The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-05

Browne Answers Browne.
The last refuge OF detected crime is
to invent some accusation. no matter
how false or foolish, against the
aveneer There could be no stronger
Indirect proof of the nefarioss work Of
the Rogers Browne westland book
trust Job than its method OF meeting
exposure. The facts admit OF neither
explanation nor denial. Therefore the
man and the party responsible for this
sacrifice Of the interests OF children
and taxpayers took refuge In the cry Of
BOOK Trust" and did not hesitate in
their calumny to mention in that con-
nection the name Of the Republican
candidate for superintendent Of public
instruction.
We present elsewhere the facts which
show the whole Of this to be one Of the
base ISLANDERS Of which the Democratic
campaign has been 30 prolific. Indeed,
it's managers seem to have discarded
completely all respect for truth; and
In their preparation OF campaign ma
terial have come to rely wholly upon
the Imagination. Every voter is asked
to note the demolition OF this latest
fnlsehOod and the violence with which
II recoils on the head OF inventor and
accomplice.
As to the American Book Company.
commonly called the Book Trust. we
have spoken freely. and shall again II
occasion calls for It. But at no time
has II been or threatened to become
factor in the Affairs OF this state. II
II were as menAcing as has been
claimed, that would be no excuse for
the formation of corrupt book trust
within the state. owing It's existence to
the hope and promise OF Official favor.
But the Book Trust has had no foot
Ing here. In 1850 the firms which
formed Il by consolidation fur
nsshed 70 per cent OF the states text
books In 1895. at the time II Is assert
ed to have been 50 dangerous. it sue
ceeded In securing the contract for ex-
actiy one book. As there are some
seventy other concerns competing with
II In this country. II rs not clear why
Mr. Browne should have felt " neces-
sary TO form a measlcy little trust OF
n - frr
,alons The truth Is that the Book
Trusts only connection with the case
Is that the sinners In this local dea,
have hoped 10 hide their own trans
greszions behind IL. skirts. The asser-
tion that II has interested itself in this
campaign In behalf OF any Republican
candidate is unauaiiaedly false.
More dsstardly than this fabrication
h the mention OF Prof Rryan's name
| In this connection. There Is probably
no man whom the Book Trust would
not rather see clected superintendent
% public instruction than he The
crashing evidence, however. against
this malignant falsehooi % she Demo
crsito partisans. ard the refuta-
I ton which shows them In a hi9hly
| iuairreus HIGHT, Is letter from super
| lntenaent Browne himself II win be
rememhered that Browne. in bis state
naen,. ,ola how for years his irnmssa-
late virtue bad been rcpoIling Book
Trust assaults: how he had ac0rRfuliy
| rviected its briees and had traced !ss
uaehInAtlons throagA SIS various rep
rvscntatives and friends In ihis state
antil he had p,erced al their DISCUSSES
This same Browne. no later than last
MAY. went on record over hts own slw-
nature a. voucasng In the strongest
| terms for the absolute integrity Ok the
man whom he now assaults b indlree-
| ,ien and whom his poor apolosists DO
! not hesitate 10 accuse By name. After
speaking In e0loSy a Prot. BrySn's
work Browne says; Il also wish 10
speak ot his exalted character as a
gentleman and citizen. and os bis eftI-
Client Official career as superintendent
o. public Instruction during the trying
period u the hrst state administration.
when his skin and Judgment set In mo-