Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-16
WANT MASS MEETINGS
ONE TALKED OF TO DISCUSS THE
SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION.
A HOT HREE-CORNERED FIGHT.
The American Book Company, the
Home Publishers, and the New
Northern Bidders the Three Fac
tors-Agents Heard Yesterday.

The school-book question, which is now
| occupying the attention of the State
Board of Education, is creating consider
| able interest in Richmond, and the fight
directed against the American Book Com
| pany is waxing warm. The local publish
ers are making a strong effort to get their
books on the list, while some OF the
largest publishing houses i'm the country
who make a speciality of handling school
books, are here. through their represen-
tatives, offering to supply the pupils Of
the State with perhaps the highest class
OF school literature ever presented for
consideration of the Virginia Board OF
Education.
The interest in the work OF the board
centres on the three-cornered fight of the
American Book Company on the one side.
the local publishers on the other, and the
foreign houses on the other. All OF the
houses interested have been, or will be,
given hearing by the board, but some
OF those who are interested are not salts
fled with going before the board and
stating their claims, and public meeting
to be held in the assembly hall Of the
Chamber of Commerce building is being
arranged for Monday.
SPICY MATTER ON TOP.
1t could not be ascertained positively
Yesterday who is engineering this meet
ing or whether il had been definitely de-
termined upon, but arrangements are GER
tainly being made for IT. and some exceed
ingly spicy matter is being prepared for
the occasion There seems to be no con-
cealment Of the fact that at this meeting,
II II is held, the methods of the American
Book Company will be criticised for tele-
grams have been received from number
of Governors of States In which the com
MAJ ia business which.
are designed for use against the company.
The idea OF holding this meeting is for
the purpose of having the members or the
board hear the sentiment OF the general
public as to the contracts the State now
has but the members of the board will
hardly attend the meeting. They have
not yet been approached on the subject,
but one OF their number said to Dispatch
man Yesterday that the board had its
work to do, and was holding its own ses-
sions, and had no time TO attend other |
meetings until the matters under con-
sideration were disposed OF.
TWO SESSIONS YESTERDAY.
The board held two sessions yesterday !
but nothing Of special interest developed |
during the day. Altogether, the sittings |
extended over seven hours. but during |
that time, with one exception. only agents |
of the publishing houses were heard, and
they confined themselves TO the discussion
Of their own books. The exception was
a delegation from the Book Dealers AS
ISOLATION OF Virginia, and they asked
that the board, in making its contracts
with the publishers, should so word them
as to give protection TO them.
The board convened in the morning at
10 O'Clock, and Immediately thereafter
Mr.. c. c. Baughman, representing the
Stationery Company, OF this
city, entered the room and asked for the
adoption on the list OF Mrs. Willlamson's
life of General Robert Il. Lee as supple
mentary reader.
After he concluded, Major n. V. Ran
lolph, who 1t had been expected would
appear before the board and make a
reply TO the speech made on Wednesday
by Mr. Il. b. Munford, was recognized.
He was not prepared TO make his add
iress to the board, but asked for a pri-
rate interview with the Governor and
he Acknowledgement. Dr. Southail there
ipon retired from the room. and the three
,enten On were clOseted together for some
lme.
WAS A PRIVATE MATTER.
None OF them cared 10 say what the
lature or their conference was. and
iajor Randolph. Immediately after .
cdFiIlS the rOoin, tOoh his ucpdfluTe from ,
he building
When the board reconvened, Mr.. Frank ,
}. Woodruff. representing Maynard. Mer-
i'll a. Co.. appeared and offered a gene
al line OF books for the consideration OF ,
he board. He spoke for an hour or ,
more. and when he concluded. Captain :
amuel REGISTER, counsel for Rand. Nc !
Tally q Co.. appeared in their behalf anc
uomitted their map publications for
doption.
BOOK DEALERS ARE HEARD.
Messrs. j. V. Bidgood. and George 81.
Vest. of this city. and 4. Il. Beckwith
{ Petersburg. representing the Book
'ealers' Association. then appeared be-
ore the board and submitted a petition
'oking TO their protection under any new
that may be made by the
oard. They asked that where new con-
acts are made the publisher receiving
lch contract shall also contract to take
Y their shelves such books AZ are now IN