pi1
SM 1 Ml 1 1 lMll M 14 I'lffl M 1 1 l 1 1 M 1 1 i 1 1 M ,m
S :
I The persistent mmg lover :
1 Is the one who gets the maid ; j
I And the constant advertiser f
I Gets the cream of all the trade. 1
OFFICIAL
PAPEE
1 1 1 1 1 II Mil J l ll'l IIM I ll H -!
TliP Minn wild (rips ( nilrorliw
3
auv u nu , ,vu w UUIVIIUV
With printer's ink consistent, 1
One word must learn nor from it turn,
And that one word's persistent I
itMMi M M I -Mil lil t l'l-M M l KM l It 44 I I I M41 1 1 1
Sum m i i ih m i i n i m m riiri i til 1 1 1 1 1 1 im litis
TWELFTH YEAR
HEPPNER. MORROW COUNTY, OREGON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1894.
WEEKLY BtO. 612. f
8KMI-WKBKLT NO. 287.1
EMI tV t E K L Y (iAZhTTE.
Tuesdays and Fridays
BY
m PATTERSON PUBLISHING COMPANY.
At 3.M per year, $1.25 for biz months, 7.1 cis.
;or three moucoa.
Advertising Rates Made Known on
Application.
The -EA.GHiE," of Long Creek, Grant
County, Oregon, 1b publinhed by the same com
pany every Friday morning. Subscription
Srlne, $2por year. ForadverrirdiiRrateB.addreflK
isaiir X. PATTBKSON", Editor and
Manager, Long Creek, Oregou, or 'Gazette,"
Heppner, Oregon.
rpHI8 PAPKB ie kept on tile at E. ". Itako'c
I Advertising Agency. H4 and 85 flitM-chants
GzohangB, Ban FranciBco, California, where co..
racta for advertising can be made for it.
Union Pacfic Railways-Local card.
In, 10, mixv1 leaves Heppner 9:45 p. m daily
ezoept Sunday
10, " ar. at Willows Jo. p.m.
9, " leaves " a m.
' 9, " ar. at Heppner a. it diil
Toeitt Monday.
Krvst h-mnd. main linear, at Minn-t-i-nt I:tf u
vVmt " ' " toavwH " 1:2 n n
Wettt bond lo -al "r Mich l-iav -h r!intoii 8
a. m., arrives it The DilUw 1:1 p. m. Local
pasaengrtr Imvm Th" Duties at 2:00 p. m. arriv a
at Portland at 70 p m.
OFFICIAL DIRECTOBT.
I'lilted HtateK OfflHalft.
eioeident G rover rieveland
VicM'raHident Ad ai 8 m
we'ary of State Walter Q (irham
'r"tary if Tmiwnry. . . . Jultri G. ( 'nrli!
. '!Tftary tf lntrinr., . . . Hmu,-Sin '
iT-Mary nf War Dui-h) 8. I,mun
SHnretary of Navy Hilary A. Herhen
PoHtiiiaater-General WUwm 8, Hi.
Attorney-General Hichard 8. Olnej
Secretary of Agriculture J. Sterling .Vltirto
State of Oregon-
Governor S. Pennoyer
Beoretaryof State G. W. Muilridf-
Treasnrer Phil. Mptsnhan
8npt. Public Instrm-tiou K. B. MrKlroy
( J. H. IHitohci
wnatori N. Dutph
, J HitiKer Hermann
'onwrrtBHinan j w (l Ki8
t ",t"r Frank '. Bakm
( F, A. Moore
W P. .ord
i ii. S. Bean
Huvf li Judicial tMKtrict.
Otronit tiudge V(. L. Iradliaw
froBecuttng Attorney A. A. Jyn-
Morrow Comity Official".
joint Senator , W. Oowan
Representative J. 8. Bo rhb
iinty Judge JtiliuH Keithly
' C immiBBionerfi J.K. Howard
J. M. Baker.
" l!lerk -T. W. Morrow
" Sheriff G, W. Hwrwirtoi
" Treasurer... 1' ran is Gilliam
HHAOBor . J. Willi
lurveyor G". Lord
lohoo. Sup't Anna 13-ilnUer
'oroner T. W. Ayw , J
BEPPNKB TOWN OFFIOBRH.
rtao. P '
'ounrilineu O. K. Farunworth, M-
Lichtonthal, Otis Patterson, Julius Keithly,
W. A. Tohntrton, J. L. Yeager.
Recorder. F.J. Hallork
Treasurer .A. M. Gunn
Marshal
Precinct Ofnerp.
