The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24

Washington as the most venai and das-
tardly conspiracy against the public
schools Of Washington on record. MIR
Hollcraft's statement. which he is will
ing to swear to. is in substance as fol-
lows:
The Conspiracy Revealed.
''My first Information regarding the in
ception of the Westfand Publishing Com
pany was obtained late in the year 1899
from State Supt Of Public Instruction
Frank ]. Browne and his assistant, Prof
/. II. Leach. In December. 1899 Mr.
Leach asked me TO come to his house. as
he wished to talk 10 me about the propo-
sftion. He outlined, In a general way.
a proposition TO have a lot OF the school
books to be adopted by the board of cdu-
cation of the state OF Washington at
It's meeting in May. 1860, published in
Olympia. Mr.. Leach said that they. in
dlcating himself and Mr. Browne and
their associates in the enterprise. were
then engaged in preparing copy for the
readers and other books for use in the
public schools of the state.
"T'he next day. at Supt Brownies re-
quest. called on him at his office. viz,
the office OF the state superintendent of
public instruction at Olympia. Mr.,
, Browne asked me II I would cooperate
with him in the matter of preparing and
printing school text books TO be adopted
by the board OF education of the state ot
Washington for use in the public schools
of the state In particular he asked me
TO visit and secure the assistance and CO.
operation of Prof w. J. Hughes, of Fair
haven. in the compilation of spelier
10 he used in the public schools of the
state.
EARLY In January 1900. at meeting
In his office. Supt. Browne Informed me
that a company would be organized. viz.
the Westland Publishing Company. to
publish books that would be adopted by
the state board Of education for use In
the public schools Of the state. He in
formed me that George E. Bankenship,
of Olympia. II O Holenbeck. OF seat
tie, and other persons would be interested
In the company. Mr.. Braae~ said that
ii was contemplated 10 have part OF the
work done IN Olympia and some OF 1t
done in Seattle and Tacoma.
During the conversations with Mr.
Browne above referred 20 he told me
that could assure Prof. Hughes that he
need not be afraid that the book would
not be adopted by the state board OF
education. He told me TO tell Hughes
that the price would be twenty cents Tor
the speller in the bid 20 the b6ard of
education. that Il would be adopted with
out any doubt.
"Mr. Browne also informed me that I
could tell Prof. Hughes, on his authority.
that the state would probably require
100000 spoilers of which perhaps So,oo
would have 10 be put in the exchange ac-
count. and 1900 sold outright. Browne
said that | could tell Hughes. as coming
from him. that the board Of education
would limit the date of exchange on the
speller and other books TO october !.
1919. thus materially increasing his pronts
on the books sold outright.
Il went 20 see Mr Hughes 81 Mr..
Brownies request Mr. Browne gave me
about dozen spelling books written by
various authors. one of tbom published
IN 1853 He told me 90 give these spoilers
TO SIR. Hughes for him 20 use as copy
in the preparation of a speller 70 he
adopted by the state board of education.
"supt Browne further informed me
at one " my interviews with him that
Harr Wagner ~ san Francisco. and
William O. Krahn. Of Chicago. would
prepare the geography and physiology.
respectively. 70 be adopted by the board
of education FOR use In the public schools
of Washington. The geography, ne sad,
was 10 be printed in San Francisco and
the physiology in Chicago and credited
to the westiand Publishing Company
ITO mv knowledge, both Supt Bruane
aud his assistant. Mr Leach. revised ana
edited the proofs ~ some of the books
submitted 20 the board Of education for
adoption Mf Browne IN particular rec
vlsed the proofs 81 the auxiliary arith-
metic adopted by ihe board ~ education
| ana published BY the Westlani Publish
ing Company.
Both supt Browne and his assistant.
! Mr Leach. gave me 20 understand that
| they we're interested 80 the Organization
/ ~ the WsstlaRa Publishing Company.
and the impression they Ravc me was
that they were Interested Ia the enter
prise and we're 10 be shareholders 10 the
/ Company when Il was organized. Supi
/ Browne discussed in my presence. ~ tsc
I printing affice ~ NJ Record Publishing
D company. az oivmph. some time during
4 the month ~ IaEuary $50. ine details
Z % the nark ard cost f Publishing tho
| arithmetic which was O. he adopted hy
| She state onar3 et edacatsn. Suut
Z Browne asked Nr Hiaukeaship what
certain tspe foy sians fa tne book wpaiH
( rost Mr EIaukenebip said THAI if @1aid
{ - about s. Mr. browne sAla in Sub
stance All rshr-l saeFs we can staud
Z thar.'"
tsy. RoKrrs Blsmeahie.
/ A. Is COY. Rogers part On this niseT-
! abie conspiracy ;he fvlaence s cirsF fn
4 che arsg place the governor appoints the
! members - iAe sa5rd ~ education. v4fh
I tas exception af the uresldeot uaa "a
( tae state ssperintenaeHt TIE o0ara ~
1 education last Mty awarded ths caa-
! tract for the tcgt books. Bat there ~ere
1 certain aevnlopmcnis as fsr back as
I February = Isa which are iniarrstiug
as throwing light on she ssvcrnprs CO. ser
I feiatlon Go the schoog book deal.
{ In February. i~7. soon 4f1eF he was in
/ auguratca. GOV. Ragers appointed tor rae
/ term % tive years me following naemters
Of the state heara of education; Carrie
! V. 5. Rice. q Tacoma. J. II. Morgan. oi