Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-15

tory in the Constitution. Gaining speca'
attention 20 a law passed In 1913 by 'ne
Legislature, authorizing the county
boards 20 select from list OF three text
books This law was vetoed by 'o'erhoi
Kemper who showed that IL was uncoh-
stitutional. Then Mr. Johnson look UP
the series OF textbooks issued py h's
house-about fifty books In all ihciuu'ns
reading chart, primer. complete set VI
reading books southern literature ni =,
Susan Pendleton Lees series OF school
histories OF the United States, Maury s
History of Virginia, Patricks Lessons lh
Language and Lessons in Grammar
three series OF arlthmetics, one by PRO
fessor ]. w. Graham, Of Clarksvihe'
Tenn. the other by Professor r. MeN.
Carr. Of North Carolina, and the other
by Professor Seymour. of Missouri copy
hooks by Professor G.. NJ. Smlthdeal'
Geography Of Virginia, by Miss HenhIns'
Smithdeai's Grammar. Speller' ana L.
ter-Wrlter; Tousler's Outlines OF German
Literature: Curry's Southern states OF tne
American Union; Little Lessons IN Pant
life. etc. etc. Many of the books SHOWN
nv Mr.. Johnson were acknowledged 10 DC
beautiful specimens Of book-making'
After presenting the textbooks anu
reading over a great many certiHcate9
from the most distinguished and success
ful teachers in this and other StateS' MI
Johnson turned his attention TO inc sthu-
ment Of the people throughout the S.dle'
reading from an immense pic Oh nun
dreds of letters extracts from suoh NJ
as Il. s. Parks, Of Luray; Apsaioin MN
or NJ Augusta: Benjamin Lee watkins
- 1Ialifev and Senator Opie; also, let
tore from a great many city and county
ecbool superintendents, some or Whom
stated that they had signed petitions un-
Willingly for mo change" before tney
realized the great advantage OF the hne
~ hooks offered by the y. f. Johnson
Publishing Company. Mr.. Johnson pre-
sented petitions from thousands or tne
most substantial men from every county
and city in the state who urged the
hoard TO adopt and use exclusively, as lar
"a possible. Virginia publications IN |H-
GINA schools.
Mr.. Johnson also assured the board that
~ thew adopted the books he asked them
ia adopt exclusively, from 300 TO 000 peo-
ple would be employed in the next thlr.y
DAYS in preparing these textbooks IN
time for the use OF the schools at the
opening of the fall term. Almost every
member Of the Virginia State senate
and every member of the House. he SAID,
had sent in earnest petitions to the board
urging the adoption Of Virginia BOOKS
SPEAK FOR OTHER HOUSES.
Mr. Johnson was followed by Miss Cone
fix of Roanoke. who advocated the adop-
ton of a chart, prepared by her and pup
lished by the Johnson Company. MT. l.
H. KimptauX, representing Leacn' ohe
well q Co, of New York, next SPOKE ana
presented a full line of textbooks. lie
4 RnhqTt son Tgn-
the J. y. Lippncott Company
of Philadelphia. who also submitted
number of treatises on literature.
Hon. ]. Taylor Stratton was the last
qentleman TO address the board. He spoke
i'm the interests of a. Lowell & Co, OF New
York. and submitted for the consideration
Of the board Miss O'Neirs dictation
blanks, n graphic system of penmanshlp,
a treatise on the human body; X T..
Clements civil government ana HOLDS
Mr. Stratton set forth the
merits Of his books in short speech, ana
when he concluded the board adjourned
until this morning at 10 o'clock.
TO REPLY TO MIR. MUNFORD.
When Major Randolph, as member of
the committee appointed by the Chamber
of Commerce to urge the adoption OF
books published by Virginia houses, comes
to speak before the board, he will reply to
the political portion of the speech mace
by Mr. Munford. He had an Interview
with Mr.. Munford Wednesday evening as
to what the latter said relating to the eff
feet that an arbitrary change In books
would have upon the Democratic party,
has read the lawyers printed brief over
carefully, and yesterday reiterated his
purpose to reply to IL. TO Dispatch re-
porter who saw him last night, Major
Randolph said he would attempt TO show
the falacy of Mr.. Munfords argument.
The speech of the Richmond Senator,
as stated yesterday, occasioned surprise
and gave rise to a good deal of com
ment. There seems to be little doubt that
a somewhat misleading impression was
gotten by many as to the purport of Mr..
Munford's remarks, though some Of those
who heard him or read his argument
shared the opinion that perhaps some OF
his language was unfortunate. Mr.. Nun
fords plea against a general change In
text-b books was based as reported in the
Dispatch. on the question of economy, and
the right of the people through their local
boards to have u voice In deciding the
matter. Discussing his speech, Mr.. Mum
ford said last night: 81 never for a mo-
ment intimated. that the success or de-
feat OF the efforts Of any school-book
could affect the political condi-
tions in Virginia. The influence of the
if they have any, did
not refer to in any way, shape, or
form. The power that | referred TO was
the power of the people, whose properly
It was sought thus to confiscate, ana
whose rights to a voice in determining
these questions, was thus to be invaded
and denied.
WHAT HE DID SAY.
Mr.. Munford, in support of his state
ment, referred the Dispatch man to a
copy OF his printed argument, the line
of which he followed quite closely. lie
made an earnest appeal for the contlnu-
ance of the policy, in keeping with the
Democratic idea of self-government and
i'm harmony with the genius of our people
OF permitting the local school authorities
TO decide for their respective localities
the important question of what BOOKS
should be changed. This was policy, he
declared which, If denied the people,
would arouse distrust and dissatisfaction
throughout the Commonwealth. Let the
State Board Of Education" he said, 'if
any well-founded objection is urged from
any quarter 10 any book now upon the
list insert one or more books upon the
same subject. and then let the people,
through their local representatives, de-
eide for themselves whether the old shall
be retained or the new substituted In Its
stead. This policy is in harmony with the
genius of our people. II has been pursued
With entire satisfaction since the founda-
ion Of the free-school system, and when-
sver and wherever departed from, 1t has |
aroused indignant protest. 1t would be
difficult, indeed, TO explain TO the people |
. . hNs hai