Justice of the Peace E. L. Freeland
Contftable N. 8. WheUtone
United Statea Land Officers.
THE DALLES. OB.
J. F. Moore K- gis' r
A. 8. Biggs Keceiv i
LA OBANDE, OB.
B. F, Wilson RegiMter
J.H. Kobbins Receiver
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Doric Lodge No. 20 K. of P. meet ev
ery Tnenday evening at 7.S0 o'clock in
their Castle Hall, National Bank build
in. SoJournin brother nnrdiallv in
vited to attend. A. W. Patterson, C. C
W. V. Chawfoud, K. of K.& 8. tf
KAWLJN8 POST. N . 81.
G. A. B.
.vi eets at Lexington, Or., the last Saturday of
ach month. All veterans are Invited to Join.
C- G. Boon, Geo. W. Smith.
Adjutant. tf Commander.
LUMBER!
WE HAVE FOR BALE ALL KINDS OF UN
dressed Lumber, 16 miles of Heppner, at
what is known ai the
SOOTT SAWMILtj.
PER 1,000 FEET KOUOH.
" CLEAB.
(10 IXl
17 au
TF DELIVERED IN HEPPNER, WILL ADD
16.00 per 1,000 feet additional.
L. HAMILTON, Prop.
D. A.9 Hamlltoni svn'er
national Bam o( lemet.
WH. PENLANI), ED. R BISHOP,
President. Cashier.
TRANSACTS A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS
COLLECTIONS
Made on Favorable Terms.
EXCHANGE BOUGHT & SOLD
HEPPNER. tf OREGON
IF TOO WANT wronMATIOH HBOUT
D
II
TSVSL.
Mam I
P.O. Box 4.
WA&aiSa
rVIONB PHOCTRJGD v
SOLDIERS, WIDOWS,
CHILDREN, pRf NTS.
Also, f r So'eri nod Sailors dlaablwi In the line of
tutTIa the rrcalar Army or XavralBrythe wiir.
SurTlion of v. IndiHii ware of 1 to ltl and
ibelr widows, aiiiw entitled. Old and rejected rjlms
. .neelaltr. Tncoaand. entitled to higher rute..
ieeSfor nw lawa So cbarge tot adrtct. 5 i
nMemwnl
0.R.&N.C0.
E. McNEILL, Receiver.
TO TH1C
OIVES THE OHOIGK
Of Two Transcontinental
GREAT
VORI'HHRN'Rv.
UNION
PACIFIC RY.
Spokane Denver
MINNEAPOLIS OMAHA
AND AND
St. Paul Kansas City
LOW RATES TO ALL
JSASTERX CITJES.
Ocean Steamers leave Portland
tvery 5 Days For
SAN FRANCISCO.
P.ir fill! HetHili oull on O. E. A N.
nt at. Heppner, i r address
W. H. HTJRLBUBT,
Gen. Puss. Agt.
PoKTLAND, UREQOK
The comparative value of these twocarda
Is known to moat persona.
They Illustrate that f r.atar quantity la
Not always most to be desired.
These cards expreas the beneficial qual
ity of
Ripans Tabules
Aa compared with any previously knows
DYSPEPSIA CURB
Ripans Tabules : Price, 50 cents a bo
Of druggists, or by mail.
RIPANS CHEMICAL CO., 1 0 Spruce St., N.Y.
TXX33
WISCONSIN CENTRAL LINES
Run Two Fast Trains Daily
Between St. Paul. Minneapolis, and rhlcspc
Milwaukee and ail pnlntH In Wisconsin making
connection In Chicago with all lines runnlnjr
East and 9nuth.
Tickets sold and baggage checked through to
all points in the United States and Canadian
Provinces.
For full information apply to your neareiM
tieket agent or JAB. C. POND.
Gen. Pass. an.l'I'Rt. Agt., Milwaukee, Wis. .
