The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-07

WOMEN AREHEARD
W. C. L. Q. Leaders Appear Be-
fore Text Book Commission.
Make a Plea for Continued Use
of Present Psychologists.
BOARD WAS READY.
Asked the Ladies Some KnOtty
Questions.
BOARD WAS READY.
Hearing Of Agents Before Com
missiOners Completed.

Inc state text book commission held
a temperance meeting for about fifteen
minutes on Monday afternoon, when it
was addressed by Mrs. C. E. F. Smith,
president of the State Temperance
union. and Miss o. P. Bray of Topeka,
another prominent temperance worker,
in behalf of the readoption of the New
Century Physiology now in use in the
public schools of Kansas.
Mrs. Smith did most of the talking,
and her speech was presented largely
in written form, until the members of
the text book commission commenced to
fire questions at her, which brought
forth some extemporaneous admissions.
| 1t was strongly intimated that the ma
tional officers of the w. c. L. U. are
getting some sort of a rake off, or
royalty out of the sale of the New Cen
fury physiology, in exchange for their
| endorsement.
why are you advocating this partic-
ular book?'' asked one of the members
of the commission.
| ''It has been endorsed by the national
officers of the w. c. T. u" said Mrs.
Smith.
What objection have you to other
] ks offered?" was asked.
well, 1 understand that they do not
present the evils of intemperance in
the proper way. Anyway, they are not
| endorsed by the national officials-at
| least not all of Them
Have you examined any of these
books which are being offered?''
mo, not personally, except in gen.
eral way but know that the New Cen
fury book suits us all right"
DO you know" said D. o. McCray,
(which one of the national officers it is
I4I, fys0r1 n a nf
these .books?"
Il think that nothing of that sort is
done now" replied Mrs. Smith.
The understanding is that Mrs. Hull,
former president of the w. c. T. U.
was paid a royalty on the sale of the
book, in exchange for her endorsement
of the temperance, features which it
presented.
Other members of the delegation rep
resenting the State w. c. T. U. dipped
in with explanations and remarks, but
it was evident before the interview was
over that the women who were plead
ing for the retention of the New Cen
tury had made no examination of other
text books offered.
1--WE have depended upon the ma
tional officers to make the examina-
ton for u.s. said Mrs. Smith.
Five years ago." said Miss Bray,
eve did examine the books offered,
but this year none of the books have
been submitted to US by the publish
ers.''
The w. c. T. U. representatives an
nounced that they had no especial OBJ
lection to the CHM & Co. physiology.
but they were very much opposed to
the physiology written by Krohn, on
the ground that Krohn was not
friend of temperance.
What objection have you to the
Krohn physiology" asked one of the
commissioners.
"well I understand that it doesn't
handle the intoxicating liquor matter
as we wish it handled" said Mrs.
Smith.
Don't you know that it declared
that alcohol is poison? You can't
ask it to go further than that, can
well. we don't like the arrange
ment of the book
zone of the teachers in my county
says it is well arranged" remarked
the member of the board.
The deleeation of women presented
to the board a petition signed by 1000
members of the w. G. T. u. asking
for the adoption of the New Century
physiologies. They also presented
letters of endorsement for that par
ticular book.
In Secret Session Today.
On Monday the board finished UP
the work of hearing the speeches of
the representatives, of the 35 book
companies which are Offering text
n,
the meeting is behind closed doors.
The actual work of selecting the text
books for use in the schools of Kan
sas during the next five years is in
progress. 1t is thought that the work
will be finished by the end of the
week, and the results announced
There is a total absence of bookmen
hanging about the Office of the state
superintendent today. They have all
taken the hint and fled to their hotels
where they are holding themselves in
readiness to respond to a hurry call"
at any time the commission may send
a summons. The commission has re-
served the right to summon the book
men to conference whenever it deem
ed it wise to do so. The commission
may want to tie the concerns down to
definite promises in regard to certain
desired changes in books before
awarding contracts.
The commission was in session until
late Monday night, hearing the final
arguments of the book house repre-
sentatives. 1t was long and tiresome
session for the text book commission
ers, and every time one of the repre-
sentatives appeared. and announced
that he would use only five minutes
of his allotted fifteen, the announce
ment was greeted with applause.
Mondays Hearing Not Secret.
Although the doors of the commits
sion room were only opened for the
book house representatives one at a
time on Monday, the commission, by
a special dispensation, permitted a
State Journal reporter to enter the
sacred portals, after he had solemnly
assured them that he didn't represent
any book house.
It really was a very tiresome pro-
ceedfng, and the members of the COM
mission, who had heard all the talk
direct from the agent on numerous oc-
casions were not to be censured for
their yawns and frequent perambula-
lions about the room in an effort to
straighten out their cramped anato-
mics.
II Was not comro on for the sneaker