The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-02-20
srnsnRlPrror RArEs.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 90, 1899.


PNNAtAE r~--'f-
THE LEADER does not insist that the
contract with the American Book Com
pany now existing be annu'led, but 1t
does insist, in behalf Of the school
patrons Of Oklahoma, that this book
concern be forced TO comply with the
provisions Of its contract
In the first place, the American
Book Company has not, in letter or
spirit, touched the lines Of its con-
tract, since the text books furnished
the territory during the past eighteen
months are absolutely rotten.
The majority OF these books are
inoss-covered, and did duty in Illinois
during the boyhood Of Abraham Lin
coin.
The territory has been bilked to a
finish on these books, which were
printed from old plates at a nominal
cost. and made to do service here at
profit Of 20 to 40 por cent to the cons
cern holding the contract,
An examination OF any one of these
text books furnished by the American
Book Trust win prove the truth Of
THE LEApER's contention Take the
fourth grade geography alone, which
can be seen at any book store. In
this geography Oklahoma does not
appear on the maps 1t is stin
part Of the Cherokee country
To make amends for this
lack Of adequate map facilities, the
book publishers haze worked up an
insert Of Oklahoma to the amount of
three lines. The young oklahomsn
who wishes TO learn Of the settlement,
growth and development Of his be-
loved commonwealth is confronted
with this sucginct information
"oklahoma was settled in 1859. It
was originally a part Of the Indian
Territory"
That's all Oklahoma gets in tn is
truthful, instructive geography. Yet
the parent OF the child who runs and
reads must bow to the dictates Of a
trust and pay GO per cent more for the
book than obtained under the open
system, when the districts bought
their books direct from the publish
ers and knew what they were getting.
The LEADER believes that a whole
sale change in school text books at
this time would work a gross hard
ship on the people of the territory,
yet rather than submit longer TO a
rank swindle change is desirable If
not that, then the legislature should
enact suitable legislation forcing the
book concern to supply up to date
book material for the schools.
Two years ago when the American
Book Company was batting the Fourth
assembly for handout, it made rep
reservations looking to Grst class text
books. Columns Of statistics and ar
guments were submitted to the as
sembly showing the superiority Of
the American Book Company's text
bookslover those Of rival concerns.
The assembly dalled with the meas
ure and came dangerously near
sguelehing IT, but liberal application
Of soap in weak spots finally placed
the Chicago outfit in possession Of
snap, which nets it thirty thousand
dollars year
When the first installment OF the
American Book Company's text books
arrived in the territory prodigiouo
howl went up from teachers in all
parts OF the territory. Quite suddenly
these howls ceased II was remarked
Rt the time that representatives Of
the American Rool Company were un-
commonly friendly with certain inhu-
ential instructors Of the territory
The present toxt-book is fraud on
Is face. II does not in any respect
come within the provisions Of the con-
sract made with Governor Benfrow
and Auditor Nichols TWO years ago.
A few days after delivery Of the
book contract to the Chicago concerns
emissary, Auditor Nichols remerked:
"The biggest fake ever worried in
Oklahona was that Of the American
Book company, Their books are
warmed over editions. Time will
prove that these text booke will cost
the people dearly"
Nichols words are borne out BY