The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-03
Startling Charges in American
Book Co. Hearing.
G. G. Burton Tells Of a Mys-
teriOus Meeting.
WHEN 1T WAS FIXED.
Said Book Commission Was Cor
ganized" in Kansas City.
Agreed Who Should Be the
Secretary.

during the hearing of the American
Book company case before Judge Hazen
in the district court Tuesday afternoon.
Affidavits were presented and testi-
mony given charging that four members
of the Kansas Text Book commission
were unduly influenced by the American
Book companys agents. The charges
commission met agents of the book
company at the Coates house, in Kansas
City, Mo-. and that at that meeting
slate was arranged by the book COM
pany for the members of the commits
sion to follow in electing officers. II
was charged that money was paid TO
members of the committee to influence
them to vote for the adoption of the
American Book company's text books.
The damaging evidence was given by u.
G. Burton, who was in the employe OIL
the American Book company for about
ten years prior to April 1, 1902, when he
was employed by Crane & Co., of To-
peka. Burton testified that he, while
agent of the American Book COM
pany, attended the meeting at the
Coates house. and that he personally
paid the hotel bill of one of the mem
bers of the text book commission. who
was present, and gave him $40 in cash.
At the Tuesday afternoon session OF
the case County Attorney Galen Nichols
offered an amendment to the original
petition in the case The amendment
charged that the American Book COM
pany had used improper methods in
securing contracts. The amendment
charged that the agents of the American
Book company had met four members
of the Kansas Text Book commission
at the Coates house. in Kansas City, Mo,
in December, 1901, and had secured the
promise of those four men to organize
the commission and make A. M. F. Bear
secretary. The amendment charges that
the book company paid three members
of the commission money and secured
for Shirk the position as superintendent
of the city schools of Newton in return
for the members voting for the Ameri-
can Book company's books. The amend
ment states that the parties referred to
will be named If the court desires. Judge
Hazen refused to consider the amend
ment in the hearing of the temporary
injunction. The court ruled that Bear
and the other parties should be present
as witnesses if the charges in the
amendment were gone into.
Burton took the stand. He was
handed a paper by Attorney Clemens.
Burton identified it as the plan for
the campaign for '95 mapped out by the
book company. The paper designated
the agents of various companies who
should look out for the campaign" in
the Kansas counties.
Did you have anything to do for the
book company before 1902?" asked
Clemens
''What?"
Looking after the legislature and
school book laws in 1901
w When zen .t did you begin to work for
AS soon as the legislature adj
iourned"
Did all the agents of the book COM
pany act together?''
Yes, under the direction of Major
Clancy"
What for?"
"As Hunt put it, for the good of the
ORDER"
sfVere VOL, rraeant ,+ n corP.rar,. "a
the Coates house December, 1901
when four members of the Kansas Text
Book commission and agents of book
company, including Maj. Clancy, were
present."
object" said c. B. Smith.
Judge Hazen sustained the objection as
such a charge was not made when the
application for a temporary Injunction
was asked for.
G. G. Clemens said: I'VE would prove
by the witness that a conference was
held in Kansas City. that the secretary
was selected and that the members
agreed to adopt books of the American
Book company. And that for this one
member was promised the superinten-
dency of Kansas town. The witness
paid one of the commissions hotel hill
and gave him $40 and at this time the
work of the commission. so far as these
four members could influence it,
Judge Hazen would not allow the tes-
timony to be given.
On croSs-examination by c. B. Smith
Burton was asked when he left the en-
ploy of the American Book company.
April 1, 1902
When did you go to work for Crane
& Cop
April 1, 1902
Was it in pursuance with your be-
Ing employed by Crane that you gave
him the correspondence you had with
the American Book company"
mo. sir"
How were they gotten?"
by some one who got them out of
nay files and my trunk"
Who was sthat?"
II don't know
You didn't give the letters to any
ena9''
No"
Did Mrs. Burton get them out of the
Il don't know"
ployed by Crane & Co. that your wife
should give him the letters?"
when did you first see this paper
paign of the American book company
in kansas"
When the county attorney showed 1t
to me-"
American Book company"
TT was $4,000 a year."
Mr.. Burton then explained that his
salary was reduced to 81, 500 a year and
then to $1,000, and that the last blow
was when the book company notified
him not to turn in any expense accounts
and turned down a postage bill for SC
cents.
What were you paid by Crane & Co
for turning over this correspondence? %
Nothing"
I'm the case brought by County At
torney Harry Stafford in 1896 charging
combination between the American
Book company, the Werner company
and Butler, Sheldon & Co, did you moi
testify that there was no division OF
territorv?'
Il think I might have"
Now, you think the other way"
= was working for the American
Book company then"
You are working for Crane & Co
now" remarked Mr. Smith. He then
read dispositions to prove that there was
no collusion between the agents Of the