The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-24
"GOV. HEARD AND The
SCHOOL BOOK TRUST
(New Orleans DaiIy states.l

New Orleans Daily States.)
Last nights dispatches from Baton
| Rouge Indicate that Governor Heard is
after the School Book Trust with
Dlackthorn club. On the first of August
the present contract for textbooks for the
public schools of the State will expire,
and with view to taking action prelim-
! mary to another contract the State
board of education was assembled at the
capital yesterday 1t has been charged
upon reputable authority that the patrons
of the public schools in Louisiana have
been paying more for their textbooks than
is the case in some other Southern States,
and 1T was with a view to looking into
this matter, as well as examining the
merits of the textbooks offered by pub
fishers, that a resolution was offered by
Mr.. Scarborough providing for the ap
pointment of a committee composed Of
the presidents of the three great educa-
tional institutions supported by the
State-the State University, the Normal
school at Natchitoches and the Industrial
school at Ruston-to examine into the
merits of the books offered and to report
the result of their Investigations TO the
State board.
Most of the books in use in the public
schools are controlled by the American
Book Company, powerful school book
trust, whose methods have been the sub
ject of much criticism and denunciation
in number of States, and many of
whose books, both as regards price and
merit have met with strong objections in
Louisiana. These facts being we'll known
in this State, it is unfortunate that sew
eral members of the board yesterday felt
that the resolution proposing to get ex-
pert opinion on the merits of the books
offered for adoption might be construed
into a reflection upon their capacity to
make selections. The resolution was Of
fered by one of the ablest members of the
board, and any reflection upon the ca
pacity of the board, resulting from this
resolution would have attached to the
author of the resolution as we'll as to any
other member. Being a clearheaded,
public-spirited gentleman of the highest
personal integrity, it is inconceivable
that he should have introduced a resolu-
tion which impugned the capacity and
motives of himself and his colleagues. In
a matter of such vital Importance to the
people of this State in which both the
price and quality for the next four years
of the school books used in the thousands
of public schools in Louisiana are in
volved, there is necessity for the utmost
caution in proceeding. 1t is important
that when the State board shall meet to
finally act upon the selection of the
books to be used it should be in posses
sion of expert opinion bearing both upon
the mechanical and literary makeup of
g 4Ia{ra 40 fob
to the needs of the schools. 1t is neces-
sary, also, that this expert opinion should
be free and unbiased by any connection
with, or sympathy for, the book trust,
which is now seeking to monopolize the
educational system of the State, as it
has dominated those of other States.
It has been suggested that Governor
Heard acted arbitrarily in asking for the
resignation of those members who, inno-
Gently, no doubt, opposed the plan de-
signed to thwart the Book trust in their
efforts to force high-priced and inferior
books upon the school children of
louisiana We grant that his action was
arbitrary, but the situation had re-
solved itself to the point where failure
to act summarily would have placed the
schools of this State, for the next four
years, completely at the mercy of the
Book Trust. The arbitrary action of the
Governor was, therefore, in the highest
degree commendable, saving the State, as
it did, from falling under the mercileSs
despotism of the school book trust.
While the States has the highest regard
for the estimable gentlemen who felt IT
TO be their duty to resign from the board,
vet the fight in this State between now
and the first of August is one between
the people and the Book Trust, with
Governor Heard on the side of the people.
We must have cheaper school books, we
must permit no book trust to place an
embargo upon the education OF the poorer |
classes of our people, nor must our public
school system become but an adjunct Of
a remorseleSs and grinding trust
But the book trust is a powerful force
in this State and we charge Governor |
Heard to grid up his loins and make keen
the edge of his glittering axe. The peo-
pie who pay heavy tribute to the book
trust are with him, but there is going to
be tremendous commotion in Louisiana
before this thing is settled. The book
trust with it's many ramifcations in every
parish in Louisiana, is as full of resources |
as an egg is of meat It's emissarles are |
going to persuade many people and many |
excellent teachers that the fight is in
spired purely by rival book concerns and
for selfish interests; they are going to
raise a great hullaballoo about the great |
hardship which the Governor proposes to
inf1ict upon the people by change OF
text books We should not be surprised |
to see petitions mile long from teachers |
hoo 1tNTN hyT hal
representations of the creatures of this |
trust, protesting against any changes. |
School boards and teachers are going to
resolute from Hell fer sartin to Kingdom
Come, and there is going to be a tremend-
Gus uproar. Stand firm, Governor; grasp
tightly the handle of your trusty axe and |
give the children of this State cheaper
and better books, and, like the old coun-
tryman at the circus, cut off the head of
a trust snake wherever you see one.
COMMENCEMENT AT THE
KINSEY SEMINARY.