Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-11

Action Of the Henrico B0ara-SsHse
ment from Colonel JSnss""'
Communicated

lCommunicatedJ
Colonel Johnson. the manager IN this
State for Silver Burdett Il Company, VINO
publish the Stepping Stones to Lit
erature, was met at the Hotel Jefferson
late last night, on his return from tour
In the counties. He was apprised Of tho
action of the Henrico County Board, ana
in reply TO questions. said
''Of course l am taken by surprise AZ
the work done to-day in Henrico county.
The Textbook Committee OF that county
several weeks ago unanimously asreru
to report favorably on the stepping
Stones to Literature. They made their
report two weeks ago 20 the full board
with those books Included favorabiy.
When the board came TO act on the re-
port Il was unanimously adopted. a
motion WAS then made TO reconsider the
vote adopting the report. which was lost
This vote left the Stepping Stones as
adopted by the board, and precluded any
further reconsideration. as every one
! knows.
Superintendent RUSSELL Mr.. John f.
Broaddus. Dr. Smith. and several other
members of the board assured me OF the
| above action, and stated 20 me that IL
| was absolutely final. A motion was SUBJ
| seQuently made TO reconsider the adop-
| ton of Jones's History and adopt Lees.
| which was also out OF order (as the board
| had already voted down the motion 10
reconsder) and pending decision on
this question OF history. the board adj
| journed for two weeks. TO pass upon his
| tory and high~school books.
II think this action of the Johnson
| people in reopening the contests in tho
counties OF this state outrageous and un-
fair. We have the same opportunity, l
suppose, but | don't think we viii en-
gage in any such foolishness. The people
| of the counties, / imagine, are entitled
to make their own choice OF books. and
those who have done 50 are content, and
do not wish to have their preference
overthrow by opportunities OF agents
and paid attorneys"
do you expect to carry the matter Into
the courtsY' was asked Of Colonel john
son. II have not" he replied decided
what course we will pursue. / presume
we have a remedy in the courts, but
am not much of litigant. Besides, the
expense of lawsuits. which. naturally
we do not like to incur. We want TO iva
on amicable terms with the countess
the State Board. and with the Johnsoa
people. too, If We can.
Il have held all along that. notwith-
standing the fact that the state Board
has promised that our opponents readers
may be adopted within one year, If they
come up to certain requirements. II Is
fact that as yet they have not been
adopted by the State Board. They have
made simply a promise, based on condi-
tons SO. IL we should contest the right
| of the county of Henrico. for instance,
to adopt Johnson's Readers. we would
be met by Johnson's lawyers with thp
plea I'm his behalf that Johnson's Readers
had not been adopted by The state Board
+ and therefore the action OF the Henrieo
County Board was void, and we would
, be thrown out OF court without redress
or remedy. No, at present we DO nor
, contemplate legal proceedings oi any
sort. We believe the people OF Henflco
county. and all the counties OF this state
a, intend TO treat us fairly. We have made
our case before the state Board and the
people upon the merits, and there va
, will rest our case We are not trying 70
, force poor books upon an unwilling PEG
Die. our Stepping stones 10 Literature
q were the first choice of the state Boaiu
and as the people come TO KNOW 'heH
better they will want more and more
of them. Up to the present moment the!
are the only readers authorized unde'
5 the law to be adopted by the counties
9 The responsibility for the adoption "
other readers not yet auopte" must ie'
/ with the counties, whose people, an
}, sure. are as anxious 10 avoid confusion
u Uncertainty, and legal complications al
g the house OF Silver, Burdett 4 Co. Their
is no legal complication involved IN I'd
adoption OF the Stepping Stones to Liter
allure.
"The most unfortunate phase OF thu
whole business is I'm delaying the actor
I Of the counties so long as TO Jeopardiz
]; the usefulness OF the schools Of the stat
!, this winter, and embarrass the DEALER
It who are 10 supply the children will
n | hooks -