The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-06
Text Book Board viii Adopt
High School Books.
Contracts to Be Let VIII Aggre
gate About 100000.
ARE ON THE MOVE.
Book Agents Visiting the Mem
bers of Commission.
American Book Company Appar-
emily Sleeping on its Arms.


The state school text book commits |
sion will meet on May 2 to adopt high |
school books for Kansas for the next
i've years Two years ago the commits |
sion adopted books for the grades for
five years. The contracts 10 be awarded
next month viii not he SO large as those
made two years ago, but it is estimated
that they win aggregate more than
100000. The high schools of the state
are multiplying and this part of the
school book BUSINESS is growing in inn
portance.
The members Of the present commits
sion are: State Superintendent Day
hon, chairman ex-ofncio; A. B. Carney
ConcOrdia; H. p. Butcher Argentine;
. l. Hale. Lacrosse; George W. Ken
/ drick, Leayenworth; d. o. MeCray, Toa
peka; John Madden, Emporia; J. c.
Starr. Scott City. and c. G. SwingIe,
/ Manhattan
Already the agents representing the
1 big book houses are travelling over the
state visiting the members Of the ccm-
mission A dozen of the leading school
I book publishing houses have agents in
Kansas importuuing the members to
urge the merits Of their respective
books.
Up to date practically all the leading
/ high school book publishing houses have
submitted books for examination to
members of the commission except the
American Book company.
i This IS a matter of considerable sur
prise Two years ago the American
Book company was exceedingly anxi-
GUS IN pushing its books and had a
4 number of representative in the state.
Some of the agents who represented
4 other companies in Kansas pretend TO
see in this absence OF the American
/ BOOK company a deep laid plot, and
they are diyfning a reason for the
4 American company's painful silence a
4 this time They point out that two
/ had been in the field blowing the
ground for six months prior to the
meeting of the commission. These
agents tremble when that company's
name is mentioned, and they are
4 spreading the rumor that the thing
/ is all fixed for the trust"
Two Of the agents for other publish
ing houses in discussing the matter
4 recently declared the pins had been set
up to give the American Book corn
pany q clean sweep. Superintendent
4 Dayhom is alleged TO be the power
I behind the throne. Some of the agents
men in Chicago and elsewhere that
Mr. Dayhof, when the time. comes for
! voting, will round up and deliver four
FOther votes, which with his own VIII
4 be a majority, and that these Will go
/ through and clean up the platter for
/ the American Book company. Just
4 what four members of the commission
Mr. Dayton IS expected TO round UP
/ in the corral and deliver over to the
/ trust the agents of the rival houses
do not state If these runors which
I are current in certain circles are true,
2 the failure of the American Book conf
i pany to be on the ground with their
I books may be easily explained.
4 When asked about these rumors to-
4 day D. Q. McCray, member Of the
T text book commission said
i 4 am paying no attention to rI-
/ mors- When il comes TO spreading ru-
mors, defaming character and discrcd-
whom these men must appear, know
/ of no class of individuals the equal Of
/ agents of school book publishers This
/ is not true Of all of them, but it is
s.But how about the rumor that Mr.
1 Dayhof has lined up and is ready TO de-
American Book company2'f was asked
I Il don't know anything about such a
( commission that can be lined up 5y
! anybody nor for anybody. Mr.. Day 1OM
! has too much sense TO Try 70 nero tour
members into the corral OF the American
Book company or any other book com
pany- take II that MT DaynoL Is lust
( as anxious as oIler members Of the com
mission to secure for the high schools Of
that he with others VIII put merit above
L publishing house. Imagine, II you VIII.
kendrick lending himself to a plot TO rail-
road through and to join forces with a
coterte to give the eotltracIs IoI hlsn
schooi DookS 10 any par llaE oteoh y n
Such an accusat ton would be an insult to
one of the leading educators Of the state.
a gentleman who stands at the head OF
the list. and who. some day. 1 trust. viii
be chosen to fill the Office or state super
fntendent- 1t would be less insult
I to connect the name of A B. Carney with
such a scheme Those who have known
him in Mitchell land Cloud counties from
bOyhood and the scores of friends he has
made throughout the state recognize his
sterling integrity and high character To
/ Intimate that John Madden of EmpOria
can be herded. lined up and delivered BY
Z ANYBODY is not only outrage. but 1t is
IT. an insult TO his high character a cftf-
zen. If there is man on the commission
/ who has the confidence of the people Of
4 this state that man is John Madden No.
4 l am paying no attention 70 rumors. The
/ hook agents may as well devote their
| time to the merits of their books They
+ may start all the rumors they please hrt
I They will discover when the Commission
| gets together that plots and schemes. if
ATTEMPTED, viii not be tolerated -