The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1907-05-17
BOOknen SuFprised.

It was a surprised crowd Of book
men that gathered in superintendent
Fairchild's Office at o'clock yester-
day afternoon in response to q call
from the commission. They were eX-
pecting the commission to make quick
work Of the letting, but were not eX-
pecting to learn results before the end
Of the week Every man reached the
Office before any action was taken
They camped outside the private door
and waited. The commission called
in those whom il afterwards develop
ed had secured contracts. They went
in one at a time and came out with a
telltale expression. But theey would
tell nothing.
Finally the commission opened the
doors and invited all in Typewriter
sheets were distributed showing the
successful bidders. There were con-
gratulati0ns and condolences. The
members of the commission had no
apologies to make. They stated that
they had selected the books which
they thought would be best Tor the
school children Of the state irrespec-
tive of the company publishing them
The bOokmen got their sheets Of pa
per and left, some walking arm in
arm and others sulking.
superintendent Fairchild is greatly
pleased both with the conduct Of the
commission during the letting and
with the books that were selected The
fact that a man Of Mr. Fairchild's
experience in school work is satisfied
with the books adopted is a strong
endorsement.
''I believe the commission has ad-
opted an ideal set Of books" he said
last night Every book on the list Is
the best Of its kind 1 don't believe
that any nine men could select a bet
ter class Of books to be used in the
public schools. I am perfectly sat
isfied.
And" he continued. 'I am greatly
pleased with the conduct OF the com
mission. I believe there was never a
fairer minded set Of men together in
one body. During all Of its sessions
there was no clash Every argument
was over the real merits Of the books
presented to US No attention was
paid to the name Of the company pub
fishing them. No attention was paid
to the location Of the company or in
dividual, whether IL was in Kansas or
some other point The commission
simply went through the books from
cover to cover. trying 70 decide what
would be the best for the school chill
dren OF the state. The commission
paid no attention to alleged combina-
tons or trusts 1t appeared to have
In mind all the time its duty 70 the
school children and school patrons
That is the kind Of a commission the
state has needed heretofore In my
mind Il IS an ideal commission"
Il am a little proud" said Mr.. Fair
the commission other commissions
have taken from one TO three weeks
to do the work the present commits
sion has done in less than three days
Tuesday morning We began actual
work we worked over contracts
Tuesday. Wednesday and until noon
today. Leaving Il even at three days
il establishes a record"
SUPERINTENDENT Fairchild praises
the commission unstintingly but as a
matter Of fact Mr.. Fairchild is de-
serving OF considerable praise He
has had probably as much school eX-
perfence as any other man on the
commission and knew exactly what
he wanted the commission to adopt
He kept the commission busy and sue
ceeded Tar beyond any former chair
man in keeping the transactions Of
the commission a secret Mr. Fair
child thinks only OF the Interests OF
the people who viii get their start
IN life out OF the school books and
he IS satisfied with the books adopted
The members OF the commission
are z T. Fairchiid, chairman A.
B. Carney, COncordia; " 3. Hall
Kansas City, KAN william Lyon Lin
coin Center: d .. McCraT, Topeka
George ". VTinans. Hutchinson G. IA
VfnsohaEer, Troy Frank Nelson
Iindsborgs s. n Neese. Independ-
ence-