Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-20
THE AMERICAN BOOK
Against President Gates of
Iowa College.
Noble Fight of a COngrega-
tional Minister
Extracts From His Book "A Foe to
American Schools"

t0e American BOOK CO., COPIES OI
papers containing a report Of the
libel suit in the United States circuit
court at Minneapolis, where $500
damages was awarded the company
against The Kingdom Pub. Co, for
printing book written by Prof. Geo.
A. Gates, president Of Iowa college,
the great Congregational school Of
Grinnell, Iowa.
The book is entitled "a Foe to
American Schools" and has had a
wide circulation. 1t is scathing ex-
position Of the practices Of the agents
OF the American Book Co., in secur-
ing the adoption OF their textbooks by
states, cOulties and cities. The his
tory of this lawsuit and the whole
controversy is of interest to the peo-
pie Of Oregon because the textbook
question is before them in the June
election this year.
THE JOURNAL confesses to no pre-
judice for or against any publishing
house and desires only to give its
readers all the news and information
possible on this question. We believe
the people of Oregon should be free
to get the best and the cheapest text
books, and that no publishers trust
should seek to dictate in their state
government or political affairs at the
expense of the public schools and
the taxpayer.
HISTORY OF CASE,
The American Book Company, of
New York, has just won a suit
against religious publication known
as "The.. Kingdom" published at Min
neapolis.
On the editorial page Of copy of
the paper now before US We find the
name of the Rev: Herbert w. Gleason,
of Minneapolis, as managing editor,
and of George A. Gates, president of
Iowa college, as one Of the associate
editors. There are several other min
lster's names on the list CT associate
editors, including Rev. B. Fay Mills
Against the Kingdom Publishing
Company the American Book Com
pany has recovered a verdict for
$500 damages for libel in suit tried
before Judge Lochren, in the United
States circuit court at Minneapolis.
The American Book Company is
considered the largest and most i'm
portant concern in the world engaged
in the printing and publishing of
school books as speciality. 1t was
founded In 1890 by some of the lead.
ing publishing houses of the country,
including Harper & Bros, d. Apple
ton & Co., Van Antwerp, Bragg &
Co., and others. The capital Of the
company is S., ,0O0,0 and it now sup
plies probably rs per cent of all the
school books that are used in the
United States. By reason of its
methods and resources its competitors
find it hard to make headway against
it, and good deal of bad feeling has
consequently been shown by those
competitors from time to time. All
sorts OF scandalous reports haYe been
set afoat, ana the company has been
accused Of deeds for which even a
Spanish pirate might blush.
This attack was made In April, 1897,
when the Kingdom Publishing com
pany published book by President
Gates, already mentioned as one of
the Associate Editors of "The King
dom," entitled "a Foe to American
Schools" meaning the American
Book company, in which severe
charges were made against that COM
pany, including bribery, cajolery
threats, intimidation, etc.
One would think that such resul
would lead the editors of "The King
dom" to be careful what they print,
but 1t now appears otherwise. In
copy OF that paper, dated March "a,
there is printed an editorial on the
diet headed lis this Justice" In the
course of which it is declared that
''the methods by which that verdict
was reached were palpably unjust"
and goes on to repeat the attack upon
the American Book Campany.
In view OF the number and import
ance of the exceptions taken to the
courts rulings, the consul for The
Kingdom Publishing Co., at once
took steps to appeal the case
to the United States Circuit Court OF
Appeals, where motion for new
trial will be made. Ii the decision
Of the lower court should be reversed.
the entire case will re-opened. Mean
while no judgment can be enforced
against The Kingdom Publishing
Company.
The CAPITAL JOURNAL is aware
that the American Book Co., employs
the sharpest lawyers in the state and
isliable TO bring a suit for libel
against any paper that shows up
it's affairs but We rejoice that there
is still some liberty OF the press left
in spite OF the federal,courts.
Knowing the purpose OF the great
American book trust to suppress all