Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-09

books. have in this communication CIV
en- the opinion OF educators, teachers ana
superintendent who have had actual eX-
perience in the field under uniform text
book laws, and they unanimously con-
|tradict .he opinions published IN Mr..
Burchard's article. Tho educators OF TINS
state point out that because OF their
experience in educational work they are
better qualified to say how text books
ought to be selected than myself, for
example, who happens to be a farmer.
This I concede to be sound argument
but by the same token educators In states
where uniformity in some form already
existed, ought to be better qualfed 70
express an opinion as to the merits: OF
uniformity than the educators in this
state, or in any other state, who nave
had no actual experience with the sys-
TEN. There is no better teacher than ex-
perience. and l have already given the
verdict of experience on uniformity, ana
on this verdict l am satisfied to let my
bin stand or fall.
1t has been intimated in the press and
in private discussions that the book
companies of the nation are backing TINS
movement in this state, and especially
my bill. The book companies are In IA
vor of that system which will enable
them to collect the highest prices-that
is good business. and that is their prac-
tice. ] have pointed out already by COM
parative figures showing prices in Michi-
gan and Indiana, that lower prices are
paid for the same text books published
by the same publishers under uniformity
| than under the present system. In the
article referred to in the Indianapolis
! News, it is clearly pointed out that the
I BOOK companies were engineering a
movement in Indiana secretly, having Tor
it's subject the repeal Of the uniform
text book law Why should they not
wish to repeal 1t when it compels COM
petition and forces prices down?
My friend and former state supcrin-
tcndent, w. L.. Stockwell, has sent me
a booklet, entitled Facts Concerning
School Books" of which the author is S.
Y. Gillian, and which is published by the
S Y. Gillian Company of Milwaukee,. Wis
consin. AS q specimen of the facts
set out in this book ! call attention to
the statement on page q, but Delaware
and ermont have repealed uniformity
laws" The state auditor Of Delaware
did under date of February 3rd, 1913
write as follows: Your letter Of Janu-
airy 3Otn at hand. In reply will say that
Delaware has enacted a law providing for
a uniform text book for use in this state
and find it very satisfactory" In Yer
mont a sO-calred union superintendent
has the power to prescribe text books.
On the same page the same authority
| says that California has abandoned state
publication. The letter l have already
| quoted from shows that this is a mis-
take.
When taken together with the state
ment in Superintendent Waits letter
| quoted herein, the fact That the above
pamphlet is published and circulated
against uniformity by a book publishing
company and is wrwitten by an author
and editor of several school texts is suf-
ficient in itself to convince all open
minded persons from what source the
opposition to o uniform text book law
comes. l rave seen printed circulars
which nave been distributed by some of
the teachers in this state In which mis-
statements relative to the working of un-
iformity just as fragrant as those l have
referred to- in this communication, have
been made.
1t is urged by some of our educators
that The pan is un-American. TO this,
I reply that no system is un-American
which enables the working man more
easily and more ~inexpensively to educate
his child. 49,
The impression seems to be prevalent
and has been encouraged by those who
oppose a uniform text book, law that the
| state commission would deal with one
or two firms and would practically create
a monopoly. This is entirely at variance
with the facts of experience elsewhere.
Montana. for example, deals with about
fifteen different book publishers. So does
Idaho, and in Indiana. several publishers
furnish the school texts used. There is
not a single state where a uniform text
book law has been adopted which does
not deal with several concerns n where
competition is not keen and where com
petitive prices do not prevail. | have
| the price lists and the lists Of books
from several Of these states which show
that competitive but not monopoly prices
prevail.
While ! have q great deal Of respect
for, and confidence in, the educators OF
this state. I trust l may be permitted to
suggest that they are not omniscient;
nor do they have any monopoly of infor-
nation relative to the experience where
uniformity has been trieu; and before
the public generally, or the legislative
assembly condemns my bills. I trust that
no mans opinion will be accepted on this
point unless that opinion shall appear
to be based upon actual facts. Z,
S VIM. N. HUSBAND.
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