Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24

/ UVateu SOutnernerS. eS, southern VIII
ers, teachers and authors are capable Of
writing text books equal to the best, and
far superior to the generality of books
generally in use.
How will manuscripts be obtained?
This is a matter that will, like others,
be arranged by the general board of di-
rectors. In a general way we presume the
board will call on each state TO put forth
her best effort, and men and women, edu-
Gators and teachers whose training and
natural inclination assure high class,
teachable books Of first pedagogical order,
will compete. The corps of editors, who
/ will be eminent educators, amply qualified
to pass upon the essentials of text books,
will make selections, and the corporation
will manufacture and publish the success
ful manuscripts Such books, having
passed the crucial test as to their literary
and pedagogical merit, will be made in
their material part up-to-date in all re-
spects, and will compete IN all markets of
the world, upon their merit.
VIII the proposed corporation make 9TH
er than school books?
Yes. All kinds, including subscription
and trade books. of which millions of dol
lars worth are sold annually in the SOUTH
scarcely one per cent Of which are writ
ten by southerners or printed in the south.
Southern men want the literary talent of
the south developed. They want the south
known and properly represented and no
longer looked upon as an Indifferent, non
descript geographical space.
What Has Been Accomplished.
What has been done so far in inaugural
ing this movement?
Hundreds of our best men have talked
and written about this matter for years.
and public sympathy and concern is
aroused as never before. A convention of
southern men was held recently in
Charleston, S. c., where the movement
was inaugurated and the appointment
authorized OF a general committee on or
ganization, consisting Of several Of the
foremost men of each southern state
this committee will communicate with the
citizens Of their several states and will be
called together in the near future to reg
ularly organize a vast corporation to man
ufacture and publish books. Atlanta was
chosen as provisional headquarters, and
the city in which the factories and COR
poration VIII be established will be decid-
ed upon by the general committee at their
next meeting. as above. The capital is
limited to five millions, operations to be-
gin when ten per cent is paid in. Each
state viii have a director upon the beard,
and a strong body of business men and
educators will thus be united.
In the meantime, what is the best plan
to be followed by the people in order to
aid in promulgating the project?
The general committee would be aided
in their work by the people in every town
and neighborhood in the fifteen southern
states circulating a paper to be signed by
the people and mailed to them at Atlanta,
as follows:
1--WE, the undersigned, citizens Off,.
........desiring to foster the movement to
establish a vast book manufacturing and
publishing house in the south and thereby
encourage southern literature, educational
and progressive interests hereby agree to
do all in our power to encourage and aid
the same"
II is generally asserted that abuses in
school books arise from combinations
among publishers: is this correct?
There is no longer any doubt that many
Of the school book publishers are allied (;
and so mysteriously potential has become
their influence that they constitute a COM
mercial oligarchy and literary autocracy
In books. No private concern can posi-
bly, cope with the present conditions. The
sole hope of successful competition rests
In the establishment of an enterprise
owned and controlled by the general pub
lie, whose interests it is necessarily form
ed to protect and improve.
Then it has been finally decided to act
at once?
Assuredly. Southern men will no longer
QCACBdNC the AnOuA0Ah6 Va lAOh5Ak NNhN W
ucation to those who have for fifty years
persistently, even cruelty. ignored the de-
sires and interests of southern people.
During all of these years, in which these
concerns have been calous to appeals and
threats alike, the south has suffered in
juries that are beyond possible excuse or
pardon. Millions of money have been
taken for books that were often offensive
to the people. Money has been used to
debase manhood; even lawyers have been
paid to aid in exploiting books upon
schools.
Opposition From MonopoIists.
Won't the concerns who now control
the book traffic use every means to con-
tinue this control?
Naturally they will; few o. them have
books of fairly good quality. Only those
who have abused their monopoly, book
commercialists pure and simple, Who
have made countless promises that have
been violated from year to year, win an
tagonize. this movement. They are aware
of the widespread discomfort of the people,
and will doubtless swarm every city and
neighborhood with their agents, who VIII
| plead the hackneyed sophistrtes of their
employers Allies of such concerns are
found among US, who should blush to de-
! fend the despoilers of the literary ana
educational privileges of their people.
as no other section OF the union in the
DEVELOPMENT of her material resources,
but by neglecting her mental resources,
and falling to encourage the abilities OF
| her people, she has lost fufly fifty years
of advantage; and instead Of controlling
the forces Of literature and learning In
| America, as she did fifty years ago, she
| Is looked upon today as the weakest por-
ton Of the union; and finds herself, as to
education, etc. the object of charitable
I concern of other sections of the union,
and is paying dearly and bitterly the trib-
ute OF her prodigality. These are plain
words, but the situation demands blunt
| facts.
In the direct matter Of textbooks for
| schools. the south is in bondage pracu-
calIy. The present generation is, If any
thing. more servile to text books than It's
| predecessor. The books used relate so lit
I tie of the south that. like unlettered races,
/ our real story is mere tradition, handed
k%