The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-03
Charges Against WhittemOre
Fail to Impress Board.
After Hot Debate "Indictment''
Goes to Waste Basket.
''SHE is DISTURBER."
Hardy Takes Fling at Mrs. Bur-
ton Who Made Complaint.
almost an Insult to Board
Says Josiah JOrdOn.

The board of education held a stormy
session Monday night. 1t lasted until
nearly midnight.
In the first place the charges prefer
red against superintendent L. d.
Whittemore by Mrs. Ella S. Burton
were read, and when E. H. Anderson
stood up and said, Il move they be
placed in the waste basket the excite
ment started. Broad grins were on the
countenances of a few of the board
members and the superintendent of
schools seemed to be feeling good him
self, but two or three of those who
have charge of matters educational in
Topeka took the things seriously.
A second to the Anderson motion was
made by James Cuthbert. S. A Swend-
son offered as a substitute motion TO
submit the charges to a special COM
n1ittee, and he was backed by Geo. II
Smith. Then argument began IN
earnest.
rs 1T is hereby charged that L. D.
Whittemore. at the Kansas State
Teachers association, on December e.
1906. read the following resolution as
shown by the official report OF SAID
meeting. IN the office of state super
intendent of public instruction we rec
osnize a powerful agency for prornoe-
ing educational progress ThlS oInce
we believe to be second to none IN lts
vital ir1nOrtance to the public welfare.
In the past it has been instrumental IN
Inifvine the methods of the scnoo!S;
and we confidently look to II Tor sun
larger usefulness and help IN tne
future
eft is further charged that at the
meeting of the board of educatlon Al
March. 1910 L. D. Whittemore positlVe-
Nv denied having read Such resoIut1oh.
(2) .sIt is hereby charged tnaI L. =.
vVhitteuore violates the state text Dooh
law in recurring school patrons TO PuI-
chase books not adopted by the state
text book commission Under ms 81
pervision text books in reading LOT the
first five years cost $4.55, Wnlle thE
state provides the course at cost OIL
$1.45.
(3C ct is hereby charged that under
the supervision of l. D. Wnltten R IN IN
addition to the books provided by the
state as adequate for the common and
high schools. Il other texts have peen
added and that the prices OF the adoed
books are exorbitant- According TO the
report of our state printer some OF
these added books cost only 70 Genus
laid down in Topeka, and without pro-
test from Mr.. Whittemore retail LOT
81 60 1t is further stated that of TINS
enormous profit only 10 per cent goes |
to our local dealers.
fN eft is charged that L. D. White |
more has appeared in the halls OF our
legislature as a text book lobbyist, and |
that the things he advocated We're |
greatly in the interest or text pooh
publishers.
C51 1T is charged that L. D. White
more is the author of book used in |
the Topeka schools. that retails to her
children for Sc cents, which pased on
the reports of the state printers OF
Georgia. Texas and Kansas costs Tor
labor, material and delivery only 10
Cso 1T is charged that L. d. White
more is one of a class of men, who with
professorly air wrap the mantle OF
nd q
medium Of extortion of the people, oy
fext hook publishers. through the pow
er Of the influence OF their positions.
smith Favors Investigation.
81 second et,e notion said Smith,
because We have heard so nouch or
this fight I want to have 1t ehaeo,
FHher clear MIN of this charge now
80 forever or prove him guilty, Some
times language has been used at these
meetings which was harsh Wen have
this nsht on until We end it, ,.
should be considered beneath the
seesol board 10 pay any attention 70
tfh< trash submitted AN a person
known 10 be an tSreSnenStele nenreSt~
,,svs at aaNo0a 10 Know II roo much
eseeeN is being expended on BOOKS
leere are better ways TO set at IT than
49,, = sSsSsssst,sr in everything she has
.eeehea. having been defeated in ait
SerSnt ySaVS, and now she is trying TO
sssSs the SsperiDtedent,
San the hooks SUpplemenStns the
rezaslsr course have been added Tor the
aeneat Of tn ehilaren,N said Superin-
'erslent WhitternOre. 1T is impossible
aer the teachers TO teach with only s
ne text books as aids figured up the 3;
,ther day thA cost of the books used .
- eight years of the graded course.
ma find that il costs just ) cents a
week 10 buy an the books used BY the ,
shildren IN the grade schools in eight
rears- We nay spend large sums on