Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-08-18
CONWAY ANSWERS WHITE.
August 16, 1921.


Mr.. Alvan N. White, Silver City,
n. M,
My Dear Mr.. White: / am in re-
ceipt Of a copy OF set of resolu-
tions concerning the text book
adoption passed by the mass
meeting held at Las Cruces. In
connection with these resolutions
there is copy of a letter from
you to Mr.. M. B. Stevens of Las
Cruces, concerning certain So
called Irregularities in connection
with this adoption. | believe you
have been misinformed relative to
certain things in connection with
this adoption. The purpose of this
letter is to clear up these points
in so far as possible.
First: AS to the time of adop-
tion. An opinion was obtained
from the attorney general con-
cerning the right of the state board
of education, then in power, to
make this adoption. The attorney
general ruled that such an adop-
tion was legal. When the new
state board of education deter
mined to designate the order of
the readers, attorney generals Of
flee again ruled that the adoption
made in December was legal and
binding. The new state board of
education did not adopt books, 1t
merely designated the order in
which they should be used.
Second: There seems to be
some question in your mind con-
1nHf1itNq n fl1n s,f fhn
as compared with the old ones.
The contract for the old books ex-
pired June Is, 1921, and Charles
Ilfe!d company of Albuquerque
can furnish some very illuminat-
ing figures concerning the cost
of continuing the use of these old
books as compared with the cost
of the books adopted. The con-
tracts with the old publishing
houses could not be renewed al
the same figures as the previous
adoption. Moreover, the school
patrons Of New Mexico are fully
protected by section four of the
contracts covering any price re-
duction which may be made In
any state of the union on books
adopted for New Mexico. Section
four reads as follows: That the
party OF the first part further
agrees that the prices set forth
above are as low as said books are
offered for sale in any other state,
county or school district in the
United States, and that If said
books are offered for sale else
where in the United States at low
er prices. except those supplied on
contracts entered into prior to De-
cember 6, 1920, or If at any time
lower contract prices are made
elsewhere in the United States,
New Mexico shall be granted the
same reduction and be given the
same prices, the said reduced
prices to be effective July Is next
following the date of such reduc-
ton This section fully protects
our school patrons on the price of
books. Already three of the book
companies have indicated such re-
ductions in price and New Mexico
under her contracts will benefit by
these price reductions.
You state In your letter that any
we'll informed educator will say
that the newly adopted books with
the exception of the Brooks Read
ers, which should have been dis
placed, are inferior to the old.
While was not a member of the
state board Of education which
made this adoption, or the state
board which made the previous
adoption, resent the imputation
that the old state board OF educa-
ton was not composed of well in
formed educators. Col. James w.
Wilson, as head OF the military
institute at Roswell for eighteen
years. has brought that institution.
to the rank of second in the Unit
ed States. Mrs. Josie Lockard has
served the state faithfully in the
city of Ration. Hitherto no asper-,
sion has been cast against her
work or her ability. Col. Jose d
Sena, clerk of the supreme court,
was tor years a member of the
board of education, Santa Fe. and
has all of his life interested him
self in the educational affairs of
the state. Hon. Amado Chaves in
SO far gained the confidence and
respect Of the people of New Mex
leo as to serve as our territorial
superintendent of public instruc-
tion and his administration of this
office speaks for itself. The last
appointive member of the old
board OF eduction, Mr.. Earl Doug