The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-25
The Battle Of the Books.
lNew Orleans Timeg-Demoerat.l

New Orleans Times emocrat.)
The battle of the books, upon which
Gov. Heard has just entered, means much
for the highest interests of State and
city The resoute stand of the Chief
Executive implies a dauntless courage
and a sleepless vigilance for the public
welfare. 1t is much easier in such a case
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 championship of the chill
dren's cause is made all the more honor
able by the contrast
The subject presents two phases, both
entirely worthy of the most careful at
tention. In the first place, it is necessary
that text books should be scrutinized by
experts of the most undoubted competence
and authority. 1t is a matter of noto-
riety that a very large number OF publ
cations, like the bogus razors, are sim
ply made to sell" Then, again, the prog
ress in educational methods has been very
great of late years, and it is perfectly
certain that many school books are quite
out of date. Moreover, not few of these
catchpenny volumes breathe a spirit that
is utterly repulsive to the people of this
section We are quite at a loss to UNI
derstand why Mr.. Scarborogh's motion to
appoint a competent and disinterested
committee of educators should have been
found obnoxious. Whatever may have
been the motive, the fact remains that
such supervision is among the prime ne
cessties OF the hour.
Besides the qestion of price must be
reckoned with. There can be no doubt
that the methods of the trusts have been
applied in this field, with especial rigor.
The battle of the books has been fought
in several States, and the Book Trust has
shown infinite fertility of resource. The
giant concern has expended millions, to
the end that every source of output may
be controlled It is bad enough that
syndicates should hold the nations basic
industries in their iron grip. 1t is in
hnitely worse that organized capital
should deal the case of the common
schools an insidious blow. The masses
may look on with comparative unconcern,
while the shares of a great railway sys-
tenn are cornered; but the effort to arti-
fcially enhance the Indispensable ap-
different color
The South has no margin for waste in
the upbringing of its youth. The prevail
ing illiteracy is one of the most discour-
aging signs of the time. This menace
to our political and industrial future is
to be removed only on condition that
every dollar be made to tell. surren-
der to the Trust would be a two-edged
r,,J Gin
thereby be frttered away. and the vast
majority of parents would be arrayed
against the common school system itself.
There has recently been a great revival
of interest in this subject, but this fine
enthusiasm is sure to be fatally chilled,
unless the Governor finds effective sup
port in public opinion.
1t is not. however, to be imagined that
events will move along this line. 1t is
! rather to be supposed that the awakening
will be instantaneous and decisive. 1t goes
without saying that many speeious argu-
ments will be advanced to show that the
Book Trust is a beneficent institution, but
common sense tells us that monopoly is
an uncomfortable burden, in this domain
of all others. bread-taX would be bad
enough, in all conscience; but a tax on
| knowledge is infinitely more baleful.
There is no earthly reason why such an
exaction should be tolerated, in the dawn
of the twentieth century.
The Times Democrat believes, there
| fore, that it voices the sentiment of all
classes in saying that Gov. Heard should
| fight this battle of the books to a fin
| ish, and that he should use all his power
| to win a victory which must mean so
much for the general good. Monopolists
| should be taught, once for all, that there
| are we'll defined limits to their greed
| The dignity of Louisiana, and the welfare
| of all her citizens, hang on the issue. Is
| is possible that the remedy will have to
| be no less desperate than the disease; il
| so. the cure should be taken in hand
| without moments vacillation. Self-pre-
! servation is the first law Of nature. The
! existence of a free state depends upon
| the enlightenment of the rising genera
| ton. No blow was ever struck in better
case. Gov. Heard's first thrust gives
every assurance that no weak SPOT in the
| enemy's armor will remain untouched.