The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24

Gov John r. Rogers and his admnis-
tration is responsible to the people OF
the state of Washington for one OF the
grossest outrages ever perpetrsted on a
free people, in the adoption by the state
board of education of the text books
which are to be used In the public schools
of Washington during the next five years.
Evidence is at hand 10 show that State
superintendent Browne took advantage
of his official position and the venahty
or official malfeasance of Gov. Rogers
state board of education in order to force
upon the public schools of Washington
the worst set OF books ever adopted in
this state. The result OF the deal which.
from all appearances, Is the most cor
rupt and rotten on record in this state
Will be that the pupils of the state viii
be compelled to use during the next five
years set Of books many of which are
absolutely worthless. and which will cost
the people of the state hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars in excess OF a reason
able cost before any redress of the wrong
committed by the board can be obtained.
To add scandal TO the deal Gov. Rogers.
who is the responsible head Of the fusion
administration, has long posed as the
friend OF the school boy. The governor.
II not actually a consprator in the
wrong himself. might easily have pre-
vented It first by appointing competent
and honest board OF education, and. sec
ondly. by approving measure passed by
the last Legislature providing in effect
that in districts where there are high
schools and free text books, local boards
should decide what books should be
used in the public schools
That Gov. Rogers knew OF the big job
that was planned on the innocent school
children and their parents is more than
suspected from the fact that in February.
1899, near the close Of the legislature. he
retired the members of the board of ed.
ueation and substituted new men who
might be expected TO do his bidding IN
making the award OF school book con-
tracts last May.
Hrought Home To Browne.
To state Superintendent of Public In
struction Browne Is brought home knowl
edge Of and participation in. II not actual
pront from. this worst OF all scandals.
According to afldavlts in The possession
of the Post-Intelligencer. and letters
written by Superintendent Browne him
prime movers in the organization Of ;he
westland Publishing Company. a corpora
tlon formed for the exclusive purpose OF
publishing the school books adopted by
the state board OF education OF which
Mr.. Browne is ex-offleio president. Super
intendent Browne. in addition to being, Il
Is alleged. one OF the organizers OF the
company. although not appearing as an
officer, arranged that certain writer's
should prepare text books for tho schools
and promised them that they would be
adopted by the state board Of education.
This was several weeks before the board
met at Olympia last May and opened tho
bids from the various school book pub
fishing houses
In al least three cases the books which
MIR Browne had arranged for were
adopted by the state board of education.
One Of these. the speller compiled by w.
J. Hughes. OF Fairhaven. Is being pub
lished BY the WestIand Publishing Com
pany. which was organized under the
fostering care OF Superintendent Browne,
The speller Is probably the worst and
NOSE yaluelcsz book ever forced on the
public schools u Washington. More than
that. Il is the announced purpose of the
Wcstlsud Publishing Company 20 handle
practically the entire list of school books
adopted by the state board OF education
last May
THE Po~f-fntcilrencc e IN possession
~ absolute evidence that Superintendent
Browne was one of the prime movers in
the scheme % have text books adopted NY
the board 81 education and published by
the Westland Publishing Company There
is evidence 20 show that Mr. Browne IN.
tcrcsicd n o. HoBcnheck. of Seattle.
Eshan Allen. o. Tacoma, snd George =.
( Eankeahip On tho formation ~ the
Wostlaad Publishing Company. Ths
Pnsf-I -Intaiiicsacer has ia addition evi-
dcn-a chat Mr. Browne and his as.
slatant MI Leach. assisted IN the re-
si-inu of proof on same ~ tho books
prepared fnr adoption by tire state board.
Mr browne hlmsts sucoea1ea la Eniiinr
praf Hushcs. she city superintendent
af Falrhaveu ard farmer member 1f she
state beard u education. so prepare the
,aly far tbe sueller which hs Informed
Mr Hughes. tArouEh a fhgrd party. would
be ad sptta try the state baarI aud whith
ls rnv being pgaashed by the wsstiand
Puhaship< Company
80 app,Ars ,hsi early in thr ulpt cEEi-
nre-c4 hy sager.rtcu1ept browne. aai
made successfll throaeh che sabservien'
: aEency ut Gov RaeeEs' npHointees on
5 trc state board ~ s8gra'ieu. the state
sapcvinteu8enf Interested r F. Hollcraft
Z "a camposit1s uaw In ihe smPiay - the
2 srarc rriHting ofnce in olympia. in his
/ plans. Mr Halieraft. ~ "a statement made
I ta ths Post -iHtfIlEeu-f a fcN days agu
/ reveals tue iasids workings ~ tbc Rogers
/ Browne ul9t " baich. when Known ana un-
! derstQod. wlu be branded BY the voters G..