The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-15
NASH
DEFENDS COMPANY
Denies That the American Book
Company Has Been Guilty
Of Improper Conduct.

The American Book Company, through
Its southern general manager, makes
vigorous deniul Of the intlnatons that
the company Used any improper efforts
to Influence the decision Of the Book
Commission in Georgia. The Augusta
Chronicle printsssthe following denial,
which Tho Times-Dspatch reproduces us
1t printed extracts from the Chronicles
editorial:
Mr. r. Stafford Nash, of Atlanta, gem
cral southern manager Of the American
Book Company, came to Augusta yester-
day to defend his company against GER
tain statements contained In an editorial
in last Sundays Chronicle relative to
the action OF the State Book Commission.
e. Mr.. Nash contends that the American
Book Companyis innocent OF any I'M
proper effort to influence tho decision OF
the Book Commission and came direct to
the Chronicle to state his case: #i
my attention has been called, said
he ito certain statements contained IN
the Chronicle Of January Sd, as fol.
lows:
THE American Book Company and
CHM y Co, received nrhctlcnlly the whole
thing Books by other publishers seem
) have been barely consider ed-certalnly
not seriously considered, il at all.
And these two concerns were the only
book publishing houses that were ever
charged with having contributed TO the
otlicers-members OF the book commission
who had opposition IN the last state
pr.n airy.
These successful bidders, too. are
employed attorneys living in the Same
ttowl, with, or in some manner closely
asse ciated with, various members OF the
The charge that We contributed to
thu campaign !, funds Of certain State
house onicialS.is without foundation. We
hav"" never contributgd to the campaign ~
%nas ny q ot ne 5e ouif osaas
icon Book Company Is not engaged IN
politics, but in the manufacture and sale
Of school and college text books.
pIcJec attorneys living IN the same town
With, or in some manner closely assocl-
ated with, various members OF the book
commission desire to say that during
the recent campaign our legal Interests
were cared for by our regular attorney
and we did not select local attorneys
living in the same town, or In any way
associated with members Of tho book
commission or the sub-comml sion. The
arguments on the merits of our books
wele presented by the regular representa-
tive OF our company, and In the recent
campaign, though the task was an ardu-
GUS one, 1t was performed by Il, single
representative, and he was the only man
VINO appeared before the State board to
present the merits Of our books. Other
companies were representa- by more than
one
The Chronicle, commenting edltorlally
upon the denial Of Mr.. Nash, says:
|, Immediately upon reading the Chronl-
Gle s editorial Mi. Nash wired the man
agement OF the paper. asking for a per-
sonal conference, and he reached Augusta
from Atlanta yesterday morning to pre-
sent his side Of the schoolbook matter
and to defend his company against tho
charges that it contributed money to the
campaign fund Of any State official.
Al the same time Mr.. Nash takes oc-
casion to explain in detail the awards
OF the Book Commission. from his COM
pnnys standpoint. In view Of the evil
dence presented by him the Chronicle is
pleased to admit that he has made out u
very strong case for his company
We will also frankly admit. that MIR.
Nash's prompt protest. and his action
in coming ali tho way from Atlanta TO
| Augusta to present his company's side of
the case. as we'll as the very courteous Us
| and candid manner III which he presented
! it. are all highly crcd!table TO himsa I
as Il man. and TO his company. ana VIII
naturally tend to create the impression IN
the public mind that theyS at least, be-
! lleve an Injustice has been done them,
| and are not willing to rest under the
| clurges, to which attention was called
| ,i,ln n1 2 4