Most Modern and progressive
For catalogue or information write to
THE MARLIN FIRE ARMS CO.,
New Havaa, Conn.
g FREE I
fc" ff I f00 worthof lovely Alusk terForrji
I U Cents, consisting of 100 pages
V. W W fu sje ShMt uslc 0( ;i,e
latest, brightest, liveliest and most popular 3
f selections, both vocal and Instrumental, -3
m gotten up In the most elegant manner, In-
J; eluding four large slie Portraits. "2
CAHMCNQITA, tin Spaitllll Dancer. 3
fc; eADCnemKI, the Ortat Planllt,
T ADtLIHA PATTI and
fc: MINHie SEUQMAN CUTTING. n3
: THE NEW YORK MUSICAL ECHO C0.E3
g Broadway Theatre BJg.,NewYorkQty. 3
- canvaasERS WANTED. 5
CJtJIOXS; TilVt E3 !
TO
San Francisco
And all point in California, via the Mt, Bhaata
route of the
Southern Pacific Co.
8Tat hiahwHv rhmnah t'ahfnrnia tn all
ir r twt and with. hmn Hcmnir Hiiat"
f the Parifir r4at. Pnllman Bnff
S!ap" oo,,"d '1m slertiw.r.
ritexpren. traina attordin fcnj.r',-
moodati.na for Hecind-claaa iMM.naf.r,
' i rvm. tickwta. alffepina oar reervatin--.
.11 npn "f a,MMi
KOEHLEK. Manager. E P tOOERVB, Aaat.
(ywu, I. d P. Agt., Portland, Oregon.
4
i
Simpleat, fill f-' ' Eaalest
Strongest, JJ J J I t aJ Wofki".
Top Xlrif j!rX Accurata,
Receiver, tfjgplr Compact.
mm
THE G R E AT RE
" Be thou as chaste as ice and at pure at
snow thou shall not escape calumny."
ANSWER OF THE
AMERICAN BOOK CO.
TO ITS DEFAMERS.
A STATEMENT OP FACTS BY THB
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
TO THE PEOPLE OF
OREGON.
A public attack upon the methods, mo
tives, and business interests of the Anier
can Book Company, by a small sub
committee of the "Committee of One
Hundred," of Portland, Oregou, has re
cently been published in the "Oregon
ian," a newspaper of that city.
The "report" embodying this attack is
made up of a mass of misinformation,
unsupported charges, baseless rumors,
and unjustifiable suspicions.
Upon this ex-parle showing, with no
solid basis of fact or proof whatever,
upon mere assertions and insinuations,
our character and our business are as
sailed. Under such circumstances it is
but just to ourselves, and to our many
friends and patrons in Oregon and on
the Pacific Coast, to make a full and ex
plicit answer to these slanderous mis
representations. TUB SUB-COMMITTEE'S CHARGES AGAINST
US.
1. That our corporation was fraudu
lently and deceitfully organized.
2. That we constitute a trust and a
monopoly.
3. That this alleged trust and mo
nopoly had existed, as such a "combina
tion," for many years before the incor
poration of our company.
4. That we have been guilty of brib
ery, and that we systematically pursue
our business through a policy of bribery
and corruption.
5. That our elementary publications
are without merit
6. That we palm off inferior books on
what the self constituted censors style
"backwoods states."
7. That our profits in Oregon are
130,000 a year.
8. That the effect of this alleged mo
nopoly is "disastrous to the public
school system," and thereby "the public
are cheated of the right to independent
teachers, good schools, and good books."
Having in mind the full force of our
words, we most seriously and emphati
cally declare that each and every one of
the above charges is absolutely false, and
that they are unsupported by any proof
or evidence whatever; and we hereby in
vite an examination of them in detail.
THESE CHARGES WHOLLY LIBELOUS.
Although advised by eminent counsel
that the charges made against our com
pany are clearly libelous, and would
form the basis of successful suits, both
criminal and civil, if they were made
against us as individuals, we shall not
hide behind our corporate organization
or wait for the customary slow motion of
the courts. We do not shrink from the
broader trial of this issue by that public
before whom we have been accused, as
we have complete confidence in its sense
of fairness and justice, and therefore
make this public answer.
THE SOURCE OF THESE SLANDEROUS RE
PORTS. There is but one reasonable explanation
as to the source of these attacks. They
emanate from some competitor in busi
ness who has the skill to make use of
venal or gullible persons to publish and
circulate his own attacks and calumnies
for him, expecting in this way to build
himself up by defaming the character of
his competitors. These reports, which
are copied as news by the various country
journals, illustrate the fine art of procur
ing free advertising.
A "HIDDEN MONOPOLY."
