Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-10-11
DEPENDING THE BOOK TRUST
Republican Party Takes Up Fight
of American Book Co.
BROWNE HAD IT sQuELCHED
But the Octopus seises the Opportunity
AffOl ded by the state Campaign. The
McGraw Gang Willing Tools.

McGraw Gang willing Tools.
The republican party of the state
through its mouth-piece, the Seattle P.-I.,
has at last showed its hands on the trust
question, having taken up the fight in
this state for the American Book Co., one
of the largest and most dangerous of
trusts, since it affects the very foundation
of our civilization-the public school.
For the past four years the charge has
been made time and time again that the
republican party in this state, as well as
in the Union, upheld and protected
trusts and monopolies. The republican
party through its papers and speakers
have denied this. Now, however, the
P.-I., the personal organ of John L. Will
son and John H. McGraw, the two men
who stand as the personal sponsors for
the full republican ticket in this state
from Frink down, comes out and defends
the American Book Company, and to
produce a semblance of a defense attacks
State Superintendent Browne.
HERE ARE THE CHARGES.
The charges made against Browne by
the Pr. are that he was, and is, finan-
cially interested in the Westland Publish
ing Company, publishing company in
the state of Washington whose stock
holders are citizens of this state; that
Superintendent Browne awarded the con-
tracts for the publication of the new
series of books to this company; that the
books are bad and cost the people more
money. Not one single one of the above
statements is true. They are knowingly
and willfully false and are made as q
hope to attract attention of the people
from the real fact, to-wit, that the Ameri-
can Book Company il seeking to again
impose burden on the people of this
state and in the fight is defended by the
republican party Of Washington. Mr..
Browne is not interested financially in
the Westland Publishing Company. The
state board of education awarded but
two books to the Westland Company.
Twelve other books being awarded to
other companies among them being such
we'll known houses as Rand, McNally &
Company, Heath & Company and others.
The only house that did not get its share
was the American Book Company. It
is the only kicker and the one behind
the present charges. The books do not
cost the parents more than the old series,
in fact they do not cost as much. The
prices show for themselves. The books
are regarded by teachers all over the
state as superior to the former series i'm
posed upon them by the American Book
Company and for which they were pray
ing and beseeching the state board OF
education to relieve them. There may
be mistakes in some of them-minor
errors only-but even with their ills they
are better than what we have had to
suffer. A mild case of chicken pox is
preferable to a severe case of smallpox.
WHEN THE FIGHT BEGAN.
Some six years ago Mr.. Browne, then
teacher in the schools of King county,
opposed the books presented by this
trust. The trusts at that time pursued
the same tactics it has pursued all over
the Union. A personal fight was made
against Browne, and by the influence of
the trust, through it's maker and sponsor,
the republican party, forced Mr.. Browne
out of his position. He was nominated
four years ago at Ellensburg because he
was known to be opposed to this trust.
It was his record that caused him to re-
ceive large majority Of the votes of this
state. At that Ellensburg convention
the American Book Company had agents
to try to defeat his nomination, and,
failing in this, openly boosted that they
would yet "humble him to the DUST.
When he went into Office he continued
the fight, most just and noble one, and
he won, for which he should receive the
very lasting thanks Of the people of this
state.
When the state board met to award
the contracts for the new books in May
the American Book Company was on
hand with agents and detectives, even
going so far as to bring to Olympia women
Of questionable reputation to aid them
in their nefarions work. The board went
through their bids. The books OF the
American Book Company were not only
not desirable, but were too high, and as
a result they secured no contracts, the
awards going to publishing houses out
side the trust. During all this fight it IL
notable thing that the single man who
fought for the trust, who urged the