The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-19
School Book CONCERNS.

Scnool Book Concerns.
Tie Telegram would not attempt
tdstty the cases of A. j. Wilkinson
ana s. II. sommerville, of Grafton,
recently indicted by the Mineral
COUNTY grand jury at Keyser, but,
However unwillingly, must he in
cifned to the belief that the action
Of the grand jury had some founda-
ton. for it is highly improbable that
body of men sworn to do their
duty would place such odium ON
these or other men, were there not
grounds to believe that they had
been guilty Of some crime. Certain
" the grand jury would not have
been justified in finding true bills
for bribery, or attempted bribery,
against them. if that body did not
have sufficient evidence to warrant
it in saying the court itself should
have opportunity to make thorough
investigation.
There has been for some time a
strong agitation against what is
tefmed extortion on the part of
school book concerns and the indict-
ments have provoked an even strong
er agitation on this question and the
press generally of the State is de-
handing cessation Of unfair practices
of the school book companies. The
fact that the prices of school books
in West Virginia are much higher
than in other States shows that there
has been something wrong in this
State, but that wrong is shared by
others than the book companies, for
the reason that they could not have
brought about and maintained such
conditions without dealing with the
school authorities, book boards and
the like. The Wheeling Intelligencer
goes so far as to incriminate teach
ers. There may be some such in
stances, but the Telegram believes
they are very few. 1t also believes
that there ought not to be any.
On this subject the Intelligencer
has the following to say:
Commenting upon the indictments
in Mineral county of an agent of the
school book trust for attempted brib-
cry, the Parkersburg Sentinel calls
attention to the fact that the school
children of Parkersburg are COM
PEELED to pay more for school books
than the children of Belpre, o., just
across the river, pay for identically
the same books. 1t is a notorious
fact that the American School Book
company has maintained a powerful
and influential organization in this
State. 1t has had its paid agents in
the legislature, on the boards Of nor
NAL schools and on the board OF
education of half. if not all, the
cities in the State. It's unclean and
corrupting influence can he seen at
work in every city and hamlet; it
lays toll upon every child in West
Virginia. And West Virginia is not
alone in its Just complaints against
this gigantic monopoly.
The school book question is not
easily solved. The root of the diff
Guilty is that very large proportion
OF the teachers of the state-the
very men who should be most earn
est in protecting the public from ex-
tortion, are in some measure allied
with or under obligations to the
school book trust When earnest
efforts have been made to secure the
adoption of books for reduction in
price. the most potent and active
agent of the trust has generally been
some prominent educator. who
fiuently points ont the defects in the
proposed antitrust books, and the
superiority Of the trust productions.
1t would seem that the school
teachers of West Virginia owe it to
shemselves,1 and to the State. TO d.