If is charged that the American Book
Company was incorporated in New
Jersey, with a capital of $5, 000, and that
"under this modest organization was hid
den one of the greatest monopolies ever
known in this country," It is true that
the American Book Company was legally
incorporated January 9, 1890,. and with
the amonnt erf capital named, But fen
what reason was this state chosen anc
this small amount of capital made use of,
and what were the subsequent steps of its
corporate development?
New Jersey was chosen because its
laws are more favorable to manufactur
ing interests like ours than the laws of
tome other states, and because several of
onr large stockholders, wbo became di
rectors, reside there. Aa is required and
customary, "a principal place of busi
ness" was designated in that state. The
New Jersey laws, however, are so strict
that they require the money which rep
resents stock issued to be all actually paid
in; or, when the money is not so paid in,
that actual property at a cash valuation
shall be purchased as the basis for stock
issued. In this latter case the stock
certificate issued for wroperty must
CURES
PAINS of
MAN &
ME D Y
3 beast;
bear stamped on their face, "Issued for
property purchased." It was therefore
on simple grounds of convenience and,
economy that a company was at first
formed with this small capital, with a
view of afterwards purchasing the re
quired properties and issuing property
stock therefor, according to the statute
law of that state. To have doue other
wise would have necessitated the locking
up, on the first incorporation of the com
pany, of a very large sum of money in
cash, to lie idle until ready to be turned
over for the several publishing plants
acquired, a very clumsy and expensive
proceeding which no sensible man would
advise.
Within four months after the original
incorporation all the subsequent steps of
purchasing property and increasing the
capital of the company to five million
dollars, the actual cost of its publishing
plants, were taken and every one ol
these steps was official and public, and
made matter of record both at the Capi
tol of the state in Trenton, and at Jersey
City, in Hudson County, the coporate seat
of the company. Thus,if the whole record
were quoted and published, instead of
being garbled for purposes of deceiving,
by publishing only the preliminary step oi
incorporation, we should be truthfully
and fairly represented. As to the amount
of our capital and the size and import
ance of our business we have nothing to
conceal; indeed, we regard the great ag
gregate of our sales, spread over the
whole country, as the measure of confi
dence of the school public in our com
pany, and as an unimpeachable indorse
ment of the superior merit of our publi
cations. In order to make this statement com
plete and clear, it should be said tu1
the purchase of all school-book properties
made by this company, from whatever
source was upon a uniform basis of cash
valuation, and according to the estab
lished rules of valuing publishing rights,
plates and plants. The price paid Jot
the Harper school-book interests was no
exception to this rule. No bonus or extra
inducement of any kind was tillered or
given to anybody, much less was there
any undue influence or duress exercised,
forming any alleged "dark chapter," as
basely insinuated in this so-called "re
port." A PUBLISHING COMPANY.
The statement in the "report" thai
"this combination had practically been
in existence for over ten years prior to its
legal incorporation" is wholly false.
There had been no community of inter
ests, no consolidation of business
nothing interfering with the entire inde
pendence of each firm, nothing that had
the slightest effect upon prices of school
books, nothing that influenced or inter
fered with their publication and regular
sale in any particular. There had been a
"Publishers' Association," which at
tempted to restrain the evils and extrav
agances 'of agency work for the introduc
tion of school books, but nothing that
attempted any restriction of the regular
busiuess as between publishers, or as be
tween the several publishers and the pub
lic. The traffic was absolutely open and
free, and it has never been otherwise
Nearly every reputable publishing house
in the country was represented in this
Publishers' Association or co-operated
with it directly or indirectly.
Why was the American Book Company
formed? The answer is the simplest thitij
in the world or economy and efficiency
in conducting the school-book business
It was thought that the combined skil
f the most experieuced and saaciom
publishers, the combined judgment 1
the most accomplished editors, and j
dicious use of lare capital in stiimtl
ting the best authorship, would brin
the greatest measure of success; that tht
bringing together of these forces woul
tend to utilize the highest education
thought and crystallize it into the be
text-books. Besides all this, there wen
the very obvious economies in consoliila
ting the agency operations for placing
the books, and the merchandizing opera
tions of distributing them to consumers
All these economies enable the Company
to furnish the best possible text-books at
the lowest possible prices. The Ameri
can Book Company, by at once increas
ing its discount and inaugurating meth
ods for regulating the retail prices of
middlemen, greatly cheapened the cost
of school books to the people; and by
establishing its own depots in different
sections of the country, enabled the pub
lic everywhere to readily obtain its pub
lications at the reduced prices.
