The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-10-05
70 ROB KANSAS PEOPLE.
DEMOCRATIC PLOT TO RAISE THE
PRICE OF TEXT BOOKS.
Who Pays the 6iHf-ReaI Reasons Why
Mrs. Ella S. Burton Is Fight
ing ooveraor Hoeh.

IL the Democratic State committee
Is not paying the expenses of Mrs.
Ella S. Burton. who Is travelling over
the state abusing 0oVernor Hoch.
Prof. A. b. Carney, Democratic candi-
date for state superintendent Of
public instruction. ID. o. McCray and
, ether members of the text book corr
mission. who isl
II is current gossip in Kansas that
enc branch OF the book trust with
headquarters at Boston and Chicago
is behind this DeWocratic onslaught
on the schools Of Kansas. Governor
Hoch and the text beck commission,
and that IL has found in the Kansas
City Star, Mrs. Barton, Colonel Harris
and the Democratic committee, willing
advocates. Certainly some Interest"
Ia paying tho bill. because the parties
named have never been charged with
working overtime On behalf of the
poor school children of Kansas" It is
no longer n secret that the book trust
firm referred TO has announced its in
tention Of coming to Kansas this win
ter to lobby through an amendment to
the present law raising the maximum
prices about 40 per cent so that they
will be in harmony with Missouri
prices. This same firm helped to kill
state uniformity in Missouri in order
that il could go back to high prices,
and the Kansas City Star refused TO
expose its campaign for plumber. II
fact one of the managers has an
nounced that such fight will be made
in Kansas. The charge by Democratic
leaders and the Kansas City Star
that the present books are "cheap
trash" Is but the paving of the way
for an onslaught for high prices be-
fore the legislature.
With such advocates as Colonel Har-
ris, Mrs. Burton, w. II. Ryan and the
Kansas City Star. IL really does look
Ike a formidable movement. These
modern "reformers" stood together IN
1897, when the legislature struggled
20 enact the present law which saves
the people OF Kansas one hundred
thousand dollars annually. Colonel
Harris was then a member of the
state senate. and in committee of the
whole fought to exclude cities of the
first class from it's operation. Then
when the roll was called on the final
rassage Of the state uniformity bill he
found Il convenient to be absent and
not voting" During this fight in the
legislature the Kansas City Star was
absolutely silent. The people appealed
for reduction in the price of school
books for their children. but that pa
nper turned a deaf ear and offered no
oyhelp In throttllng the book trust.
with Mrs. Burton, il was on the side
the trust. And when the bill was
xassed and signed by the Governor.
- he Kansas City Star published an ed
Storial sneer at tho law and the peo-
vie OF Kansas declaring that the peo-
. pie and this law were very much alike
IN their uniformity" A little later
when the first text book commission
met to put the new law into effect It
faced Injunction proceedings brought
by the hook trust. through that other
modern "reformer." David Overmyer.
its attorney.
The text book campaign planned by
tnis reform" Juuta is deep laid The
plot was carefully thought out. Mrs.
burton had been connected with one
branch OF the book trust, and her Sc
crcts and purloined letters would be
valuable. Colonel Harris record in the
state senate was right and the
Kansas City Star could be depended
upon as in 1897 when II refused to
help pry loose the book trust in Kan
sas. That amalgamation of interests
was a nucleus that any book trust
would welcome in raid upon the leg
islatrre for higher prices and bust
ness" So. the word went forth from
Democratic headquarters at Topeka
and in the Kansas City Star Office to
charge Governor Hoch and his text
book commission with connivance
with the book trust. It mattered not
IL Prof Carney. the Democratic can
dictate for state superintendent of
public instruction should be a victim
victims were necessary In the plot
aad Carney must take his medicine.
Back of this text book commission
tissue plot is some guiding hand,
some power, some Interest" that is
paying the bills. It is 80 unlike the
Kansas City Star to work itself into a
lather for the poor school children
Of Kansas" unless there is something
in sight at the other, end of the line
Colonel Harris stood for the interests
Of the book trust in 1897, ana it is not
probable that his long residence in
Chicago and the trust influences that
surround him there would tend to
change his attitude now. And. then.
there is Mrs. Burton who is travelling
over the state making Democratic
speeches In the name Of Education,
and in the Interest" of the dear
children" She says she would scorn to
take nasty. tainted, Democratic mon
ey from Bill Ryan in fighting for the
noble cause of Education, but neither
Mrs. Burton. the Kansas City Star or
Colonel Harris have denied that they
are in league with branch of the
book trust that has organized to
come back to Kansas and claim its
own"
Somebody is paying the bills. Who
is IL?