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


OF Washington. the people Of the state
owe the miserable Job put up against
their most sacred interests In the Browne
westland school book contract. The Post
Tntellieencer has shown conclusively that
the contract for the school text books.
fixed up by Superintendent Browne and
Gov. Rogers fusion appointees on the
state board OF education. viii cost the tax
payers OF the state a big sum at the end
OF FIVE years. the period Of adoption. But
money cannot measure the damage done
20 the growing youth OF the state by the
collusion which existed between Superin-
tendent Browne, promoter and chief fac
totum In the organization Of the Westland
Publishing Company. and the plant tools
OF Gov. Rogers who sat as members OF a
body which should zealousiy guard the
interests of the public schools.
The public schools OF Washington are
to be hampered during the next five years
by a set of school books many of which
are so filed with evidence OF ignorance
on the part of their authors as to be worse
than useless. That they are positive
injury TO the schools has been proven
beyond shadow Of a doubt.
The Post-Inteiligcncer. In its expose OF
the corrupt deal entered into by Super
intendent Browne and the governors APP
pcintees on the state board OF education.
laid the blame for the outrage where II
Justly belongs. namely. upon the head Of
Gov. Rogers. Thus far no one has at
tempted to defend the governor from the
Post-Intelligencer's charge. The governor
himself is campaigning In Eastern WASH
ington. He is too busy trying, with the
aid Of Senator Turner and the latter's
political heelers. 10 re-elect himself to re-
ply to the charges made against him.
Gov. Rogers appointed the members Of
the present state board OF education. with
he exception Of Superintendent Browne.
who is ex-ofsicio president OF the body.
The governor is plainly responsible for the
acts of his appointees. The manner Of
the appointment OF tho present board and
the circumstances surrounding the adop-
tion OF the new books form an important
chapter In the indictment held against the
governor by the people Of this state.
Gov. Rogers on February Is. 1899. al
lowed three members OF the former board
OF education. named by himself. TO retire
from the management OF the schools OF
the state and substituted new men. The
retired members. who, under ordinary cir
oumstances, 1t would appear were en-
Titled to serve another term. were. Mrs
c. " = Rice. of Tacoma. J. w. Morgan
OF EllenshurS; J. n. Walker. Of Spokane.
ana W. J. Hughes. OF FaIrhaven. The
three new appointecs made February q
lse, were: r. f Frars. OF Everett King
county's school superintendent w. J.
Meredith. who Is a student az the rfniver-
s!ty Of Washington. and J. T. Dumas. Of
Dayton. +. ". Plumb OF North Yakima
was named septrtn her rs. lsss Mr.. Dumas
iS Republican and an able and canscien-.
uous man. AT no time during the
wretcAed and underhandsd dealings Of
the Browne Westland regime ala be lend
his sanction 70 the adoption of the pres
cnt repreheasihle school books
M Explanation onercd.
No defender of Gov. Rogers has av.r
sought 70 show why he allowed the mem.
hsTs 81 the ota board OF education to re-
tire February Is. issa. week before the
expiration q their terms Il was abou,
that ,ime that the legislature had Ia
vorahiy considered and vas on tha r,oin.
81 passing the Mcdonald hsii. providing
Tor ihe purchase ana adoption ~ text
books ny lcs'Ai hoar5s ir districts where
there are high schools or where the srom
text book system prevails u Is rns4FA,s
nay. probable. IN TIE Hrht az recent s.-
veicpmentS, that the governor acted un-
der the atviee of state Superintendent
Browne, who was then Planning 70 con.
hummste TIRE outrage on ;he rahIte schools
a. ;ha state which followed when the u4a,a
board adopted The Wagner geogTaehv. the