The San Francisco call., 1898-10-19
COMBINATION OF sLeNDERERs'

/ \ Democratic State Committee, the Examiner and certain anonymous persons who clearly represent the notorious school book ring has begun campaign of sander against State Printer A. J. Johnston who has been renominated by the Republi- can party and who will be supported by all citizens whose minds are too honest be affected by slander and who desire an efficient administration of the office.
 Fortunately for Mr. Johnston, the record of his ser vice has been made public by official investigation The islanders put forth against him by the writers of an anonymous circular in the interests of the school beck ring, and supported by Mcguire, his henchmen on the Democratic State Committee and his organ the Examiner have all been thoroughly inquired into and disproved The reuation of the islander IS to be found in the official records of the State.
 When the charges were originally made they came almost directly from the school book ring The last Legislature appointed a committee to investigate them That committee was composed of three mem bers of each House, and represented both political parties For the better performance of its work the committee appointed four experts-two Republicans and two Democrats-to examine the work and the accounts of the office. Two of the experts were skilled accountants, and two experienced in the printing and bookbindng trade. Their report was unanimous, and concludes as follows:
 The testimony taken has been very full, and much time has been devoted to this hearing And having given the whole subject careful consideration, of the opinion that the office of Superintendent of State Printing has been conducted business prin- cipes and with economy and due regard for the pub lie interests.
 The object of the school book ring in making the
 fight against Mr. Johnston is break down the State school book system and leave the schools and the people of California prey to their plum dering Our own experience taught what that u,as in unee he the East at every session of the State Legislatures there show 1t is even now in its greed and in its corrupting power than it was in the days when California of its victims.
 IL is significant of the cunning and the trckery of the ring that 1t has not made an open attack upon MT Johnston It has prepared an anonymous cir cuar and arranged to get Maguires State Committee to circulate it and indorse it. The circular sent out by the committee accompanied by letter signed by Seth Mann, chairman, ndorsng 1t and requesting the Democratic press to copy it. Notwithstanding this indorsement by Seth Mann, the Examiner said yesterday: "Concerning the authenticity and author ity of the original circular unable to speak, for we do not know who is responsible for its appear ance" If the Examiner will inquire of MT. Mann will probably find that Mcguire is responsible for its appearance, and that back of Mcguire is the school book ring
 The anmus of the whole thing is revealed in the sneers of the Examiner at the State School Book League That organization, representing California labor and California schools and having other ob ject than that of protecting people from the rapacity of ring whose corruptons notorious in every State in the Union recognized to be- like the State Printer dangerous foe to the ring. Hence the combination.
 Meantime Mcguire poses as a friend of labor Meantime the Democratic State Committee claims to be opposed to corrupt rings and monopolies Mean time the Examiner protests does not know who is responsible for the anonymous islander.