The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-06
BOOKS FOR STATE SCHOOLS.
MERRY WAR GOING on BEFORE
THE STATE BOARD.
Agents and Publishers From the
East and Local Concerns Asking
for share of the 100000
That Is Involved I'm the Award.

Special Dispatch TO the acknowledgements.
OLYMPIA, May 5-The bids for fur
nishing text books to the public schools of
Washington Will be opened by the state
beard Of education I'm the office Of Supt.
Brown on Monday at clock. A strong
and numerous lobby OF representatives OF
Eastern publishing houses have been In
the state for several weeks past and are
now in this city. The local publishers
also are on the ground, and are aided by
friends working In the interest Of the
books of the Westiand Publishing Com
pany, the corporation formed recently and
composed OF publishers of Seattle, Tacoma
and Olympia Supt. Brown says he is in
receipt OF many letters from school men
warning him to keep watchful eye and
not 70 select inferior books because they
happen TO be presented by local publishers,
and in this connection nc has given as
surance that what he votes for he VIII
be willing to maintain against all others.
The members OF the state board say they
are not committed TO any book or to any
firm, and Will act with absolute freedom in
selecting texts In harmony with the
most advanced pedagogic thought as ex-
pressed In the state course of study
new factor has appeared In the field
IN the person OF Harr Wagner. Of San
Francisco. who Will present a new geog-
raphy, based upon the idea OF the new
Pacific and Its commercial interests, with
special relation 70 the state of Washing
fishing houses Is the appearance OF Prof
Hoenshil. of Kansas who will present his
grammar. which has lately made entrance
into the schools of Nebraska. Another
man who expects to go home in good hui
NOR is Ira L. Eaton OF Chicago, who is
representing his own books.
These parties represent books outside OF
what Is known as the book trust" the
American Book Company. The latter now
furnishes large percentage of the state
text books.
This evening the board of education met
In supt. Browns office and arranged
programme OF procedure for Monday after
noon.
The lobbying done by the book men re-
minds one greatly OF a legislative session
while an important bill Is up for consid-
Grafton. These agents are all keen men,
probably the best in their line In some
Instances agents OF the principal publish
ing houses have been reinforced by mem
bers of the firms they represent Not
only have tho book men been in Olympia
bomhardlng the state superintendent Of
nce, hut they have besiesed the governor
and all have visited the members of the
state board at their home towns This IL
hardly 10 be wondered at, when Il Is con-
sidered that In the award to be made
Monday approximately 81 900. 600 Is involved.
The labor unions OF the state have been
making an earnest fight to have hooks Sc
ieefed that are printed In union establish
ments. Numerous letters have been re-
ceived by the state board from the various
cities OF the state on this point. and also
many communications from other parties
who insist that local publishers be given
the preference, all other things being
equal. .,