The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-08-10
TO BRIDE
Scandalous Proceedings IN
Connection With Fight Over
State Textbooks


otbTFs Ia $50 Into HEAL Win htr1
For nany days there have be~u r.
noFs IA Raleigh 81 some scAndAloas
proceedings IN connection wtth the
ngh, nov being made over the adop-
ton Of textbooks for public schools
Of the Stale for the next Ave years
This reporter had Intended writing
up the matter for this weeks issue
OF The Caucasian. bu: for the present
wiil only publish the report OF the
investigating committee with the
News ard Observers explanatory re-
marks which are as follows:
There have been rumors and re-
ports OF shady transactions in the
matter OF the adoption OF textbooks
in North Carolina for the public
schools OF the State The rumors
were that one ". c. Narfield. an
agent for the World Book Company,
had attempted 10 form a combination
10 get the adoption OF certain books.
and that Mr.. A. j. Barwick OF the
Department OF Public Instruction was
TO be the man through whom he was
TO work the deal.
The Textbook Commission took
notice or the rumors and whispered
reports. called a halt in the matter of
textbook adoptions, and yesterday
investigated the matter AS a re-
suit OF the investigation 1t entirely
exonerates Mr.. Barwick and finds
that the conduct of Mr. Warfield was
improper and merits severe condem-
nation
The report of the Joint Commits
sion, made public last night just be-
fore midnight, and given out as a
statement authorized by the State
Textbook Commission and the Sub
Commission is as follows:
The State Textbook Commission
and the Sub-Commission met in
joint executive session in the hall of
the House Of Representative on Mon
day, August 7th, at 1890 a. m, for
the purpose Of investigating certain
charges that had been called to the
attention of the Joint Commission.
Governor w. w. Kitchin presided
and the witnesses were examined by
Acknowledgement Beckett The follow
ing witnesses were sworn and ex-
amined:
"'W. S. Gooch, F. H. Perry, w.
{. Warfield, Col. F. B. Arendell, E.
c. Brooks, A. ]. Barwick, and c. H.
Mebane.
A stenOgraphic report of the tes-
timony was taken, and will be open
to the inspection of the public as
soon as the notes can be transcribed.
From the testimony taken, the
Joint Commission, by unanimous
vote. find the following facts:
"'(1) That during the last days of
June, one w. c. Warfield, an agent
of the World Book Company, ap-
preached w. S. Gooch, agent of the
Macmillan Company, and represent
ed to him that he, Warfield, held the
key to the situation in North Caro-
lima; that he had a friend in the
Department of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, to-wit, Mr.. A. J.
Barwick, and through this friend he
could bring such influence to bear on
the Sub-Commission as would insure
the adoption of certain books pub
lished by the Macmillan Company;
that the work and influence of him
self and friends would be well
worth $1,50O,000, and that he would
undertake to secure the adoption of
the books named for that amount,
and if he did not succeed, he would
make no charge.
"'(2) That about the same time
the said Warfield made similar
proposition to Mr.. F. H. Perry, repre-
senting Rand, McNally & Co., though
he had told Gooch that no such
proposition was being made to any
one else, that both Gooch and Perry
declined to enter into the arrange
ment, and Perry caused the matter to