The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-02-10
HUSBAND Tells
Why He FAVORS
UNIFORM BOOKS

Bismarck, N. D., Feb. 10.-To The
Forum: SO many misstatements have
been made by the opponents of the bill
introduced by myself providing for
uniform text books in this state that
1 feel it my duty to correct at least a
few of these. Inasmuch as the conclu-
sion we must arrive at as to the merits
or uniform text books must be based
upon the actual facts of experience
where uniformity has been tried, it be-
comes essential that these facts be
correctly and truthfully set forth. In
the discussion which follows I intend
to set forth these facts, not as thew
have been related to me by book COM
panies or parties peculiarly interested
in the defeat of my bill, but, rather as I
have learned them from men and ed
ucators in positions of responsibility
in states where uniform text book laws
have been in" operation for a number
Of years. ~
Being a farmer and having been Of
hcially connected in a small way with
the local administrations OF some of
our school laws I have no other inter
est in the fortunes of the bill as pre-
scented except that of a citizen who
wishes to see 1t made as easy as posi-
bic for the working man and the ten
ant who moves from place to place. to
educate his child.
A good deal has been said in the
press and by private lobbyists about
the experience of states where uni
formity has been. tried and statements
have been made quite freely that these
states have found uniformity inimical
TO progress and a handicap to educa-
tional advancement. The assertion has
been made that educators in these:
states are almost nniVPTSaIly nnnnsaH
to the plan and disguised with It's on
Grafton. For the present / shall not
discuss the sources of the information
which the opponents of my bill claim
to possess but I shall lay before the
readers of this paper the opinions of
educators as expressed in letters of re-
cent dates.
In a circular letter, sent presumably
to all members of the legislature, Miss
Beatrice Johnston of Grand Forks
states that Indiana is Disguised with 1T.
Similar statements have been made by
other educators in this state but the
facts are hat instead of being dis
gusted with it, educators in Indiana
from the state superintendent down
the line are almost a unit in favor of
the plan. The state superintendent,
Mr.. G~reathouse,. in a letter dated jan.
ID, 1913, writes as. follows: ut is my
Judgment hat we can secure better
text books under the uniform text book
Law. I am safe in saying that
the great majority of the school people
in this state are heartily in sympathy
and In favor of the uniform text book
law"
Mr.. Greathouse sent me a copy of the
new educational directory of Indiana
giving the names of school officers and
city superintendent and high school
teachers. From this directory / Sc
lected at random a number OF names
and addressed letters of inquiry to
each relative to the operation of the
uniform text book law and here is
what some of them say. Supt. Arthur
Deamer of La Porte writes under date
of Jan. 21, 1913, as follows: "In reply
ing wish to state that the result Of
uniformity has been very successful in
Indiana ever since the law was passed
and has met with the approval of pa
irons and school people as we'll"
Supt. J. @. Co1Iicott of the city
schools of Indianapolis under date of
Jan. 30, 1913, writes as follows: "I
believe the majority of the school SUI
perintendents in our state approve of
the uniform text book law. Before be-
coming a member of the state board, /
had a very high regard for each of it's
and it is my opinion that this
method of selecting books had been
very satisfactory"
+. 3. Callahan, superintendent of the
city schools of Cavalier, who taught
in Indiana for several years be-
fore coming to North Dakota, two
years ago, writes as follows, among
other things: II want to say to you
without any reservations that after