits the trust and
not the consumer. There il no reason
TO expect anything better Of book
trust than Of IN oil trust. And, let it
never be forgotten, the continuance OF
these trusts Is very largely due to the
action OF those who most loudly de-
nounce them. So long a. man will
buy the cheapest goods he can get,
without reference to the combination
that manufactures or sells them, Just
90 long Is that man encouraging and
abetting the trust he 20 bitterly criti-
cises. What We ought to criticize and
reform is not 20 much the power OF the
trusts, IS the credulity and selfishness
Of the people which 10 the facile ma
terial out Of which that unjust power
IL created.
Pres. Gates IL said to be loaded, and
he . we'll - the Kingdom Co. vel
comes, and has anticipated this action
all along. We shall watch the de-
velopments II this case with peculiar
interest, believing II 70 b hst one Of
the many casss II which this genera
tion 4 charged with the duty Of work
ing out justice md right = between
the individuAl And ~ oombtnation.
We have preferred y ~ our word .
~ iadislduAl instsad q o the conbt-