HAS A TRUST BURN CREATED AND A
MONOPOLY ESTABLISHED?
A trust or monopoly, as defined by all
authorities and by the United States and
State statue Taws, must possess these two
essentials, namely:
Power to control production, and
Power to eatabli-.h arbitrary prices for
all such production.
Without these elements there can be
to monopoly, coercion, or oppression
In the public dion and sale of ochoo
',' ks U:e extrcise of neiti.er of thes
powers is Kssible. Ati1h'rs, and wonl !
e authors, are as numberless as "tin
sand of the sea," and 1 apital and presse
re everywhere avail We to print
book. There are at the present time
in the United States, according to the
official trade organ, The Publishers
Weekly, more than a hundred corpora
tions, firms, and bouses issuing school
publications, and there are nearly ten
thousand different volumes in current
publication. It is a matter of notoriety,
among all teachers and school officers,
that competition between different house.
publishing school text-books has nevei
been more active than since the forma
tion of the American Book Company, 01
than exists at the present moment. Com
petition is even strong enough to stimu
late the wildest and basest slanden
against a large and successful house likt
the American Book Company, wherevei
and whenever an important adoption ii
being considered, as is at present tin
case in the state of Oregon; with tin
evident purpose of shifting the issu
from the merits of the books to a discus
sion of personalities.
Stimulated by the charges of such ever
present and sometimes virulent competi
tion, there were brought about two legis
lative inquiries as to the status of tht
American Book Company, respectively ii
the states of Pennsylvania and Illinois
In these investigations and hearings th.
testimony of everybody was publicly in
vited publishers, booksellers, educators
politicians, and public cranks. Each 01
the two reports, to their respective legis
latures, resulting from these investiga
tions, completely exonerated the Ameri
can Book Company from being, in an
sense or form, a trust or monopoly, as
had been falsely alleged. At the Harris
burg hearing, all the leading publisher:
of New York, Philadelphia, and othe
cities were present, and, testifying undi
oath, each one declared that be knew o
no case where any competitor had beei
"crushed out" or oppressed by this com
pany. And we hereby offer this dial
lenge to any respectable school-bool
publisher in this whole country today t
come forward and declare under oatl
that he has suffered any oppression ii
his business from the American Book
Company, or that it is within his experi
ence or personal knowledge that tli is
company has ever, at any time, at
tempted in the least degree "to crush
con ining houses and destroy all legiti
mate competition," as charged in this
"report."
WHAT OP THE POLICY OF BRIBERY AND
CORRUPTION?
In this report the ud sloivcs are re
hearsed that the agents of this company,
in one instance in the state of Washing
ton and in another in the state of West
Virginia, attempted bribery. Where is
the proof that these agents attempted it
in either case Observe, it is not charged
that bribery was committed, but "at
Sempted." The Washington case, after
dragging along in the courts for some
time, with three of the acccused agents
and detectives in their jurisdiction and
under bail, was decided in favor of the
agents. It was then appealed to a higher
court, sent back for re-trial, and finally
dismissed for lack of evidence to main
tain it This "report" also states that in
the West Virginia case the agent "was
pnblicly reprimanded and compelled to
take back his money." Is this the usual
conclusion when bribery is proved to
have been attempted or committed?
These two unfortunate scandals, the
results of the sharp practice induced by a
very exciting competition between agents
(where the "monopoly" does not seem
lo have "crushed out the competition,")
were the results of palpable tricks set up,
one agent upon another; and the Ameri.
cut Book Company promptly disavowed
any responsibility or connection with
them. Among the hundreds of thousands
of annual transactions of this company,
these are the only instances ever cited
against it, and these are alleged to have
taken place within a few mouths after
the organization of the company. And
though the campaign of abuse and defa
mation has been actively carried on evet
since, its authors and promoters have not
been able to add to these old and false
accusations, grown threadbare with use.
After citing the above cases, this "re
port" goes on to say: "These are only
specific instances; but the history of this
company's operations in Mississippi, Mis
souri, Ohio, New Jersey, and other statci
gives us the impression that its method)
are corrupt, and leads this committee to
the almost irresistible conclusion that
this is a well-defined policy of the com
pany itself in the selection of some of
its agents and instrumentalities."
What does the writer of this villainous
attack upon honorable men know
of the history of this oompany in the
states named? Nothing whatever; and
be is challenged to produce any proof of
any transaction on our part inconsistent
with fair and honorable dealing.
