The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-31

The Messenger some time g had
some editorials on the book question
for North Carolina schools. 1t favored
a chang 1t insisted upon the best
books at the lowest possible price. The
law passed by the legislature struck
us all right. But somehow there is
failure and a rumpus. There is a
stalwart fight going on, and the trusts
are in it. We agree with our able
contemporary. the Reidsvil1e Weekly,
in this:
I'VE hope the board will not allow
the trusts swarm of agents to DIVERT
attention from the fact that 1t is the
Independent publishers who have forced
a reduction in the price OF books. But
for them the trusts would dictate the
price in spite of our new law. Is 1t
right and lust, after these Independent
publishers have enabled us to win the
fight for to give the lions
share Of the contract to the trust? 1t
is not the decent thing and the people
will never endorse it. Mark you, the
men on the board who do it will in the
future n Jordan a hard o to
travel"
That is fair and positive. There is
nothing but surprise and folly in the
attempt to give the trust a showing in
TIE patronage of North Carolina. Do
not dare to do this. It will be wrong,
it will be an iniquity. We notice in the
New Orleans papers there is a battle
of books in that state also Gov
Heard is acting the manly, upright
part. The Times-Democrat, the leading
democratic newspaper OF that state
and section, avs this:
1.-The resolute stand of the Chief Elk
ecutive implies a dauntless courage
and a ~sleepless vigilance for the pubic
Welfare. 1t is much easier in such a
Ease to let things take their course,
since the parent must foot the bill, and
the responsibility for extravaganza
might be shifted to other shoulders.
This evasive policy is only too common
among officials of high and low degree
and Mr.. Heard's high minded champ
ionShip of the children'S cause is made
all the more honorable blythe contrast.
1.-THE subject presents two phases,
both entirely worthy of the most care
full attention. In the first place, 1T is
necessary that the textbooks should
be scrutinized by experts OF the most
~undoubted competence n authority.
1t is a matter of n%otoriety that a very
large number Of publications. liz the
bogus razors are simply made to SELL
The again the progress in educational
methods has been very great OF late
years, and il Is perfectly certain that
many school-books are quite out of
date"
The Messenger is not trying to rep
resent any company or series of books.
1t wishes to see right lone. 1t wishes
to see, all things being equal, southern
publishers favored. The south is for
ever a newer of WOO and a drawer
of water for the north. Have
some independence, self-reliance and
appreciation of home productions.
We note with pleasure that our old
friend of more than a half century,
Mr.. w. H. P. Jenkins. the eloquent
legislator from Granville, who made
such a fine impression upon the MEM
bers. has written a letter to the Raleigh
News and Observer in which he says
emphatically that the people are op-
posed out and out to giving the favors
of the state to the very publishers who
fought the good law. We quote a
passage from this intelligent legisla-
tor and ever faithful North Carolinian
notwithstanding the opposition of
these companies the bill was passed and
7 learn that the bills of the various
publishers show a reduction of from 80
to 40 per cent.
For many years l have been connec-
ted with the public schools of the state,
and have found by long experience the
hooks now in use were not SatlSfac-
tory either in matter or price, and no
act IN my legislative career has given
me more pleasure than the vote L cast
for the school book law.
'.It is now reported that the Unlver-
sitv and American Book Companies are
e~ndeavoring to make the state board
believe that the people want the BOOKS;
that these companies have furnished
for the past thirty years at exoroltant
prices, retained for the next five years.
Mr. Jenkins is thoroughly we'll quail
ifed to form and express an opinion
on this subject. The New Orleans
States cuts to the bone one E. S. Stod-
.dacd.-. of the Book Trust" and tells
slew he .fourished like a green bay
tree as one of the division superinten-
dents of education in the halcyon car
pet-bag days of Yarmouth and KEEL
Iogg and now arises from the tomb of
oblivion to which the people consigned
him in 1876 and draws his trusty blade
in defense of the book trust"