The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-29
SLAP AT DAYHOFF
Teachers Denunciation of the
Agricultural Chart.
Gave it His Approval Leading to
Adoption.
SAYS 1T WAS ALONE.
No Other offered, Asserts the
State Superintendent.
Superintendent Mccormick Says
It's Up to DayhoR.
SAYS IT WAS ALONE.

the resolution passed yesterday by
the county superintendent asking the
state text book commission to meet at
once and revoke its approval of the
charts and books gotten out by the
United States Agricultural society of
Chicago is accepted as a slap at L L.
Dayhoff, state superintendent of pub
lie instruction. He is being blamed for
giving the chart his approval which
aided materially in it's Introduction.
The United States Agricultural So
ciety has its headquarters at Chicago.
It first came to Kansas to do business
in the early part of 1904 and was then
known as John L. Little & Co. Little
lived at Usage City in former years but
moved to Chicago and opened the con-
Germ. Governor Click appeared before
the text book commission and urged
that some sort OF agricultural instruc-
ton ought to be introduced into Kan
Sas schools. The Little company was
the only one presenting anything of
that nature and it was approved for
use in the state.
Then the agents got busy and it ap-
pears that their actions were more Of
fensive to the school SuperintendentS
and school boards than anything else
Complaints are also lodged, however,
against the chart and books them
selves. There were four books and a
chart in each set and the price IS
$3.50.
The agents are accused of misrep-
resentation. They are said to have
used the name United States to help in
the introduction and sale of their
wares, indicating to some people that
the department of agriculture had
something to do with it. 1t is said that
they misrepresented the books and
chart. In various ways they are
charged with sins of omission and
commission, but they sold their books
and with aggravating success
In Nemaha county some of the
agents were arrested, but the case
could not be made to hold and failed.
In Dickinson county number OF the
school boards have banded together
and claim that they will not pay for
the maps and charts because they are
not as was represented
State uperintendent Dayhon was
asked about the matter this morning,
especially concerning the blame which
some of the superintendent are IN
clined to attach to him for his approval
of the chart. 1.-The chart and books
are probably worth what is charged
for them" he answered. 'ChartS are
always high. Governor Click appealed
to US to recommend something for ag-
rieI1tural study in the state schools
The Little company had the only thing
of the kind and we approved it. L
don't deny that I did too, and DID SO
because I thought it was all right
Later it changed it's name to the Unit
ed States Agricultural society. That
may have caused some of the trouble
1t seems that the agents are most at
fault. They are accused OF mlsrepre-
sentation in various ways. / believe
that the commission will revoke its ap-
proval or else compel the company to
give bond that it will furnish the books
which its agents represent they are
! selling. Some of those agents could
sell anything under any conditions. /
believe that some of them could sell d
Bible to an atheist
so far as the attack on me concern
ling my approval is concerned, want
to say that I approved the chart be-
cause I thought it was all right. Per
haps it was not all it might have been.
but it was the best thing at hand and
I approved it with the commission Tor
that reason. A similar attack has been
made on Cooley's Language charts.
which is the best chart of its kind ever
gotten out Attacks have been made
against the various standard encyclo-
paedias. Some superintendent, ana L
am not personal now against anyone
in particular, wouldn't know gooq
chart or piece of apparatus when II
came along. Some of them ger a little
swelled up and they just cut loose and
start a roar. It is an easy matter TO
attack things. [ am not defendlng TINS
agricultural chart. further than 10 say
that l approved it when it came along
because what was shown to US was
good. If the agents have since not act
ed squarely. for that we are not to blame
The text book commission will look
into the matter and if it finds anything
wrong the approval will be revoked or
the company will have to guarantee
that its books and charts will be deliv-
cred as represented.
Superintendent Mccormick of Dick
inson county. who started the move
ment. said today: I'VE want to see
whether Mr. Dayhoff is on the side of
the people or not. He will be given an
opportunity to fix up this wrong per-