Exhibit - "Book Scandal of 1919": Committee Releases Report

On December 8, 1919, before the House Book and Library Investigating Committee released its report, the Board of Administration met and voted to dismiss Charles E. Stangeland.

With an attack on the Independent Voters Association (IVA), John N. Hagan (Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor) introduced the motion so:

"...corrupt politicians may not be able to divert the public mind from the great industrial program which is being worked out in this state."

Minnie J. Nielson (Superintendent of Public Instruction) and Patrick M. Casey disagreed. They did not believe Stangeland was a victim, and they voted to dismiss him because they did not approve of the books he ordered. Robert T. Muir did not comment but did vote to dismiss Stangeland. George A. Totten (chair) did not vote or comment.

Two days later, on December 10, 1919, the committee submitted its full report to the North Dakota House of Representatives.

In the report, the committee concluded:

• The Board of Administration and the State Library Commission (SLC) were exonerated.
• Rep. Olger B. Burtness had acted on rumors, and his accusations were unfounded.
• The books were never intended for schools.

Perhaps to address the controversial content of some of the books, or to curb the backlash facing the Nonpartisan League (NPL), the committee concluded its report with an audacious statement:

"We do not want intolerance. We do not favor attacks upon religious creeds or on political affiliations of any citizen... We believe in Christianity. We are unalterably opposed to any propaganda which would tend to discredit or cause disrespect for the schools, the home, the church, the state or the nation. We do not wish to censor freedom of thought or of expression or of religious liberty or speech. We do not feel competent to assume such a responsibility nor assume to exercise such a power."