The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-14
Ugly Charges Against State
Superintendent in House.
Conduct as Member of Text Book
Commission Questioned.
FOR A NEW BOARD.
Bill to Abolish the Organization
is Recommended.
Would Have Board Of Education
Adopt Books.


I'm the boss buster organization, and
the administration leaders are camping
on the trial of I. L. Dayhoff, state sup
Orintendent- They strongly intimate
that Dayhoh's conduct as a member
of the text book commission has been
suspicious
Perhaps somebody will introduce a
resolution in the house asking that
Dayhon be investigated. Investiga-
lions are fashionable.
Dayton has been trying to beat
Stones text book bill, which is intend
ed to stop the text book graft in Kan
sas. The bill was up for debate be-
fore the house committee of the whole
Monday, and was recommended for
passage.
The words "scoundreI.'' ecorrup-
k1on." bribery were handed about
pretty freely during the discussion of
Dayhoff's conduct as a member of the
state board of text book commits
gioners.
1T is common gossip declared
Speaker Stubs, that things on this
text book board are not as they should
be. 1t is well known that the state
superintendent is fighting this bill. I
want to say in this connection that
do not think the conduct of the state
superintendent in relation to this COM
mission has been what 1t should be. I
think it is up to the present legisla-
ture to arrange a new deal on this
text book proposition
The fight all came up over Stones
bill to consolidate the state, board of
education and the state text book COM
mission placing all the work of the
present text book commission in the
hands OF the board of education. The
board OF education is composed of the
chancellor OF the university. the presi-
dents OF the state normal and state
agricultural colleges, the state super
1ntendent, and three others appointed
by the governor. The way in which
some extent from politics, and insures
its high character.
Dayhor wanted the board of text
book commissioners to remain as it
Is, and he has been working hard to
accomplish his object. He has sent
out letter on his official letter heads
urging city and county superintendent
TO write letters to their representatives
against the bill. He signs the letters
Legislative Committee of the State
Teachers Association" but the whole
thing is merely a scheme on Dayhoff's
part to preserve his prestige as
book commissioners.
Ia speaking on his bill. Mr.. Stone
Scalded and blistered the state SUD-
erintendent in CHASTITY fashion. He
This bill has been submitted to Gov
ernor Hoch for his inspection. and I
can say TO the members of this house
that IT meets with his approval The
state superintendent has been industri- |
ously circulating letters against this /
Dill. The day after the bill was intro |
ouced. the hired attorney for the Amer
lean Book company came I'm here and /
got copy OF the bill. I merely men /
ton these facts as possibly casting 4
some light on the situation I hold in
my nand q letter which is being sent I
out by the state superintendent It is /
on his official letter heads, and is mail
ed from his Office. But it is signed by /
the legislative committee of the State
1 neachers association. 1 daresay that |
there IS not single member of that
committee who knows anything about /
this letter Perhaps they do. but I |
doubt it. The letter is sent by Davhoff 1
ninSeIr' and his object is to beat this /
Dill by misrepresentation
This bill does away with a board /
win which there has been more scan
dal than any other board in the his
Aory OF the state. The object is to re-
move the board as a subject for bri-
berry. This letter is an insult to the |
heads of the three great institutions of
tne state. The implication of the let
Ter IS that they win reach out and get !
control of one more member and SO con-
HroI a majority Of the board.
The corruption and foolishness of /
the present board is what has caused
the present out of date text hooks
which are in use in our schools. These
text books are a disgrace to the state
Tnls letter says it is custom, and not
law Which places three additional men
on the board. That is a false state
ment, and a state superintendent who |
doesn't know enough to know it is
raise, mas no business to hold his job.
Judging from the results, this board as
II IS at present constituted must be
composed of scOundrels or scamps. The
man VINO would put a poor text book
IN the hands Of the school children CT
this state is a scoundrel and ought 10
be IN the penitentiary."
C. 5. Beekman had received one of
the letters which Dayhoff's agitation
and told Mr.. Stone that If his charges
were true. he ought to go before the
grand jury and have Dayhoff and the
mission indicted.
S. S. Glasscock, of Wyandotte. made
the deliberate charge that the Ameri-
can Book company had come in and
DouEnt up members of the text book
commission, and that the text book
commission had placed inferior books
n the hands of the school children of
the state
A. H Lupfer, of Pawnee who has
had experience in educational matters.
said that there is no reason why the
text book commission should not select I
the best books on the market. unless
they had allowed themselves to be IN
duly influenced.
Mr.. Skinner of Republic moved that
the enacting clause of the bill be
stricken out, and this motion was
beaten by a decisive vote.
stones motion that the bill be recon-
mended fer passage was carried.
This bill is severe blow to Mr. Day /
hon, if it finally passes and becomes i |
law It puts the brand upon him. and |
rules him out of the charmed circle 1t |
IS evident that Stubs. Hoch and all /
the administration leaders are lined IN |
IN favor Of the bill and against Day |
hOff-
Governor HocFl's Veto.
Governor Hoch has refused to sign |
the resolution providing for commits /
sio- 20 investigate the coal mine ex- 4
rio. ions He sent the following ,,,ae