The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-02-10

80
Book Michigan indiana
A@eriesa Gistorg ~. 1::oosS IS
English book-One . .42 .95
English book-Two . .65 40
In this article lists of other text
are given with the prices in Indiana
patrons of the schools OF Indiana have
been saved over $3,5o0,000 in the past
twenty years in the prices OF text
books alone.
Robert J. Alley. predecessor of Mr..
Greathouse as state superintendent
says. For twenty years the law has
worked well. Indiana has had under
its operation better books than she
tina neighboring states have. The SUI
perintendents of Kansas, Louisiana,
Montana, Utah, oregon, Nevada, West
Virginia, Idaho, Mississippi and other
had with uniform text books express
the same opinion, namely: that better
text books are n a be selected un-
der uniformity than before. / have let
ters from educators and state superin-
tendents in these states which l shall
be glad to exhibit to anybody interest
ed in verifying the statements made
herein. ...
In Sundays Herald, Mr.. Burchard
published the opinion of the superin-
tendents from states in which they
have not had any experience with uni
form text books. / have in this COM
munication given the opinion of edu-
Gators, teachers and superintendent
who nave had actual. experience in the
field under uniform text book laws and
they unanimously contradict the oprn-
ions published in Mr.. Burchard's artI-
Gle. h educators of this state point
out because of their experience in edu-
cational work they are better qualified
to say how text books ought to be Sc
InnTnH shan wVG ~. nxynV ~ N1 h
happens to be a farmer. This l concede
to be sound argument but by the anne
token educators in states where uni
formity in some form already existed,
ought to be better qualified to explain
an opinion as to the merits of uniform
tty, h the educators in this state or
In n other state who have had no ac-
tual experience with the system.
There is no better teacher than expert
ence and / have already given the YER
dict of experience on uniformity and
on this verdict / am satisfied to let my
bill stand or fall.
1t a been intimated in the press
and in private discussions that the book
companies of the nation are backing
this movement in this state and especi-
ally my bill. The book companies are
in favor of that system which will en-
able them to collect the highest prices.
That is good business and that is their
practice, 1 have pointed out already
by comparative figures showing prices
IA III III AuAduhy ludl CT
prices are paid for the same text books
published by the same publishers un-
der uniformity than under the present
system. In the article referred to in
pointed o that the book companies
were engineering q movement in Indi-
n secretly, having for its object the
repeal of the uniform text book law.
Why should they not wish to repeal it
when it compelB competition and
forces prices down.?
My friend and former state superin-
tendent, W. L. StockwelI, has sent me a
book entitled Facts Concerning School
Books, OF which the author is S. Y. Gill
Ian and which is published by the S.
Y. Gillian Co, of Milwaukee, Wis. AS
a specimen of the facts" set out in
ment on page 81, but Delaware and
Vermont have repealed uniformity
laws" The state auditor of Delaware
did, under date Of Feb. 8, 1913, write
as follows: Your letter of Jan. 80 at
han In reply will say that Delaware
has enacted a law providing for a uni
form text book for use in this state
and finds it very satisfactory" In YER
mont a so-called 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 / have al
a mistake.
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 publish
ing company and is written by an
author and editor of several school
texts is sufficient in itself to convince
all open minded persons from what
source the opposition to a uniform
text book law comes. / have seen
printed circulars which have been dis
tributed by some of the teachers in
thfn state IN rxgA41h Vpatuc&n nra a. -
alive to the working Of uniformity
just as Migrant as those / have re-
ferred to in this communication, have
been made.
that the plan is unAmerican. To this 1
reply that no system is unAmericah
which enables the working man more
easily n more inexpensively to edu-
The impression seems to be prevalent
n has been encouraged by those who
oppose a uniform text book law that
the state commission would deal with
create a monopoly. This Is entirely at
with the facts of experiences
elsewhere. Montana for example deals
with about fifteen different book pub
several publishers furnish the school
texts used. There Is not a single
state where a uniform text book law
has beer adopted which does not deal
with several concerns and where COM
petition is not keen and where c~ou1pet-
tive prices do not prevail. I have the
price list and the list of books from
several of these states which show thaf
competitive but not monopoly prices
prevail.
While i have a great deal OF -resoeot|
for and confidence In the educators Of
this state I trust I may be permitted to
suggest that they are not omniscientI
nor do they have any monopoly of In
formation relative to the experiences
where uniformity has been tried and
before the public generally or the Leg
islative assembly condemns my bill II
trust that no. mans opinion will be ac-
cepted on this point unless that opin-I
ion shall appear TO be based upon ac-
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