People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-07-15
New School Books.


Kansas. When the new school text
book bill was passed last winter there
was general acquiescence that it
was good thing, but some bell
wether has started the war against
its operations, and lot of chuckle-
head editors are following. They ad.
nit that the books selected by the
commission only cost half as much as
the old ores, but they insinuate that
they are mo gOod;;" that they are as
cheap" as their price. Whether or
not this is true is an important ques-
tiOn.
There were enrolled 10 the schools
OF the state the past year, 378,339 pu-
pills. Estimates based on actual ex-
perlence show that the cost OF books
Is from 81 to 81 per pupil per year. A
low estimate for the cost of school
books to the people of the state per
year would be 100000. In letter
written to Superintendent Striker by
the American Book company, the
claim is made that their business for
the past year in the state was only
$4,000, and that the whole business of
the state did not exceed sl5O,OOO. 1t
is also claimed that books cannot be
furnished at the price established by
the textbook law. This letter, like
every other statement given to the
public by this or any other of the
giant corporations is a tissue of false
hoods. Their business has not been
less than $780, 900 to 100000 per year,
and emitting money spent to bride.
and buy, and in other improper ways
influence and secure adOptions, at
least one-half of this is profit. This
concern refused to bid for books under
our law, they say, because books can
not be furnished at the price. The
facts are that this refusal was for en-
tlrely different reasons. They not
only stayed out but did everything in
their power and succeeded in keeping
most Of the book publishers of the
country from bidding, in the hope
That no books would be offered. and
for the further reason that they would
be compelled in other states to come
to our prices. They spent thousands
OF dollars in attempts to bride the
legislature, and when that failed went
into the courts, and now failing III
that they are seeking some other
means to thwart the law. One of
these is to buy space in any paper that
will sell it to declare the law failure
and the books adopted inferior: that
The companies contracting cannot fur.
nlSh them, and other equally false
statements too numerous TO mention.
When asked about the books adopt.
ed superintendent Stryker said: "Ev.
cry book thus far adopted is first class
IN every respect. AS good as the uest
now IN use. The Rand, McNally ge-
ography is recognized everywhere as
one OF the very best and it is used ex.
tenSIYely all over the United States,
line biographies and penmanship are
used In Topeka and many other of the
larger cities Of the state. The COW
DOCKS will be sold for just one.halt
"haI Is now being paid, and are the
same thing exactly, except that they
Will now be % per cent larger thar
before. The arithmetics are used in
the Chicago schools and in MANY Other
large cities. l might continuein thi,
way throughout the list. Everyone
lSa splendid book and it is the repu
lar edition or an enlarged and revised
edition that has been adopted"
As the best means of getting tn,
desired information before my read
ers L give Circular No. u, which i
being sent out from the office of tn,
state superintendent:
10 County Superintendent: I,
compliance with section 10 of sena
Dill No. O3l, known as the "text-hooI
law, this statement of contracts on
tered into by the Text Book Commits
sion Is sent you. This should be give
thegIeatest possible publicity throug
tne local press and otherwise, AM
dealers ana Others intending to orde
books should be urged to make order
early Please see that each hon
dealer In your county gets a cow q
this. Some of the books contracte
ior are undergoing revision sugpeste
Oy Inc commission, but all will h
ready for delivery before September
feel justified from the informatio
nave at hand in saying that I'll
complete series to supply the schooI
OF the state will be adopted and read
for delivery by September.
All of those adopted are ready f.
delivery now, except history. booI
keeping and elementary eramma
PERSONS wishing to order by ma
should add one-fOurth of the cost {
the book for pOStrge. Anyone crde
ing $40 worth or more will have the,
delivered at the nearest railroad ST.
ZION, transportation charges pait
Cash, at contract price, must accom-
pany all orders as above mentions,
Sample COPIES will NOT ha finnish