Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-08-20
PROBE Of BOOK
AWARD INVITED
BYJ. Y. CONWAY

state Superintendent John v
Conway was in Albuquerque re-
Gently to confer with educators in
regard to the fight against the
eighth amendment. Mr.. Conway
said he "had the Mohicans on the
down hill run"
Mr.. Conway's attention was
called to the statement of the Las
Cruces chamber OF commerce in
regard to the fight against the
adoption OF new text books, which
was printed in the Sunday Alou-
querQue Journal.
The Las Cruces chamber Of COM
merce protests that the adoption
of the new books was irregularly
made, that the old books were
cheaper and 1t further states that
state superintendent Conway was
invited to be present at a mass
meeting or submit figures which
in his mind justified the contract,
but we received no response"
In reply to this superintendent
Conway said:
II received q letter signed M. b..
stevens, secretary Las Cruces
chamber OF commerce, inviting me
to attend a mass meeting called 10
discuss the new text books. i can
not understand the statement that
/ made no reply. 1 answered the
letter, explaining that / could not
accept the invitation to be at Las
Cruces as | had already accepted
an invitation for that date to
banquet in honor of Governor
Mechem given by the chamber OF
commerce at Clayton. N. M. also
advised Mr.. Stevens that as | was
not a member of the state boaru
that adopted the new text BOOKS
and | was not in position 10 act
as spokesman for that board. put
gave Mr.. Stevens the names OF
the retiring board who had adopt,
ed the new books. and ADVISED
MIR. stevens that I would personal
lv write to them and request that
they go in my place to speak lor
at Las Cruces.
81 invited ]. H. Wagner, former
state superintendent, and Albert
Stern OF Charles 1lfeld Co.. VINO
has charge of the state depository,
to go to Las Cruces as promised
Mr., Stevens, and il they did not
accept the invitation, due to the
fact that they had previous dates
elsewhere, ] cannot see wherein
blame for non-attendance can be
placed on my shoulders.
1T do not take it upon myselI W
defend the old board, as l am III
no way responsible for It's actlon'
bnt personally / am of the opinion
that the adoption of the text DOCKS
was regularly made, that the ola
hoard was within its rights ana
acted in good faith. All Dids were
legally and properly submitted anu
The new board did not atteinpt ~
rescind the action of the old,. III
fact the attorney general ADVISED
hem that they had no right TO 40
40. I think that former State Su-
perintendent White has not taken
he trouble to properly inform him
self before coming out with so posi-
live a statement in regard to the
matter. From outside information
hat / received at the time the
hooks were being offered for adop-
ion, that our old text books We're
being offered to US at higher prices
han the new ones, We had
from the old book COM
oanies that for two years they had
us books at a loss ana
hat they could not continue to 90
10. Unfortunately the contract FOR
he adoption of the new text books
on June Is, when prices
we're at the highest crest, but the
,tate is fully protected by proviso
n the contract with the book com
,anies to the effect that whenever
here is a reduction in price or
whenever the text books are offered
cheaper in and other state, New
Mexico will receive the benefit of
,uch reduction. Already three of
he book companies have advised
is of 10 per cent to 20 per cent re-
luction in the price of the new
looks.
"rhese are the facts In regard to
he new text books as far as I am
tble to give them, but I am not at
I'll averse to legal proceedings to
est the matter I am always ready
o have anything in connection
With the board OF education in
and I will gladly furnish
my information necessary to aid
Iuch investigation. The board of
is not infallibIe, the de-
,artment Is open to criticism, but
We should have Justice. If there is
my wrong action or mislnanage-
nent, I am glad to have 1t pointed
,ut and corrected. I am trying to