This defamatory report continues: "It
will also appear that its most reckless
and successful operations have been con
fined to what it probably considers the
backwoods states of West Virginia, Mis
sissippi, Missouri, California, Washing
ton, and Oregon, and that in New Eng
land and many other places its success,
if any, in monopolizing the school-book
business has been short lived."
We have not been accustomed to cor
aider the state named as "backwoods,"
in invidious comparison with the more
thickly settled and richer portions of the
country. It is well known that rural and
agricultural communities are quite as in
telligent, honest, and bi;ih minded in
their dealings, sad as capable of taking
care of themselves and their own inter
ests, as are manufacturing and trailing
communities. The facts art that there
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Report
Ii 7
ABSOLUTELY PURE
have been no new introductions or whole
sate changes in books in West Virginia,
California, and Oregon since the forma
ation of this company, in which it could
have shared. The Washington adoption
occurred within a month after the com
pany had commenced business, so that it
had little share in that. In Mississippi
and Missouri, under new laws, general
changes in books have taken place in
which this company has shared, after
most active competion with many other
publishing houses.
As to the "backwoods" charge, it is a
fact which can be demonstrated by the
account books of the company's sales in
New England and the Middle and West
ern States the older and more densely
populated sections of the country, where
public education has longest been estab
lished that the text-books of this com
pany are relatively much more largely in
use fh these States than in remote and
more sparsely settled regions.
CHARACTER OF BOOKS PUBLISHED 11 Y
THE AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY.
The writer of this "report" has set
himself up as a critic and censor of the
character and merit of the school books
published by the American Book Com
pany. He says, while this company has
many excellent books, "chiefly confined
to the academic and higher grades, it is
very weak in the lower grades and in
mathematics." He also says "it is cheap
er for the American Book Company to
print and furnish an inferior book than a
good one, and its profit is greater upon
le poorer one, although it may sell it at
a much less price." He instances Har
rington's Speller, and says it is a wretch
ed book, made of "cheap paper and
pasteboard," which "fairly bristles with
mistakes and inaccuracies."
That the paper, printing, binding, in
troduction, and marketing of a poor book
costs less and give a greater profit, al
though - "it - js sold at mjch lower
price," than a correspondingly manufac
tured book of higher intellectual merit,
is a statement which is simply idiotic.
Anybody who knows anything about the
publishing business, or who has any com
mon sense, knows that the cost of the
printing and binding that is, the me
chanical production is precisely the
same whether the book itself be good,
bad, or indifferent. It is also well known
that the cost of copyright is so small a
share in the cost of production as practi
cally to make little difference; while the
expense of attempting to introduce and
place a book poor in merit, with a cer
tainty that it will not long give satis
faction and hold its place, would ten
times outweigh the additional cost of
copyright.
Harrington's Speller is an excellent
book, prepared by the late very bright
and accomplished superintendent of the
New Bedford, Massachusetts, schools,
and was first published by the Harpers, a
house most careful of its reputation, but
which thus indorsed it by its great name.
This book is also approved on its merits
by leading educators all over the country,
and so widely used that its circulation
has reached into millions. The relative
profit on this book, however, is not
larger than the average profit on other
school books.
If there is one characteristic in the
American Book Company's list more
pronounced than another, it is the super
ior excellence of its elementary books,
prepared for common and grammar
schools, as all teachers, superintendents
and unbiased publishers who know the
facts will unanimously testify, If a book
is found to he faulty, it is corrected; if it
has outlived its purpose and usefulness,
it is discontinued. Our uniform and
constant instructions to all our agents
are to present and urge, in any given
section those books of our list which are
likely to prove most acceptable and suit
able to its school work, without regard
to the fact that one book is more or less
profitable to us than another. - Our
agents are not informed as to which books
pay copyright and which do not; or of
the relative profitableness of different
publications. As a sound business policy,
our object is to maintain a high reputa
tion and secure permanency of sale by
supplying books of the highest merit,
and of the kinds which will he most satis
factory to our patrons. A contrary
policy of forcing poor hooks that are not
wanted upon any state or section is too
foolish to merit a moment's considera
tion. IS THE AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY HOS
TILE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION?
