The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-04-27
SENATOR McCRORY CORRECTS
BOOK-TRUST BRITAIN.

vention in Macon?
Prof. Britain is quoted in the
Telegraph as saying:
1.-The teachers and school officials
of the State last year and the year
before, in their annual conventions
without dissenting vote, declared
It the part of wisdom for Georgia
to continue with the forty-siX States
and the 95,000,000 people pur
chasing texts in the open market
rather than follow the lead of two,
containing one-twentieth Of that
number, printing their own home
made books"
If Prof Britain means to convey
the idea that the texts of the books
taught are homemade" then he is
in error The school books in Cali
fornia and Kansas are printed on
their own printing presses but the
texts of the books are selected in
the open market and a royalty paid
to the author by the State the same
as if paid by school book publisher.
Let us keep the record straight and
not muddy the water
l quote from the report of the
State Printer of California July /,
1914, to June 80, 1915. During
this time twenty-three different
school books were printed and in
every instance a royalty was paid to
the author or to the school book
publishing houses for the use Of the
text. The cost is as follows. Print
ing Primer 1902, royalty .04S; First
Reader, printing 1902; royalty .04S,
and all though the list of books, and
the total of the twenty-three books
is as follows: Manufacturing cost,
$3.0865; royalty, $1.5135. Total,
$3.50.
The Eastern book companies
charge $500 for these books. Kan
sas is paying a royalty also and print
ing her own school books much
cheaper than California because of
more modern equipment; and it
sounds strange for one occupying the
position of Prof. Britain saying that
because all except two States are
paying tribute to the book trust that
we ought to do it. Would it make
any difference in the value Of the
text Of the school book if. Sears &
Roebuck printed it instead Of the
book companies? Both Kansas and
California are using texts bought in
the open market and printing their
own books at a saving to the pur-
chasers of at least 40 per cent. if
bought from the book companies in
the open market.
Will Prof. Britain please tell who
wrote that resolution and who in
PRODUCED it, and who moved it's adop-
ton. Give us the names and the
relation they sustain towards the
publishing houses. Year before last
two Of the speakers were interested
directly in the sale of school books
in Georgia, to-wit, Hon. Lawton B.
Evans, Of Ashmore.
1t may be best to continue to pay
tribute to the book trust, but some
people cannot see it and many peo-
pie question the wisdom Of that
policy.
If the State Teachers Association
will cut loose from those directly
interested in the sale of school books
in Georgia, their number will be
greatly diminished but their indu-
ence greatly increased.
If Prof. Britain in his sarcastic
statement of homemade books"
means that these States print them,
then he is correct with big 'K."
Let us see what it means in Kan
sas. I quote from the report of the
State Printer, Hon w. r. Smith.
G guess he is good authority)
In Kansas we are working one
hundred EMPLOYEES and saving