Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1889 — LETTER FROM VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG & GO. [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG & GO.

Cincinnati, May 10, 1889. Soon after the passage of the law to sapplytoxt books to the school trustees of Indiana by contract, the book sellers of that State were visited by the agents of second hand book sellers who attempted to purchase their stock of books at greatly reduced prices. In answer to their letters we seilt a circular letter advising them not to sell their stock at less than cost, for the reason that there were as yet no other books adopted than those hitherto used, and that they would continue to have demands for all they had on. hand and would need to order more,and stated our reasons for this belief: 1. That the law sets up a new and untried method of conducting business by using the township officers and county superintendents as retail and wholesale dealers in books. We do not think it possible that the business can be carried on by them so cheaply or so satisfactorily to the people of the State as it has hitherto been carried on by private enterprise. 2. If any contractor is found who is willing to furnish books under the terms and conditions of the law, he must put them on sale in every township of the 8t ate, and tbe people will have no voice in the selection of their books. 3. From an intimate knowledge of the publishing buaineea extending over fifty vears, we do not see how books can be manufactured and sold at the prices named in the law. We believe that we exercise the greatest possible economy in manufacture, and that we are acquainted with all the latest methods of making durable books, at the lowest possible cost. We know of no other publisher who manufactures cheaply, and there is certainly no other who has sold his books at a lower rate of profit. Of all these facts we have a more perfect knowledge than can be had by those not actually engaged in the manufacture of school bookß. We speak only for ourselves, and do not represent" the intention of any other house, but we know that others cannot afford to do what we ourselves cannot do. If it is for the interest of our competitors to contract, they may probably do so.

It has been asserted that we belong to a “school book trust,” or combination. This assertion is untrue. We are not now, and never been connected with, or a party to any trust, pool, combination, syndicate, or other kind of agreement whereby the benefits of competition are or have been denied to the people of Indiana or those of any other State. The main trouble with the law is that it does not offer the slightest inducement to the contractor. The method of sale is not in accordance with the laws of trade. How would a fanner like to send his produce to the city to be placed on sale with the city officials at cost or less, the proceeds of the sale to be returned to him through official channels ihree months after the goods should be sold? In contracts of all kinds there must be a mutual interest. Both patties must be benefited. No one willingly contracts to sell goods on which he does not make a profit. No one willingly buys goods unless he is sure that he is getting them cheap—at the lowest possible price. When these conditions are fulfilled contracts are made. The limit

of profit is the smallest profit that any competitor is willing to accept. All persons in business most meet competition. If the profits of the school book business were largsr than those ia either kinds of busine*, new firms would be organised and would ielF H lower prices, and the older firms would have to reduce their prices or be swept out of tbe field. The natural Jiwi of trade are stronger and more lasting than laws made, by men because they are based on the wishes and desires of all men. It will be possible to have school books furnished without profit the contractor when the farmer, the carpenter, the blacksmith, the doctor, and the editor will all furnisn their several goods or services at cost, and not until then. The prospect of a legitimate profit is the basis of all business enterprises. It has been asserted that oar firm has made exorbitant profit; and designing men have misrepresented the facts to create a public prejudice against us. The fact is we have made the best possible books mid we have sold them at the lowest possible prices. These two facts have given onr hooks most extenoed sales, reaching into every State in the Union; and the magnitude of these sales, of which a small proportion goes to Indiana has made tbe business successful even at a less rate of profit than can be shown in any other line of business. We have no reason to be ashamed of our success. It has arisen from the excellence, durability and cheapness of our books. This question has been decided by hundreds of thousands of school boards, each acting independently of the others at different times and in remote places. Of the larger number of their adoptions we have no knowledge until after action is taken. We believe that the same laws will prevail in the future. Until some one offers better books at lower prices, the people will not willingly change. Our circulars to trustees and school officers are issued in the belief that until the practicability of the new law can be tested, it is greatly to the interest of the people of the State that no changes be made in the books now used in the schools. This opinion has been tion,:in nearly all the counties by action taken May 1, restraining teachers from making any changes of books until further notice from the board. We have not set ourselves in opposition to the law; but there is nothing in the law that compels us to bid for the sale of our books under its provisions of the law and we cannot afford to bid. We have no voice in deciding who shall bid; but ws do know and we do not hesitate to declare that any. contractor who bids for books nnder its conditions will assuredly make losses rather than gains. The more business he has at such rates and under such terms, the worse off he will he. There will be no combination against the law, because none would be effectuai if the law were good, and none will be needed if the law is bad. The law is in process of faithful trial by sworn public officers. It must stand or fall on its own merits. Meanwhile we recommend to the people to continue to use onr books until they can obtain others equally as good at lower prices, and shall recommend all. dealers to keep up their supply of the Eclectic books and sell them to all who desire to purchase, and shall repeat our proposition made this year, last year and the year before, to supply at the lowest contract price to all who will agree to retail them at a reasonable advance of profit. Yery Respectfully — [Adv.] Van Antwerp,Bragg & Co.