The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-23
SCHOOL BOOK SCANDAL"

a fcrrcd to in this column yesterday as injurious to New Mexico, is
IA found in the fake school book scandal used extensively by the
managers of the democratic party in a futile attempt 10 manufacture
sentiment and votes against senator bufsun.
In December, 1920, the state board of education appointed BY
and serving under Governor Larrazoio made new sxyear CONTRACTS
for uniform text books TO be used in the public schools. The law re-
CURED the board to make these contracts. The old contracts were ex
puing in a few months. An earnest effort was made by the board TO
renew some Of the old contracts at the prices made in contracts
Paper, labor, freights, selling costs, everything having to do with
the school book publishing industry had gone up. some of the old
use was harmful to sound educational work.
The board made the best contracts IL could for the hooks that in
that insured to this state as low a price as.might be made in amy
other state during the life Of the contracts.
The increases in costs were serious They affected every family
In the ease of "A large family of children the burden added was con
have avoided doing what it actually did do; namely, make the best
contracts it could secure for the books it thought best To designate.
The contracts made and the books specified were widely pub
lshed at the time; December, 1920. The lists Of books ad. the prices
to the people were published widely during the early summer.
There was a complaint against the increased costs, as a matter of
course; just as all ofas, overburdened with expenses in the main
tenance Of our families and homes protest against all such added bur
dens. But there was no general uprising among the people. None
When the recent senatorial campaign lines were forming, violent
agitation against the school book contracts appeared. 1t came, invar-
ABLY, from democratic partisan sources. II was inspired by poll
tcians for political purposes 1t did not seek the welfare of the pen.
pie. 1t suggested no remedy. 1t offered no alternative that the for
cypress; use in the poGtionl campaign. and tr net immediate result
Of which was to create confusion and hamper efficient school work in
afew counties where the agtators secured a foothold.
Taking advantage of the perfect natural dissatisfaction among
the people over the increased costs u the school books, the demo
situation and the new prices. They timed this attack to open through
out the state a week before the election, when they faneied no reply
could be made Il H.. IN ina they we're rlght, IN so iar al the rcplDll
can campaign management was concerned. 1t had no time to reply
10 the attack. 1t made no effort to do 4. 1t rested complete conf
tack for themselves and through their votes The people did it
The matter for consideration is the wworthineSs of this kind Of
campaigning and its reactions. 1t was noised abroad, outside this
state. that New Mexico hai suffered from a school book scandal. "
Had it been true the thing would have received instant attention at
home. The school teachers and officials of this state are honest, in
tellgent and of sufficient courage to act against wrongs directed at
the schools. They would have acted in such a matter without the
mpings OF "A political campaign.
argument made was the far-fetched one that Senator Bursum, being
republican party leader, was responsible for everything done under
Il republican state administration, whether he knew anything about
q particular action or was in complete ignorance of it, as in this ease.
In the anonymous circulars used the charge was more direct and more
iblc for the increased costs of the books. In the mouth.to-ear whis-
perug that was resorted TO- people believed to be ignorant of the
machinery of the state school system and unable to get the facts were
told that senator Bqrsnm actually made the text book contracts The
lie grew as the method Of circulation became more devious and less
decent as It's authors meant it to grow.
When the real use being made of this lie became known the in
slant effect was to put every man and woman actively engaged IN the
republican cause in every county in the state into redouhed activity
for Senator HursnmL Not only a cause but justice was att stake me
next result Of this plain, nvarnishcd campaign lie was probably to
increase Senator lfursum' majority. 1t gained the democratic party
added dsreputc.
The state department Of education should see to it that the plain
informative work should 20 out a clear showing of what was pro
posed in the last Legislature toward providing free text books for the
schools; that the proposal made was not only financially imposSb,
for the state but unconstitutional in its provisions No m%isapprchen
sion and mo chance fop misrepresentation should be permitted to re
main in any mind. When this is done we may continue to complain
of the increased cost of the books. and some of MS may criticize som'
Of the books themselves; hat We will not dsrust the motives Of thos
who made the contracts. We will be fair and being fair we will no
permit a political issue to be made ont Of conditions over which tn
state school authorities had no control.
In this matter a deliberate, coldly calculated attempt was mad
TO use a serious public problem ~ "hleh ~ "'r' equally concerned
involving the welfare of the children and the continued efficiency o
their schools, as a means to arouse mwHrranted and unjust prejude
against one candidate and for the benefit of another; in connection
with an office having not the most remote connection with the polio
or administration of our public school system q fake issue with whc
10 trick and deceive voters.
Continued dishonesty in the conduct Of political campaigns lead
to one certain result; public dStrust Of those who practice it,
the people of New Mexico were ms ignorant and as gunihle as tn
present management of the democratic parry appear 10 believe theI
10 be-. the results Of their efforts with tools like ths school boo
scandal might be- different Fortunately the people know a can
paigu lie when they see il. II is time for the rank and file of dem'
rratic. voters 10 inquire with some care into the real causes Of the dn
asfcrs that have overtaken their candidates in the last three election
Such am inquiry may moi render future campaigns any easier TO. til
republican party, but it will prove to be for the welfare Of Ne