Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-14
TALK ABOUT BOOKS.
"'hNTs OF PUBLISHERS APPEAR
BEFORE HOARD OF EDUCATION.
POSSIBLE EFFECT UPON THE PARTY
W.T. Munford Insists That Vnnecea-
s"ry Changes Would InvoIve ES-
pe"ses' Which the People Are Not
Willing TO Bear.

I uays yet before the members will he I'm ,
position TO form any decision as 70 tn,
books best adapted for use in the pubu,
schools Of the State.
The board held two sessions yesterday
extending over six hours, and in tina,
| time heard "a number OF agents repre.
senting publishing houses who desire 10
| supply books. The board gave practically
unlimited time TO each house. and as a
result only heard ten representatives.
about one-third Of the whole number here
TO be heatd--and IT is thought that the
sessions will necessarily be extended into
next week.
The representatives OF the publishing
houses were heard as far as possible in
Alphabetical order, and nothing unplea-
SAINT occurred to mar the harmony of the
occasion. The agents. though fighting
against each other for the plums to be
distributed by the board, mingled together
pleasantly in the corridors Of the library
building and discussed everything but the
DOCK question, their discussions on that
question being reserved for their appear
aace before the three State officers who
are 20 sit in judgment. The board was
not in executive session, but the agents
were not allowed to remain in the room
while one of their number was setting
forth the claims Of his house.
a PLEA AGAINST CHANGES
The first firm on the list was the Ameri-
can Book Company and when Mr.. j. a.
Greene the company's general manager.
went into the board room he was ac-
nrr4gl mi. -. II.
Munford who made a strong presenta-
ton Of the company's claims for recogni-
ton. The American Book Company has
been furnishing for some years a great
many of the books used in the schools
Of this State, and the other agents are
practically a unit in their fight against
this company, some of them criticising
its methods of doing business. Mr.. Mum
ford presented for readoption by the
board McGuifey's readers and spoilers
Harvey's grammar. Whites arithmetics.
Spencerian cOpy-bOOks, Maxwelrs gram
mars, and Webster's dictionaries.
Mr. Munford, in advocating the readop-
uon OF these books. pointed out that. with
the exception of MaxwelPs erammars.
which were first adopted in 1894 the other
books proposed had been in almost con-
slant use in Virginia since the foundation
of the free school system. Their merits
had been repeatedly examined and raised
upon by every State Board Of Education
since the days OF Walker, Taylor. and
Ruffner. Their readoption was to-day
petitoned by an overwhelming majority |
Of the superintendent OF schools. trustees !
county officials, and prominent citizens |
from every section of the state Mr. Mum !
ford insisted that when we consider the |
q 11trr Of
public schools, amounting to $4,000 last |
year. and the cost of furnishing these |
children with textbooks. the matter of |
expense would be one Of great Importance
If all the books now in use were inhibit-
ed. and new books had to be bought, |
the tax upon the people would be enor-
nous. II portion Of this burden was
eliminated by a system Of exchange by |
which the publisher of the new book
you'd receive the old in part payment of
lis publications, still the additional sum
'equired at the hands of the patrons
would be burdensome in amount, and
,rievous wrong inflicted GpOn the citi-
ems. He challenged contention that the
looks now in use. with the exception of
chOol histories, were not absolutely sat
sfactory to school officials, teachers, pa
rons, and pupils. Mr. Munford further
q |
zen Of Professor r. Is. Smithey, of Ran
olph-Macon College.
WORK INJURY TO THE PARTY.
Mr.. Munford spoke for nearly an hour.
Ic submitted a brief. containing, among
Their things. a petition from the school
uthorities of eighty-ive out of the one
undred counties in the State, asking that
- changes be made except as to histo-
les In earnestly pressing the economic
lew of the question, Mr.. Munford made
political allusion, which attracted a
God deal of attention, and led to con-
iGerabIe comment among those on the
utside who are interested in the work
+ the board. He declared with emphasis
nat the people were unwilling 10 bear
le expense that general changes in text
Doks would entail, and that to force 1t
pom them would result in injury TO the !
emocratic party, as the administration
ould be held to account for the imposi-
on Of what ne asserted the people felt
be an unnecessary burden. :
Another interesting incident occurred ,
lille Messrs. Greene and Munford were {
fore the board. The former was asked {
IL was true that the same persons were {
rye stockholders in both the American I
ook Company and the University Pub !
hing Company. Mr. Greene's reply was c
at. while some persons might own stock =
both concerns. he knew of none such. n
rHER REPRESENTATIVE SPEAK.
Mr.. Louis Bell. of the J. p. Bell Book
)mpany. of LynchburS and Richmond.
as next heard by the board, and he, in 7
ort talk presented for the boards con-
leration McGills Stories from Virginia
story. and also urged the retention on
g list of McGiHs History of Virginia. e
When he concluded, Mr.. J. III. AlDrecht, | 4
presenting the Central School Supply I,
,mpany. of Chicago, submitted some 8
py-books. and gave the board an inter n
ling dissertation on penmanship, urging n
a adoption of the books published by II
house. 49,, X
rhe next gentleman to enter the Doaru- y
ON was MIR. w. l.. Linn, OF the column II
, Book Company. of Philadelphia. lie -
d an extensive list Of books to submit n
the board. and at some length dis q
ssed their merits. q
Ir. j. c. Hebren, representing the D. ~
w. Duianey Company. OF Baltimore n
xt appeared and asked the board II IL n,
uld consider itself at liberty TO adopt :,
the schools of the State a history OF n
, United States now being written by p.
Phillip A. Bruce, of this city. He a.
c told that the board could not give III
= definite answer 20 that question at y,
: time. but IL would undoubtedly con- -,
er the proposition. h,
SPEAKS FOR CHM x co. be
Ir. Hebron thereupon retired from the
nm and was succeeded by MIR. w. X SD
,lker. representing CHM x Co. Mr. in
.lker spoke interestingly on the school or
* question and submitted for con- be
sratfop CooDcr Estil q Lemons be