To the charge in the report "that this
monopoly is disastrous to our public
school system," and that "the public i.re
cheated of the right to independent
teachers, good schools and good book ,,"
we answer that this is a base and mon
strous accusation not only against us but
against the teachers and school authori
ties of the state of Oregon. It fays in
effect that your teachers and school
superintendents allow themselves to be
hoodwinked and cheated by publishers
of school books. No statement could be
more untrue or unjust to thjs high-
minded and intelligent class of citizens
of your state. It is incredible that a
man in his senses would thus attempt to
traduce and malign any class of his fellow-citizens,
much less the supervisors of
public education.
Refuting this infamous charge, we
make this clear assertion, and call upon
all intelligent men who know the his
tory of the schools of this country to say
whether or not it is true. We assert
that no body of men have ever done
more to stimulate popular education,
foster progressive and enlightened meth
ods Of teaching, arouse educational
thought, and generally promote the in
tellectual growth of the country, than
the men who, as school-book publishers,
were the predecessors of the American
Book Company; and they have accom
plished all these things by constantly
producing, from time to time, the best
possible school text-books. We further
assert that those who compose the pres
ent management of the American Book
Company are still faithful to these high
traditions, and are still doing for the
schools of this country, through furnish
ing them with good books, all that ex
perience and capital can accomplish.
THE AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY IN
OREGON.
It is charged that this company, and
the "combination which has existed for
many years," framed your text-book
laws, and that all your school-books,
"except Brooks' Normal Arithmetic and
three other very unimportant books,"
were selected from the American Book
Company's list.
The simple facui are that there never
has been any such " cpmbination for
many years," or for auy time, as is al
leged; and thrit the adoption of books
six years ago in Oregon took place two
years before the American Book Com
pany came into existence, and under
open competion between the different
entirely "independent houses,' s everysv
body in Oregon knows who had anything'
to do with the selection at that time.
The sales and profits of the school
book business are constantly and very
greatly exaggerated by those who are ig
norant of them. Instead of the profits
on school books being fjo.coo a year in
Oregon, as claimed in the "report," this
sum more nearly represents the total
amount of annual sales in this state
which, in any event, is not more than
J!4o,ooo, and of course only a small por
tion of this amount can be reclined as
net profit.
The American Book Company hae
never at any time raised so much as a
finger to influence Oregon legislation in
its behalf. Oil the other hand, what did
this company actually do for the people
of Oregon when it became the publishet
of the books which had already been
adopted for use in that state? We stats
facts known, we believe, to every person
in Oregon, when we say that it used
every means in its power to render thes
books easily obtainable by the peoph
and at cheaper rates than ever before
To this end and at great expense il
brought its business and capital to your
state, and established one of its branch
houses in your city of Portland. It has
thus cast its lot with you and identified
itself with your community. We are our
selves, therefore, in a business sense,
OregoniaiiB, sharing the fortunes of youi
state, and entitled to fair and just treat
ment from our fellow-citizeus. That we
ahull receive justice and even geuerosit)
at your hands is assured to us by the
traditions of the Pacific Coast
AMERICAN BOOK COMANY,
I'v its Officers and Directors.
OI'PICEKS.
DAVID R IVISON, President,
ALFRED C. BARNES, Vice-President,
HARRY T. AMBROSE, Treasurer,
OILMAN II. TUCKER, Secretary.
liIRIKTORS.
Hunuy II. Vail, Chairman,
Wm. II. Al'PLKTOX,
W. W. Aei'LIiTON,
Daniel Applkton,
IIakrv T. Ambrose,
Alprp.d C. Barnes,
Chas. J. Barnes,
Henry B. Barnes,
A. Howard Hinkle,
David B. Ivi;ion,
Wm. H. Thalhkimkk,
Oilman II. Tucker.
IS EVEEEBEEN HIE !
WITHOUT COST.
VI7E willBcnd you by mail vmlpaid one tunalt
Vt evergreen tree ndapted to your ctlmat,
lib Imtructioni for planting and curing for It,
t"jtethr with our com pie ro lUt of Nurwry
Block. If you will cut out thiladTertUfirent,
Diark on It the ninienf tufa paper, and tell bow
ii-any nt.d w lr t ktid oi tM en ai:d vlHtitayoa
would like to pure-host, and whoi you v lbh to
p it nt tht in,
e y 111 tjui-te you lower i Fit-en on the stork
j" in want thnti httvu uvt-r been ofl'crtd you.
Y rite at uuce.
EVHlGRKEiN Nl'HSERlEW,
AMoT.fli. ETtrcrfwit, DaorO., Wit.