The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-12-28
Publisher of Western Jour
nal of Education, at Sena-
torial Inquiry, Makes
Serious Charges
MANY SCHOOL MEMS
NAMES MENTIONED
Allegation Made That Ger.
tain Clique Dominates
Teachers Association

SACRAMENTO. Dec. 27.-Investigation
of the SO called book trust" of Califor-
MIA, its relation with teachers and edu-
Gators and whether the various publish
ing concerns which furnish texts for
California schoolbooIs are in a pool for
the purpose of holding up the state to
levy a high financial tribute in royal
ties were taken up by a special senate
textbook Investigating committee. The
committee held three sessions during
the day and evening
The greater portion Of the time con
sumed today was devoted to probe
into the alleged influence exerted on
teachers by the various book companies
in an effort to obtain their Endorsement
of texts
WAGNER MAKES CHARGES
The most striking testimony offered
tor and publisher of the Western Jour-
nal of Education until recently the Of
fetal organ of the state board of edu-
cation. and of Leroy Armstrong. now
southern California salesman for the
American Book company. but formerly
secretary of the California Teachers
association and editor of the Sierra Ed
ucational News. the associations pub
lication.
Wagner charged that the California
Teachers association was dominated by
an inner circle, which catered to the
book. companies and influenced teachers
through the policy of the Sierra Edu-
cationai News This inner circle. he
further asserted. was led by. Armstrong,
Professor Lange of the University OF
California. member Of the state board
Of education. u Morris Cox. deputy
superfntendent of schools at Oakland;
City superintendent McKinnon of San
Diego and w. w. Mckay of chico.
NO CHANCE FOR RIVALS
Wagner declared that one book, Nc
Clymonds arithmetic. was selected BY
the state board Of education without
giving any company other than the
American Book company a chance to
bid. McClymonds was and now is city
superintendent of schools of Oakland.
His book, printed by the American Book
company. was selected by the state
board, according to Wagner, at meet
ing Of the board held in San Francisco.
which was not open to the public, in
that it was not announced.
]. F. Neylan. chairman of the state
board of control. was another witness.
He told of the boards investigation Of
the state printing office. which resulted
in the. resignation of w. w. Shannon.
former state printer.
RECRUITED AMONG TEACHERS
Armstrong declared that IS per cent
Of the book agents of the state were
recruited from the teaching ranks.
These agents, he declared. use their
personal influence rather than the
merit of their books to place their texts
in the schools. He asserted that there
was no such thing as book trust
and that competition among the various
publishing concerns was keen. In re-
Spouse to questions by Senator Shana-
han. he said that there was no ques-
tion that book companies would bene-
fit more If the texts were changed
continually than if one company en-
joyed a monopoly Of one text
With reference to Wagner's charges,
Armstrong said that the editorial policy
of the Sierra News was practically in
the hands of an advisory board and,
perhaps, did not directly reflect the
sentiment of the rank and file of the
Teachers association. Local adoption
would greatly increase the business of
book concerns. Armstrong said, but, he
declared that he and his associates
high up in Teachers association circles
believed this plan would be of benefit
to the educational interests Of the
state.
Allison Ware, principal Of the Chico
normal school and member of the re-
cent board of education, testified that
although he could not say positively
there was such a thing as book trust
it had been suspected in certain in
stances that the concerns pooled their
interests to benefit all publishers. OF
his own knowledge. Ware was not
prepared to say undue influence had
been brought to bear on teachers to
induce them to indorse certain texts
by book agents.
The members Of the committee con-
Quoting the investigation are: Sena
tors u. K. strobridge, chairman; IT. w.
II Shanahan and N w. Thompson.