The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-01-07
KANSAS WOMAN SCORES
THE BIG MO-
NoPOLY
yULTURE OF CORRUPTION
Is Name Applied to School
Book Octopus


Topeka. Kansas: Dec. 81, 1905, Mr.
w r. Wortham. Austin. Texas, Dear
sir: Your letter OF 10th inst. re-
cefyed / was glad to learn Of new
worker in this conflict agains the
dcstrpyers Of public morals. chief OF
which ! regard the school book trust.
-Four years ago my husband an Y
represented Texas publishers and
Texas interests in a school book adop.
tiopl in,iEQur state, and after twenty
years experience in this work II was
orr opinion tina we saw in that con
test greater evidence of high handed
robbery and corruping of public ser.
vice than ever before. The power OF
the trusts money IN the senate. rs
that corrupt concern tried TO prevent
the re-enactmCnt of the textbook law.
and later in the absolute, defiant con.
troll OF Tie textbook commission. al
peared TO us disgustingly apparent.
The breastworks. behind which the
trust crouched and fred its poisoned
arrows at the moral life OF your state.
was there, as elsewhere, the techni-
calities OF the law. So conscious are
these dastardly book concerns Of the
W Mtt'noitttc VI Aiitlt utlo. AilRt WHY III
tie of their practices appear on paper.
hut anything that J can contribute
that might aid in preventing another
outrage on public decency in your
state Will be willingly given.
There is only one way 20 extermi-
nate this black vulture of cor.
ruption that hovcrs over the educa-
tional Interests Of the different states.
suppressing all Improvement OF
school textbooks. debauching public
officials and making grovellng. plant
tools Of manv. fortunately not all, edu-
Gators. and that IS by cnacting law
providing for state publication of
school Textbooks along with other
printing required by the state The
evidence furnished the youth of our
land by this outlaw corporation, of
IT'S ability 10 corruptly handle men in
high Alaces both I'm and out of educa-
uonal positions, Is doing more to
break down the moral tone OF our
rising generation than the work Of
the public schools can repair. For
many years the acts OF the book
trust have been SO notoriously cor
rnpt that no man who values his repu-
tation. can afford TO advocate any
proposition this pOlleting corporation
ctfers. aud the public does wen to
look with grave suspicion on cduca-
tors and political leaders who cham
pion its cause That great national
educator q Stanley Hall. Clark Uni
versitv. says. after many years ac-
qnaintance with school work In this
country. ! consider the present mode
OF Introducing textbooks as among
the most degrading Influences of the
American Public schnOls"
Texas has many able scholars, and
IN spite Of present conditions that
discourage authorship. has produced
several excellent school textbooks. II
Texas Deonle write the books and
buy the books. why pay a combine OF
eastern "grafters' an immense profit
over cost Of manufactured Why not
let Texas labor make books and sell
them 10 Texas children al cost? The
book trust adds TO cost OF manufac-
turc fine profit ON capltal invested.
not forgetting 10 add the water. and
IN addition an enormous Der cent that
goes Into a fund for agency expenses.
boodling legislatures. dehauching
school men IN influential positions.
and the people. IN the name OF the
children pay the bin The more no
torious and corrupt the book concern
becomes. the more extensive u is tc
maintain its graft. and less of the
money n EFFORTS from the people Is
nut into the manufacture OF the
books. as trusts never fail 10 break
even and politicians charge In proper
iion 90 the risk they take state
publications Is the one move OF an
others the trus fears because II Is
the sane rational thing for com
mcnwealih 10 do and thinG ;t!:at
would already be- practiced by large
number OF states we're II not for the
powerful force of money secretly
used 10 prevent IL The only benefit
that ever came from the private man.
~ r -@rt-----r-