The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-01
To the Editor:

The following letter, under dale =.
has been sent broadcast over North
Carolina. This one was sent 10 a pronn-
nent citizen of Fayetteville, y. c., who
wants to know when Il. 4. johnson be-
came guardian of the great State of
North Carolina and the director Of It's
legislative and educational affairs. l.
is charming leading. AMI YOU will miss
half of your life's pleasure If YOU fail
to read and think about all the philan-
thropist and guardian has to say. Ii is:
MY Dear Sir: There is n proposition
before the Legislature of North Caro-
lima, which, if accepted. viii be the
means of enabling the people of the
State to secure better text books and at
about 30 per cent. of the present prices.
Goods of all other kinds have fallen in
prices, and you know that your children
are paying the same prices for text
books now that they did twelve or fifteen
years ago. That's because the school
book trade of the State is controlled by
two great Northern corporations, and
they are trying 10 prevent State Com
mission being appointed to select books.
Various publishing houses stand ready
to make absolutely free exchange of
books and to furnish the new books. as
| have said, at about half what you
are paying at present.
ut is too late to write letters. but it
will he worth your while to telegraph
your representative in the Legislature,
insisting on the passage of the Wall
Bill, or substitute for it. providing
for a State Commission to examine and
make the best possible bargain for
text books. Under such an arrange
ment, as Southern publishers we stand
no better chance than any other house
would stand. We make these sugges-
tons in regard to changes, because they
are for the true interest of the people
of the State. You are now sending
to New York and other Northern States
a vast amount of money that ought to
be kept ut home, and you are using
books in North Carolina that have been
discarded in Virginia and great many
other States. the people enjoying the
privilege of purchasing better and cheap
err books. Ii you insist on your repre-
sentatives in the Legislature affording
the children of North Carolina the same
opportunity to get books, they will do
it. Remember that the Legislature adj
journs in n few days, and whatever is
done must be done quickly.
Yours very truly,
"B.. +. JOHNSON.
''P. S.-Again l ask you TO wire your
representative. There is scarcely time
TO write letters. The Legislature will
adjourn certainly not later than the Bird
of March. possibly earlier. Immediate
action on your part now may accom-
plisI great things for the financial and
educational interest of the State. Per-
haps it would be good plan to get three
or four prominent citizens TO join with
you in signing the telegram, and incur
ring whatever slight expense may be
necessary in order to bring the matter
quickly before your representative.
"B. Il. j.
l wish briefly to reply to the above as
follows:
/. The local management of the Il. F.
johnson Publishing Company has had
access TO the names and addresses on
certain records. and thus secured names
to which to send these beautiful epis-
tolary productions.
.. Ii is not at all cheeky TO ask vari-
Gus citizens OF North Carolina TO spend
money to pay for telegram To their
representatives to vote for IL bill, written
by the attorney of g. Il. Johnson Pub