The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-29


For the textbook scandal that has
shaken this state from end TO end. Gov.
Rogers u directly and primarily re-
sponsihie. superintendent Browne was
the moving force. the ready instrument
or the crime committed against the
taxpayers and the children OF WASH
ington. But Browne could have done
nothing without the machinery that
was Furnished ready to his hand. He
needed majority Of men in the state
board OF education who would prove
facile tools to % his bidding. He found
them because Gov. Rogers had placed
them there. where they could do
most harm and bring greatest Disgrace
upon the commonwealth. Contempt
ana wrath are hot against Browne.
whose part In this Infamous transact
tion stands revealed over his own sig
nature. wrath and contempt In equal
measure must be dealt to John Il. Rog-
era. its parent and promoter.
II IL not possiblc 10 read plain state
ment OF the steps that led UP to the
crime ana liz exposure without accept
ing. however reluctantly, the concur
sion that Gov. Rogers was willing
party to II. For the soil was too care
fully prepared. the arrangements too
skillfully made. No reason has ever
been given for the changes made In the
state board OF education In February.
1859. II was evident at that time that
the textbook question would. within
a year. become one OF vital importance
10 the state II was evident that. II the
Law was not changed. 20 prevent which
hls ofzies. this board must perform the
immensely important duty OF selecting
a system ~ books and entering into a
contract that would bind the state for
nve years thereafter A man who could
Ignore this IN making his selections
would be too stupid for any Office. A
man who had il in mind must have
prepared himself 10 accept fully the
responsibility for the actr % his ap-
pointees
The complexion 81 the new board, as
constituted rs Rogers. gives evidence
% the formation at that time Of the
Ubiquitous plan that has since been car.
ried ont browne Mas, by hts office.
chairman % the board II required but
two other votes 90 make him master OF
q, One was given to him outright by
The appointment % Meredith From
the ether two fasioa arpolntees he was
able 10 Eet his casting vote As We
have said. I, was as Impossible for Gov
Rogers 10 b. ignorant OF Innocent IN
this matter a. u would be 10 ignore
meeting AZ the legislature. with this
great work 70 perform in the selection
" textbooks bat a year away. with the
subject agitatsd Ia the legislature and
with his own interest 30 aroused ,Aa,
he stfvnuously and successfully resist
Cd any change in the law. RoKers took
upon hsa own shoulders the fun rs.Son.
ability for the sets If ,hs tribunal q
hts own creating
The thing that these men dii h
soarcely more remarkable than this
manner 81 their delng u. browne was
from the frat easily the manager q
the board Whenever the gorga Of q
member rose At having to 40 hts bid
ding, whenever back recommended
proved too atrSctoas aud merit obtained
some show. an adjournment was sscur-
ed. IN the interim things were 20 fxed
that the book OF the corporation
went through with a wh0op, I, was
not vainly that Browne had boasted
that he ala not see how they could b.
beaten. The scheme Was a SURE win
ner"; but Il was a winner because and
only because Gov. Rogers had SO con
stitated the board OF education. con
stitnted II. we must believe and have a
right to believe. with this very purpose