The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-13
BAKER ATTEMPTS
An EXPLANATION
IN SCHOOL SPAT
School Supply Agent Gives His
Views on the Matter, But
Fails to Change Appearance
Of Affair.
HE GREATLY REGRETS
PUBLICITY GIVEN 1T
Says He Is a Friend of Man.
aging Editor of Indianapo-
lis News, Who Allowed Him
To Air His Views.

In letter to Supt. Jordan relative
to theschool supply contract squabble,
William L. Baker, one of the Indian
apolis dealers whose bids were rejected
by the township trustees last week,
attempts an explanation. Mr.. Baker
covers five typewriter sheets Of paper,
the largest amount Of space being de-
voted to a chronicle of his own
achievements and experiences as
dealer in school supplies. The at
tempted explanation is somewhat dif-
flcult to fathom. One of the interest
ing bits of information revealed by
Baker is the fact that he is friend
Of the managing editor OF the Indian-
apolis News and that gentleman would
not permit anything to appear in that
paper without first giving Baker an
opportunity to take exceptions. When
the News printed the account Of the
game being played by Baker and his
associates in this city, appended was
a long statement from Baker In which
he tried to make light Of the matter.
Regrets Publicity.
The indianapolis dealer writes to
Jordan his regrets that the matter has
gotten into the newspapers and ex-
presses some apprehension about the
veracity of newspaper copy prepared
in the hurry of the day.
One of the points gained by perus-
ing Bakers extensive manuscript -
his somewhat amusing declaration In
regard to competition. Following the
mention Of the name of Draper, the
contractor who divulsed the fixed price
combination Of the bidders, Baker
makes reference to the fable Of the dog
in the manger. He said it never has
been determined whether the dog was
trying to be dog or horse.
What Baker Saya
Baker says:
1--WE have some agents like the dog
and they harm everyone and our trus-
tees in particular. The country is
growing older and more people must
be In business and prices must be low.
er and they must and will be uniform
If those in business expect to remain
in business. In Wayne county 1t costs
80 cents to raise q bushel OF wheat
where only a light fertilizer is used. ]
am told. II one farmer would offer
wheat for GO cents what would his
neighbors think. He would be reason
ed with and implored to sell only at
the market price.
"Of course Mr. Draper never said ]
Cancelled an order l gave him because
Mr.. Draper is a truthful man and
did not cancel an order until today
when the order was cancelled on US as
the buyer was made to see that be had
to have a bid. The facts are that we
had a meeting here and read the riot
act to some parties who make trustees
look ridiculous by having 30 many
prices. About 50 per cent OF the prices
were cut and of the remaining 20 PEI
cent the raise was only where the fact.
cries have raised the prices. We are
going to make this a respectable busi-
ness with uniform market prices which
can be relied on and we are not goina
to violate any law doing 1t. We are
going to protect every man who buys
goods of US by selling all at the same
price and keeping an exact copy oi
each item sold him, and this We are
going to keep for six years which is AZ
long as he is liable to have anything
come up against him."
"old Day" Methods.
It is probable that Baker would
claim the farmer who sells wheat al
60 cents had no right nor business to
fix his own price and the purchaser
ought to be denied the privilege o1
buying.
Baker advocates '-old day" methode
Of dealing with the public In this year
1909. He refers to the time when
John C. Mcpherson was superintend-
ent OF Wayne county. That was back
In the seventies. In those days Baker
encountered no criticism. but trouble
evidently has followed the influx OF
| mot educated educators" In the field
| Here is what the supply man has tc
say:
I'VE are going to have uniform
goods. especially registers and reports
and they will be as exact al they wert
| IN the old days when John c. No
Pherson and made the copy for them
II conducted the business for many
wears without q breath OF criticism
but there are SO many In 1t now who
| are not educated educators, but merely
! statesmen that their efforts have
caused many awkward laws to be pass
ed. The trustees have complained se
MANY times about the unrelfability oi
prices that II was necessary to reform
them and make them mean oomethinl
and this We have done and arc doing
| and ve trust that We wfn have youl
lQsaA1nasd On Ra0s Una