The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-06-07
PERTINENT
QUESTIONS.
N. A. Cassidy Writes a Pointed
Letter.
But rIr. McChesney Fails to An
swer Il.

When II. V. McChesney, candidate
for State Superintendent OF Public In
struction, was in this county, he charged
that M. A. Cassidy, bis opponent, was a
lobbyist for the school book trust.
When Mr.. McChesney made this
charge, he knew he was not telling the
truth.
The following clause from the school
bill introduced by Mr.. Cassidy explains
his position on this question:
" the further right before
final adoption to ascertain if The prices at
which any and all books are offered are as
lOW as the same grdde of books are sold else
,uhere IN The United States, and in no euent,
shall any bids be accepted unless said bid is
accompanied by the slCOrn statement Of said
publisher or publishers that the prices set
dOWn in their bids is not abOUe fifteen per
cent above the cost Of production.
Thus 1t can be- seen that Mr.. Cassidy
has done more for the cause of good
schools and cheaper text books in Ken
lucky than any of his opponents.
Mr.. Cassidy. when he made his can.
vass in this county, conducted it on the
highest plane. He spoke Of his oppo.
nents in the most complimentary terms,
and all who met him were impresst d
with the fact that he was a high-tonsd,
honorable gentleman. His sole reaso on
for making this race is to promote the.
cause of education in Kentucky.
Mr.. Cassidy is one of the leading Edu-
cationists in the United States. He is
quoted as an authority by the leading
educational journals and what is thought
q his ability, may be seen on another
page under the head OF Home and
School,
He has long been aware of The coward
ly attack made on him by McChesney
and the following letter which Mr.. Cas-
sidy sent to his opponent, speaks for
itself.
Our readers can judge which of the
two is the clean, courteous, high-minded
gentleman, and they certainly will not
think it is McChesney.
Lexington, KY, April 80, 1899.
Supt. H. V. McChesney,
Smithland, KY,
Dear Sir:-It has been my invarable
practice to speak in the kindest terms of
you and my other opponents where 1
have gone during my canvass. No one
can say to the contrary. 1 started out
with the idea that the position we seek
Supt. of Pub. Instruction, is an Office of
dignity, honor and Importance, and thst
| would do nothing in attempting to Sc
cure the nomination to lessen my self re-
spect or, in any way, detrsct from the
dignity of the Office. II cannot win ON
my own merits am quite sure that do
not want to secure the Office because of an.
others dement's. thought the canvass
should be pitched on a high plane, and,
from my past acquaintance with my OPP
ponents, 1 fully believed that they
would gladly occupy this position.
Hence, imagine my surprise when in
formed that you, of all others, have been
telling that am book-lobbyist, the
candidate of the American Book Co.,
etc. This is absolutely untrue. No one
knows better than Yourself why was in
Frank fort last winter a year ago. Not
only was 1 the author of the bill provid-
ing for a better system of rural schools
for Kentucky, but 1 worked for it, This
is why was in Frankfort, and, in that
bill as you know, there were sections
which provided for as cheap books as did
the Chinn bill. have heard THAT you
are the candidate OF the American Book
Co., but, on no occs sion have 1 repeated
it, because l did not believe it, and, also,
because 1 do not care to win an Office by
defamation. A friend Cf mine, Supt.
Haynes of McLain Co. told me in Louis
vile that Mr.. Dorland OF the American
Book Co., was for you, would do all he
could Tor you. told him that l knew
nothing about that, and that 1 would
rather have Mr. Dorland against me than
for me. This I have never repeated till
now, and now only to you.
Another, whose name am not now at
liberty to mention, told me that you
have as a cherished gift in your house,
a bridal present from Mr.. j. E. Dorland,
representative OF the American Book
Co. This l have never repeated till now,
and now only to you.
know that, at the meeting OF the
Supts at Frankfort, of which you were
President, you we're opposed to any
book legislation, and that you, at the
solicitation Of a representative Of a Book
%, kept down all discussion Of the
matter. This l have not mentioned till
low, and now only to you.
have been informed that a gentle
man OF your county asserted publicly in
the Bowling Green Normal School that