The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-02-03

MAT TERS
DISCUSSED
FL Reno Paper Points Out
Dangers; COmmGndS
Wilson SWOrk

The El Reno Democrat last week
contained the following
"a condition has recently arisen at
the state capital that 1t win stand
the people in hand to keep close look.
out upon. Beneath the surface con.I
spiracy is being hatohed that is far
reaching in its effects and that is as
dark and treacherous as willy and ex-
perienced lobbyists are capable Of con-
ceiving Not only are the people to
be muleted in the sum Of 100000 but
the boys and girls, the school children
are to be Set back a couple Of years
ia their educational aspirations.
-Four Years ago the educational al
horities made an adoption Of text
books in this state and the companies
that were then contracted with ara
the five bis companies that are known
as the trust Books were purchased
al exorbitant prices, and some of them
have been condemned wherever usel.
State supt Wilson recognized the
necessity Of making a new adoption.
and he with other members Of the
board Of education began work on the
18th day Of June, 1912, and iabored
every day until July 29th in making
the adoption. More tine was spent IN
making the old adoption, when the
way had to be blazed. The adoption
made by the present board Of educa.
tion met with the opposition Of the
American Book Co., Maynard, Merrill
& 60 and J b johnson & Co, every
one Of whom had bee driven out Of
Texas and Kansas, an wao have con
stituted the giant octopus that has had
its Shiny teEtacles ON the book bus
mess Of the country These compa.
nies maintained paid agents around
the state capital while the adoption
was being made, and some Of them
now have paid lobbyists at the legis-
lature. who are seeking in every way
TO nuliiy the work Of the state board
Of education J. 3. Blazer is a repre-
sentative Of the book trust, and he it
was who induced the territorial legis.
lature to make an adoption that Gov
Ferguson, at the time, was compelled
to veto.
THE fact is, that the adoption made
in July by the present board has saved
to the taxpayers OF this state S1OO, 600
a fact which can be proven in few
minutes. by any one who will take
the prices paid under the old adop
ton, and that paid hnder the new law
There has been some talk about the
/ American Book company and at one
time It was whispered that that con
Germ had some influence with the
present board The American BooE
company furnishes but one book, ant
that is a dictionary, and no one else
submitted a price on one. That is why
the American Book company is today
behind the scheme to nulrfy the new
adoption THAT is why a paid lobby
ist is today hanging around the cor
ridors of the legislative halls advoeai
ing the passage Of one Of the two blni
recently introduced. one of thesf
bills provides that the adoption n
nulHfied absolutely. while the clae
proposes to extend the old adoption
for two years. The latter is with th
hope that this would take Ii over SUPP
Wilson's term OF office, and then tn
book trust would hope to have a fire
hand The people Of this state shoul
know the facts and should warn ever
member Of the legislature OF the e
forts Of the book concerns to regaf
hold on the book business in hi
state.
Some objection was made TO tn
history adopted by the present boar
but the author has made the necessar
changes in this, and ii Is today mue
the best history ever used The artl
metic formerly adopted IN the ol
adoption was condemned BY evei
school man in the state, and IT'S autht
practically confessed that il was nj
up To tho standard when be refuse
to ask again for It's adoption III
books adopted By the present boa
are far and away ahead Of the bool
formerly used and one Of the repr
sentatives Of the defeated book co
Germs admitted this, and said II was
much better adoption than the o.
made in Texas In addition to I'll
the State Teachers association m
recently and not one word of prote
was raised against the adoption,
words Of praise were heard evei
where The opinions Of these men a
4 women should be worth something a
should be taken IN preference to soi