Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-15
PLEA OF LABOR MEN.
URGE THE ADOPTION OF BOOKS
PUBLISHED IN VIRGINIA.
PIELD-DAY FOR HOME ENTERPRISE.
Greater Part of the Session Devoted
10 Hearing Arguments I'm Behalf Of
LocnI uousex-Mr. Munford's Speech
Attracts Much Attention.

20 become exciting. Already politics,
spicy personalities, and questionable me-
thcds have been brought into the dis
orssion before the State Board OF Educa-
ton. That there viii be equally enter
tu.ning features IN the session yet to be
held there IS little doubt
The board only hold one sitting OF
some four and a half hours yesterday
as Attorney-General Montague was SUI
forlng from a severe headache. IL was
what might DO called field day Tor
home enterprise, as the great bulk or
the time was given TO hearing gentle
men who appeared in behalf OF the VIZ
GINA publishing houses. Hon. Charles
c. Kizer and Mr.. w. l.. Perkins, OF
N-oreoll and Hon. H. c. B'Olkes, OF
This city. as a delegation from the state
Y'c6eration Of Labor, made an earnest
plea for tho adoption Of books pubiished
bv local concerns in preference TO those
of northern houses. They were followed
nv Mr. B. /. Johnson in behalf OF me
uubllshing company Which pears ms
1oroe and oilers a large number OF
hooks and several others also spoke.
Perbops the feature Of the day was
the speech OF Mr. Foxes, VINO is mem
her of the Richmond delegation IN me
House OF Delegates. He spoke WIN ms
accustomed viRor, and besides attaching
the American Book Company ana
sbor,lv RAINING Hon John II. Mas
60, late Superintendent of Public In
ssy,,cfion he paid his respects TO
he nolitlcal feature Of the speech mace
on wednesday by Senator Muniord'
who appeared as counsel for the Amefi-
van Book Company. Mr.. Muhloiu
.reecb misunderstood by many. mas at
reacted a great deal OF attention, ana
tbere will be other replies TO It, incluoihB
one by Major Norman V. fandoi'h'
which bids fair to be highly interest
Ing. ,o,,,os
There ara about ten more houses
whose agents are 10 be heard ana pc
rides these delegations Will appear rom
the Chamber Of Commerce ana olneI
c,.gonizations 10 present certain views
- tbie very important question Of Sc
lectine text books for the public schools.
II has already become manifest tha'
tho very active competition into when
n larger number OF leading houses nave
entered than ever before Will result III
the prices of books in the state belhg
lowered whether many changes are
made or not.
FOR THE WORKINGMEN.
Tho Federation Of Labor delegation were
pivon hearing first when the board con-
.cnod Yesterday morning. Mr.. klZer,
the president Of that influential orgamza-
RON made the opening speech. lie re-
serred TO the great number OF men en-
rolled by the Federation, and sald they
were united I'm favor Of the southern
houses. These were the people ne salu'
whose only college was the public Schools
md II they could bear the expense OF
rbange in books, surely those more lot
tunate had no right TO make complaint
"Surelv." he said. "when these poor men
unssess the spirit OF home enterprise ana
love for southern authors, ana consider
,hoir EMPLOYERS welfare. other classes
pf citizens ought 90 do the same AS
u practical printer, Mr. kizcr then went
for the people who seem 10 thlnk that
ahis State does not possess as good PRINT
ers. bookbinders, photographers stereo-
typers. and electrotypers as are iound III
the North. He had never doubted the
renius of southern mechanics, and thought
no one else should after the exploits Oh
tbe Virginia gunboats, the Texas and
Raleigh. lie closed with an earnest APP
real for the board TO stand up for our
Virginia authors and publishers. who were
endorsed by the best people In the State.
SHOULD HAVE HOME BOOKS.
Mr. w l.. Perkins, who has been
prominently connected with the labor IN
terests of the state for number of years.
followed next. He earnestly urged the
hoard 10 consider well before they struck
a blow at our enterprising authors and
publishers. lie said the people Of the
State wanted to shake off the letters of
northern concerns. and stnnd up for
homo industry. In his opinion. southern
authors were as capable of writing his
tories, spoilers, etc. and Virginia pub
lishing-houses as able to turn them out,
as well and better than the present ar
ticles of foreign manufacture. why
should not the purchasers OF books and
patrons of our public schools ha allowed
10 say who should write and publish
them?' he asked. mo one with common
sense or common honesty can doubt that
they arc heartily in favor of giving the
home companies everything, and besides,
by people who are better judges than
myself their work is pronounced the
best. The people" Mr.. Perkins said.
sare eagerly watching the outcome OF
tho contest between the home companies
and those Of Northern States, and he
be given the preference"
MIR. FOLKES'S REMARKS.
Mr.. Folkes was the next speaker, and
case for the Federation of La
Dor. lie first read the address OF the
and interspersed II here and
there with comments bearing on the SUBJ
ject Discussing the political phase OF
the question as referred to by Mr.. Mum
ford in his speech of Wednesday, Mr..
Folkes said he was glad that the board |
had been so highly entertained by the |
amateur book agents, and he was forced |
TO smile at the debut of his fellOw-citizen, |
Mr.. Mupford, In that role.
Referring TO the remarks made by |
Nfessrs. Kizer and Perkins, Mr.. Folkes |
said he earnestly endorsed every word |
Of their utterances. Discussing the state |
ment which had been made before the |
board that certain school superintendent |
were advocating northern publications in |
TO those by southern |
authors and from southern houses, Mr.. |
Folkes characterized these officials as
traitors, and said the people would yet |
satch them, and that when they did it
Mould be worse for them than it was for !
he foxes whose tails Samson fred before
he turned them into the fields Of the |
Philistncs.
Further discussing the address made by
MT Munford, Mr. Folkes said the great
Est blun that had been made before the
board was the statement that TO change
The books now ON the list would operate
20 injure the Democratic party. This, he
said was nonsense OF the worst order.
1T would be moro like the TRUTH" he
'aid, ~ IL had been stated that the party
would suffer II the books were not