The Commissioner: Of course, I have no reference to our schools. I am talking about these schools in Michigan.
Mr. Morrison: The American Book Company is always willing to give. It is the financial angel of the candidates that would do its bidding.
The Commissioner: Let me ask you, are the members of the Board of Education in Detroit elected?
Mr. Morrison: Yes, they are.
The Commissioner: And you say that the American Book Company is looked upon as the angel of these candidates for the position of members of the Board of Education?
Mr. Morrison: Yes.
The Commissioner: And supplies every one of them?
Mr. Morrison: Yes.
CHAPTER LXVI
TEN PER CENT COMMISSIONS
The solution of the problem of our school-book supply waits upon our training a generation of social servants who believe in public welfare and in knowledge, as our forefathers believed in their religions. I should say that the first step toward this goal is to fill our hearts with disgust for the present situation, in which private greed and self-seeking are provided with unlimited sums of money and turned loose to corrupt our schools, making efficient and even honest education unattainable. Such is the situation, alike in the crowded cities of the East and in the farming and ranching country of the far West and the South. Here and there you will find educators fighting loyally for the schools; and at the head of the intrigue against them you will find the representatives of book and supply companies. Wherever you hear of a superintendent or board member who has gone down fighting in the people’s cause, you will find it was book and supply companies which beat him.