The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-04
IT STIRS Them UP
Mrs. Burton's Book Trust
Speech Makes Talk.
Governor HOch Defends Record
of D. 0. McCray.
MORAY SAYS NOTHING
Adopts Silent Contempt Method
of Answering Charges.
Frank Nelson Says There Are
No Strings on Him.

1T is my opinion that the text book
commission appointed by me is a board
composed Of high class men who are
above the suspicion Of Doodle and graft, %
said Governor e. W. Hoch today when
he was asked If he had a reply to make
to the charges made by Mrs. Ella s.
Burton yesterday that he had practical
ly turned over the text book commits
sion of the state to the book trust
through the appointment Of D. o. Nc
Cray to the commission
Il do not wish to enter into any con-
troversy with Mrs. Burton" continued
the governor" but I viii say that the
school text book law is a matter which
is very close to my heart. Years and
years ago 1 was the first one to intro
duce a text book bill in the legislature.
It was met with great opposition and
was defeated. My original proposition
was to have the state print its own text
books. There were and are many argu-
ments against this plan but if such a
one was adopted the prices OF books
could be controlled absolutely.
Since the present text book law has
been enacted I have been extremely
anxious to have it work out success
fully. I was importuned by what 1
thought were the representatives of the
book trust not to appoint a text book
commission because the books under the
law cannot be changed but once in five
years. But I decided to appoint a com
mission so that any emergency which
might arise could be dealt with accord
ing to the law And my desires and ef-
forts were to appoint the best possible
commission.
My position in regard to placing the
text book commission on a plane be-
yond criticism is well known. In my
message to the legislature suggested
what / thought would be an excellent
plan to put the commission on higher
plane. on such a plane that its character
could not be open to suspicion A bill
along the lines of my suggestion was. in
troduced and came near passing. II
provided for a. change in the commission
so as to have it composed of the heads
of the state educational institutions, the
presidents of the State university, the
State normal college and the State Agri-
cultural college. The character Of these
gentlemen could not be alta cked and ii
seemed to me that they would make an
ideal text book commission for the state.
There was q hard fight on this bill and
although it came near getting through,
it failed.
Then. as I said, was importuned not
law, by what I always regarded as the
interests of the book trust Without con-
best judgment. as I have done in the mat
ter of all my appointments, named
commission which I consider comprises as
high a class of men as there IS on eaTtn.
/ did it against the wishes of the book
trust, and believe that this commission
is beyond criticism.
Governor Hoch named over most of the
members of the commission and said that
they were men whose character and rep
ion, f0r-h ~R11d
- As for the appointment of Mr. McCray,
he said. Il Investigated his record and
And ] believe an examination OF ms rec
ord will show that he has always been on
the side Of the people as against the book
trust. He was favorahly recommended
by men in whom I have the greatest con-
hdence. hunted for good men, men who
would lift the board above suspicion. and
I am satisfied that I have found them.
The board, as constituted, IS composed
of men who are above the suspicion Of
5. o. McCray. who seemed to be the
especial target of Mrs. Burton s charges
ernor this morning. Asked if he had
something to say about Mrs Burton rs
Il have fsS nothing to say about Mrs. Bur
ton and her stuff. It is unworthy of my
A. A. GODDARD. former attorney general
of the state Of Kansas. said this morn
Fl see that Mrs. Burton has referred to
me IN her speech I took the trouble this
morning to 60 through all the opinions
which I rendered during my term Of Of
ever rendered any opinion which can be
construed in any way as benefiting the
American Book company Some opinions
concerning this company were issued. but
not during my term of office. 1 am will
ing to submit my opinions to the best
lawyers in the state for judgment IS to
their legal stability
Frank Nelson, formerly state superin-
tendent of public instruction, was in To-
pexa this morning. Mr.. Nelson is one
of the present members of the state
board Of text commissioners. He said.
7 have nothing whatever to say about
this controversy, except this: That
know that the American Book company,
nor anay other company. has any strings
tied to me-
KICKED TO DEATH.