The record-union., 1894-09-26
STATE PRINTING OFFICE.
Candidate Curry Replies to Attacks
Upon Him.
SAN Francisco, Sept, 20, 1891.


SAN Francisco, Sept, 20. 1891.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: My attention has
been called TO criticism in a Sunday
weekly paper published in the City of
Sacramento, my former home, concern
ing my pledge to conduct the Office of
State Printer, should the people of the
State of California honor me with the
uperintendence of the office, economi.
cally.
1t will not be necessary for me to reply
to the criticism of the Sunday paper in
any defense of my record as a union
printer. For the past twenty-five years
1 have worked at my calling iis ii printer,
and during that time have been mem
Der of the typographical union in all the
towns where l have been employed. |
believe in trades s-uniOnism as being the
conservator ofgood work and fair wa ges,
and as especially tending to establish
justice between the employer and en-
ployed. l have earnestly hoped to see
the day when membership III a trade
union would be the highest recommends
tion a man could present when asking
for employment.
have made myself familiar with the
manner in which the State Printing
Office is at present administered, and l
believe, without indulging in over
(eIu IudI OlllcS
more economically than at present ad-
ministered; and at the same time without
doing any injustice to an employe. The
rates paid in the state Printing Office are
not too high. The time employed is not
too short for the pay afforded. But III the
State Printing Office OF California, as in
most governmental work, there are men
employed who are holding their positions
through influence and who do not render
an equivalent for the wages they receive.
In this respect they are simply super
numerarieS, entailiDg a cost TO the State
for work done in the State Printing Office
which may be avoided, and which State
Printer accepting trust at the hands of
the people of California is in honor
bound to avoid. l do not hesitate to say
that 1 will stop this extravaganza, and in
saying this l am not threatening reduc-
ton OF the wages Of my craft nor an eX-
tension OF the hours of labor. / believe
the printers of the State of California are
as good citizens as may be found in any
otEer trade or calling and that they, in
common with all good citizens, will ap-
Ilaud every effort made to economiZe the
cost Of government. To say that | will
administer the office economically and
not extraVagantly may not be good poll
tics in the minds of those who believe
that public Office should be the natural
prey of tax eaters, and / feel confident
tDdI tllS OI OdlIIOTDla can be de-
pended upon to sustain me in the effort
to maintain public printing office with
out at the same time establishing the
TACT beyond controversy that the people
of the State had better disestablish the
public printing Office and get their work
done by private enterprise.
What have promised the people and
what / am ready TO perform is that if
elected TO the office OF Superintendent of
State Printing L will save to The State of
California $4,000 per year, provided the
present volume of work is not increased:
that is 10 say, will perform the present
volume of work for So0, 600 less than it is
now costing this people. And L can re-
duce this without reducing the wages of
single printer or pressman, or extend
ing the hours of work beyond their
present limits. My record as an up
holder OF the wages of printers is before
the public / am willing it shall have
thorough Investigation.
| am a candidate for the office of State
Printer l have the necessary practical
knowledge TO conduct the affairs OF that
office economically, and L shall hold it
my duty to pay every man fair rate of
wages for the work he perform S; in
short, to secure 10 every man employed
III the State Printing Office his rights.
But no printer i'll The Stale Of California
will claim THAT it is the right OF any man,
Wnethef he pe employed IN the State
Printing Office, or III any other depart
ment OF State Administration, to receive
pay Tor work be does not PERFORM No
man can advocate this and yet make
pretense OF common honesty.
In my case professional printer is
running for the oiHce OF State Printer. |
ain not politician, but a work ing man.
Believing that the people of the State had
right to choose All officer OF such inn
portance as the State Printer, / secured at
the hands OF the Legislature, and through
the valuable aid OF many persons who
agreed with me, the passage of the law
which makes that office elective. For
this the State Convention OF my party,
recognizing the sincerity of partisanship,
and doing me the honor to believe that [
was competent To discharge the duties of
the ollice of State Printer, gave me the
party nomination for that Office. l conf
dently expect tue support of many Re-
publican friends. / will not trespass
further upon your time than to say that
neither the party which has nominated
me, nor the independent electors of the
State who will vote for me, shall have
occasion to regret the honor they will do
by their partlality.
Asking at your hands the courtesy of
space for this presentation, l beg to re-
main your obedient servant,
JOHN j. CURRY.
Was Not On Hand.