The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-12-21
WHAT DOES IT MEAE7
NeIsGn-s Amendments TO school Book Law
Looks as Though he Wished TO Sur
render to Book Combine.

ASA@sE - A1oo4 Io---N-A9s
The proposed plan Of the state sup
erintendent to have the legislature
amend the present school text book
law may place the patrons Of the school
again at the mercy Of the book com
panies.
Mr.. Nelson has recommended that
the legislature empower the state
school text book commission, in con
junction with the county superintend-
ents, to authorize such changes in the
text books as they may deem wise and
proper.
In explaining his plan Mr.. Nelson
does not admit that it is In the inter
ests OF the book companies, but claims
that his idea has in view only benefits
for the patrons.
HSOme Of the books which We nov
have are inferior. By making changes
we could improve the class Of books
and obtain a better book for the price
which is now being paid"
This is the explanation which Mr..
Nelson makes, in response to which
prominent Kansas educator, the head
Of a state educational institution, has
written the following to Gov. Stanley:
"Mr. Nelson's explanation does not
explain to Us who are opposed to the
grasp of the book combines what ad-
vantage viii accrue, beyond a small
saving in the price Of books. It seems
to me that the position of the state
superintendent, followed to its con
eiusion, means that the people who buy
these books, viii, If his amendment be
passed, be placed absolutely at the
mercy Of the book companies.
'The law which We now have was en-
acted to insure state uniformity. The
adoption Of the amendment proposed
by Mr.. Nelson would do away with that
which We 50 long sought
1T is a trivial thing to contemplate,
without reasoning as to its results, but
consideration of the proposed amend
ment indicates to my mind that it
would destroy all the advantages which
We have obtained.
County superintendents and the
book commission could easily find
flaws in any of the books now in use
and under the provisions Of this am
endment, could order them replaced
with other books. Then the patrons
would suffer an additional expense.
81 have talked with a number of
teachers on this subject and they ex
press the opinion that the amendment
is bad one and should be killed.
while the state superintendent may
be innocent Of any intention to do the
people an injustice, yet this amend
ment which he suggests and so heartily
endorses, certainly will be a danger
Gus proposition. It would return the
state to the old conditions and place
the patrons Of schools again at the
mercy Of the book companies.
Il hope the state teachers associa-
ton next week will denounce the am
endment and urge that it be not ad-
opted, if Mr. Nelson persists in push
ing it.
"Many Of the county superintendents
and other superintendent Of schools
are under obligations to the book com
pantes for libraries, book cases and
books, and like the politicians who
rides on a railroad pass, would be in
cliued to favor concessions to the
benefactOr. The idea Of amending the
book law is a bad one and I hope the
administration viii work against it,
steps the Cough and Works on the Cold
Laxative BrOmO-Quinine Tablets
cure a cold in one day. No cure, no
pay. Price 25c.