The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-26
EDUCATION BOARD MEETS.
CONTRACT OF IL. f.. JOHNSON
COMPANY REFUSED.
Iieath company Said to Have Been
Given Contract by Board-DetaiIs
Of COntrovCrsy-Statcm by T.
L. HOugh.

exist, 1t is like placing a rope
around our neck and handing that
rope over to the book trust: that is
our position. Il is utterly impossible
Tor us to do it, if We hope to live"
This statement was made before
the State board of education Fri
day at special meeting by f. f.
f1ouSh, the representative of the b.
f. Johnson Publishing company of
Richmond. The company refused to
accept the contract for the third.
| fourth and fifth readers under the
| Interpretation Of the board of edu-
cation. Following the refusal of the
Johnson company to accept the con-
| tract, the board awarded the con-
tract, is is said, for the third. fourth
| and fifth readers to the Heath COM
pany. The Johnson company is un-
der a bond for the fulfllment of
| its contract. Just whether this mon
ey is retained by the board is not
known.
f. f. Hough the representative Of
the E. F. Johnson Publishing com.
pany Of Richmond, made the follow
| ing statement as to why the contract
with the State board of education
was refused. The acceptance of
this contract, under the Interpretation
| of the State board of education.
1
would mean the absolute destruction
| OF our company. The 60 per cent.
| exchange allowance on the Wheeler
BOOKS, which are considerably high
er in price than our books Of the
same grade, in some instances means
! as much as SO 1-3 per cent. exchange
/ in our books. We have numerous
| State adoptions on this series of
readers. Were We to have accepted
this contract we would have been
compelled under the terms of our
| contract with other States to grant
them the same exchange allowance
I which would mean an annual loss Of
many thousands Of dollars"
The following resolution, having
been offered, was read by Mr..
Hough:
Whereas, the representative Of
the b. f. Johnson Publishing COM
pany delivered to the committee of
this board on July 20, 1911. an Of
: fetal telegram stating that the house
| could not accept the Interpretation Of
! the contract made by the board. in
respect to the exchanges Of graded
classic readers third, fourth and
| fifth. which readers had been ad-
! opted as a part of the based series
Of readers, and,
Whereas, further, the Is. +. John
son Publishing company declines to
/ sign and return the contracts ten
dered said firm in triplicate.
Resolved, That this board recon
! slider the adoption Of graded classic
readers, third. fourth and fifth, and
| books in lieu of these three read
ers"
| The chairman Of the board stated
that it was the desire of the board TO
! do no injury to the b. F. Johnson
Publishing company, and asked Mr..
| Hough AS their representative, if
the preamble Of the resolution cor
rectly stated their position.
In reply, Mr.. Hough quoted the fol-
lowing telegram:
Richmond, Va, July 20. 1911.
'F. +. Hough, Columbia. s. c.
please say to the committee that
we can not accept their interpreta-
tiOn OF our bid We are ready to en-
ecute contract as understood by 9TH
| er publishers, by ourselves, and we
| believe by members Of the board
when bids were filed. We are anx-
| iouS to meet the views Of the board.
| but can not do so at the sacrifice Of
| our business policies.
| (Signed) "B. +. Johnson Publish
ing Company"
The following conversation took
place between Mr.. Hough and \. q.
Rembcrt. member of the board Of
education:
Mr.. IIough-"It means then that
We are thrown out without being
able to make an appeal; without
having any legal Interpretation oCl
this contract