The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-01-09
TEXTBOOK COMMISSION
MEMBERS VIEWS
On How a Trust Has Screwed
Money Out Of Oregon.
More Fault to Find With the
Prices Than the Quality.

Prices l1an the QudlltY'
Hon. WIN. N colvig in The oregonian.
, You letter regarding my yiews on tn
Textbook Commission, and its work
is at hand. I am not prepared ct thii
time to say much on the subject. Per
sonally feel highly hOnored in being
chosen az one Of the five who are charged
with duties Of 20 much importance to
the people Of Oregon, and particularly
~ when consider The very high stand.
Ing oi my associates on the board
loanrot fuly agree wiih Judge Lowell
that practice IN modern sciioolroom work
is an all.imporlant qualification Of a.
uass for the duties of the position " has
been q years since vas actively ~n'
gagcd "a teacher IN the public schools
Of Illinois, yet am vain enough Ia be-
lieye that today arn better qualified 20 !
cope with book concerns tnan J would
have been hal ] continued my work ln
the scho0lroom ever since that time.
Judge Lowell says "lt would be an
snomaly 70 give 70 lawyers the selection
Of medical books. OF farmers tlo selec'
ton OF theological ireaiises, and II seems
10 me q grave error TO assume that men /
other than teachers can wisely select Z
school books" There are good reaqons
In support OF the Judges premises, but
none in support Of bic conclusion. Ia the
drst place medical books pertain oxcin. ii
siyely ioa special department u human q,
aud arc technically devoted .,
% scientific mattera School looks be- 4,
ong 10 the general domain knowledge. a,
Dur splendid civilization is not the a,
,roduct Of theological semInaries, or a,
medical colleges, bot emanates from, "A
nd rests upon, The public schools of p.
merlca. We are all products Of the T.,
1mmon schools, while only some of us 4,
ave received special instruction ia
edical science, or in theology; hence,
would not wish to undertake the
lection Of appropriate books in any Of -.
eEe special domains Of human knowl- "
ge Like Judge Lowell, ! know that
am not qualified 10 10 NO. ls not tI
'tion II Of the law OF 1890, under which -
B commission acts, "an anomaly" IN
'wed in the light Of such reasoning2 of'
reads "In the month Of July, th
II, the board Of directors in a., Ja
! district In which high school ia
intained, shall adopt textbooks re- VI
red TO complete any b:anch Of study sh'
led by such board Of directors. q" n'
Iat qualities board Of directors for al
duty2 Nothing, perhaps, except inf
d, common sense, and zealons In. u''
vt in educational matters. Our
islature II largely composed OF
lness mon. Ont II membership Of
here are less that 20 lawyers. Yet
Legislature Assembly selects the
which govern ms. Should the
re body be made mp from those
ems only who have made law
'ial study think not.
here are many publishers of school
20 In The United States. The great
ing establishments engaged in the
ness are consolidated into kind of
!, or syndicate, la order to control
selection in the different states, and
Ie same time 10 maintain the prices
IA the public must pay for its books.
ny few companies are on the out.
The trust strives 10 keep out all Lv'
y not Sin the ring" IL has an ina. P|
81 amount OF capital under its con al.
and its work and the methods EN- rdl
ed by Il require the most critical h''
Aud yet, II may be- truth. u' u'.
said that the best scho0l hooks in q,
sorld are produced by the publish. j,
Nho are In this syndicate. In all h''
ability the commission will be COM \,
II 10 select IRON the publications tla
y the control Of this trust. aud a hul
nical knowledge ol modern text. a.
q is Of no greater importance ia the Nm,
ton than is in conservative con. h.r
ration Of rival publishers, aud the
~ 10 deal with them in such a man. -
and under such conditions M will
erve the great Interests Of the gen
public.
'ave more fault to ind In the prices
u the patrons are compelled 10 paw
books at present than have in
luahly ul 'he books furnished 4
her who understands his husines,
leach a rhlid to become as good
er by using ihc old McGuney .eri,.
can With ilic modern National
To- of as good m spelling and pr
''at'on hy ihr u.c oi lhe old Gle.
laiy Spelling book ts b, tho rlab.
system nov lu ,ngur
'll ae'rp' th" appoiulm, ut made hy
governor ami Rtrmuy .tuJy the
't"ns Involved, u otJcr lhat ma,
s'iuo uso as o. mpnit,er oi thr .om.
aoo, Judge Loscll ,s man oi
s''ding qua.lirs, aud s, vtl uusl.
lor 'bo dnur- ul Ibc position A. u
q h's defamation a msit,r 90 eva.
regret
NN NJ. ,aN,.