Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1909 — ROUTING THE SCHOOL BOOK COMBINE. [ARTICLE]

ROUTING THE SCHOOL BOOK COMBINE.

Governor Marshall has again proved by his acts that he is the right man in the right place, and that while he is in office the interests of the people will be protected so far aS his power goes. By virtue of his office, the governor is a member of the State Board of Education. Among the, duties of this board is that of contracting for textbooks to be used in the public schools. On April 8, bids were received by the board for readers, geographies, arithmetics and copybooks, and time was taken to examine the offers made. It was expected that awards would be made last week but conditions had arisen which caused a further postpone-

ment. "• . Charges were made-. that a combination had been formed by certain publishers to bring about if possible, a complete change in the books to be contracted for throwing out all of those now in use and substituting the books published by the combine. It was said that a /“slate" had been gotten up for this purpose and that attempts were being made to influence tlie board of education to adopt this slate. All these charges were set forth with great particularity in some of the Indianapolis newspapers, and the situation had an ugly look. The hotels swarmed with schoolbook agents and the air was filled with the criminations and recriminations passing among them.

Governor, Marshall put on his f’ghting clothes, and when the board n et last week he made it very clear that whatever was done must be done openly so that the people should know where to place the responsibility. On his motion a resolution was adopted providing, that when a member voted for any book lie should write his name on his ballot and that all ballots should be presented so that the public might know where every member of the board stood. The governor took other steps to head off unholy combinations and severely scored the book lobby. In order that the air might be cleared, final action was postponed until May 14. It is known that Governor Marshall is opposed to unnecessarily changing books now in use because of the great expense to the families having children in the public schools. Nearly everybody else, except the schoolbook men who are trying to get their own wares installed, agrees with him. Witji the possible exception of the readers, well informed educators declare that there is no occasion for a change in the textbooks. An unnecessary change with its consequent cost'* would be an outrage on the book-buying parents of the state.

As matters now stand it looks as if the lobbying combine has been completely routed and that the board of education when It again comes together will proceed to the performance of its duty to the people without further hindrance.