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

Full opportunity has been given the
Brcwne-Rosers-w estland school-book
syndicate TO prepare and present their
defenses TO the charge that in coIlu-
sion, conspiracy and fraud. they have
fossted upon the school children Of
this state series Of school books full
Of the erossest plumbers. prepared sole
ly to sell, which books were prepared.
printed and published in pursuance Of
an unlawful agreement that they would
be accepted by the board OF education
Of this state. as the textbooks for use
In the public schools, no matter what
their defects. and no matter how In
ferior they might prove to be in COM
petition with other books offered for the
same purpose.
The defense has been offered, II has
been published in every fusion paper
In the state. which is supporting Rogers
for reelection. Tho issues are made
up; the evidence II before the people
ana their verdict Is to be rendered In
four weeks.
To recapItuiate the facts. which are
not denied in the answer which the de-
PENDANT has made In the case:
Prior TO the letting OF the contracts
for the furnishing OF all OF the books
for the use Of the children In the pub
lie schools OF this state. superintendent
Browne interested himself In procuring
the formation OF company. to engage
IN the business OF printing and pub
fishing school books He aiso interested
himself to procure a number OF per-
sons. including one OF the clerks In an
executive offlce in Olympia. 10 write
or compile certain textbooks for use
In the public schools. Those books
WIRE written at his solicitation, were
printed or published at his solicitation.
By a company formed at his solicita-
tion. and were presented. at his solI-
citation. In a competition In which Mr..
Browne was sitting as a Judge 70 pass
upon the merits. In this competition
the vote Of Mr. Browne was recorded
In every single instance for the books
which he had procured to be published.
With one exception. all OF these books
were selected fer use In the public
schools OF this state.
The value az the contract which Mr.
browne was thus the instrument IN
having awarded the company which he
had procured 20 be created. Is several
hundreds % thousands Of dollars. Every
one of the individuals making up the
wsssland Publishing Company win be-
come Independently wealthy by virtue
OF his lnieres, In this contract. II IL
also fact, not seriously denied. that
yrli OF the books furnished are Tar In
fvTior TO others presented In the COM
.yesitton. tina, their price n 40 less.
hut on the contrary. on TIRE average Is
higher.
What - the defense which AFR.
browne ana his associates have 20 this
charzes Simply that ths attacks on
him were ias,igatea by tire so-caliei
''lsook trust" An after thought. q folly
= ana faiseheod without one word q
evidence 90 sustain e. Only this. ard
nothing more. There L. FLEA 10 AbaSe-
inert interposea, that he was se;aa;cd
hy motive 60 eund no herns Industries.
aas that counts for little IN view O, the
fact that al % the literary and the
ehAn,cal work on one % the books ae-
vepsea. thu Wagner geography. was
cone IN another state. the weS,iani
1aeushlng Company simply reeketsng
shs proais after paving elsewhere the
eliis Cor the cos; % productlOn
The facts shown ARE conclusive of
fraud ana conspiracy. There was no
a.noTupeti,ion In the letting Of school
books. as the law eOn,emplatss. There
Nas no comparison OF nerits. a. the