The record-union., 1898-10-06
SHAMELESS CAMPAIGN ASSAULT

SHAMELESS CAMPAIGN ASSAULT.
Anonymity in political campaigns is
asSassin-like It strikes in the dark
and from behind 1t is cowardly and
sneaking, and ordinarily should receive
mo attention. But there are some exam
ples3 Of anonymous assault so venomous
and yet so aduoit that they cannot be
permitted to pass without rebuke.
One Of these is just now in evidence,
issued in this city and originated in
falsity and fraud. It is an un-
signed and unfathered assault in a
Quarto circular against A. ]. Johnston,
Republican candidate for the Office Of
Superintendent of State Printing and
incumbent Of the office. This anony-
NOUS and cowardly attack, which is
in circulation under Democratic au-
spices, is a rehash of all the matter
raked over in the last Legislature con-
cerning charges against the the man
agement Of the office under the admin
1stration Of Mr.. Johnston.
We think that the voters of the State
can be safely trusted to treat such as
sassin-like assaults as they deserve.
Still it may not be unwise to recall to
their minds the fact that investigation
into all the matters recited in the Sc
cret circular, the author of which fears
to affix his signature to his infamous
collection Of falsehoods, was made by
the two houses Of the last Legislature,
which appointed a joint committee to
investigate the whole business.
That the committee was given all the
advantages and facilities of costly ex-
perts, numerous clerks and full power
to bring before it persons, books and
papers. In short, sweeping, ALIEN
bracing Jurisdiction was created for it.
After the experts had found that not
only were Mr.. JohnstOn's books
straight, his accounts clean and bal
anced andfree from any evidence what
ever of fraud, peculation or deceit, they
discovered that the State actually owed
the office / cent The joint committee
reported, after reciting all the facts
laid bare before it: THE TESTIMONY
TAKEN HAS BEEN VERY FULL,
AND MUCH TINE HAS BEEN DE-
VOTED TO THIS HEARING. AND,
HAVING GIVEN THE WHOLE SUB
JECT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
THE OFFICE OF SUPERINTEND-
ENT OF STATE PRINTING HAS
BEEN CONDUCTED ON BUSINESS
PRINCIPLES. AND WITH ECON
ONLY AND A DUE REGARD FOR
THE PUBLIC INTERESTS"
In addition to this finding which
was adopted and approved by both
houses of the Legislature, the joint
committee complimented Mr.. Johnston
for his conduct Of the State office, say
ing: 1T is conducted in all respects as
a first-class private institution would
be-" The report of the committee very
elaborateIy recites what was proved
before it. alp its efforts to draw out the
prosecution, its correspondence with
the executive Office, its inquiries
through experts and in person, its ex-
animation Of books and accounts; in
fact, everything handled by the COM
rnittee. and that it had made the in
vestigation sweeping and searching.
Yet on the heels of all this, in the
midst of political campaign. these
old charges are raked UP and circulated
broadcast in an anonymous letter,
which has not the decency to recite the
fact that a rigid investigation exploded
completely all the charges made, and
established their utter falsity.
We have given this much Of attention
to the matter because common decency
demands it. Because the circular is a
vicious assault upon the character of
a citizen of Sacramento. Because the
attack is anonymous and brutally un-
true. since it's refutation is of record
in legislative annals. and because the
cowardly circular fails to state the fact
that these charges We're investigated
officially, the prosecution Of them
brought before the investigators, and
that the verdict was acquittal and COM
plete exoneTation.
If any doubt had been entertained
before this concerning Mr.. Johnston's
reelection, It is now wholly removed
The people will resent such methods oi
campaigning as we have here disclosed
They will rebulxe the cowardice and
mendacity which strikes as this secret
and unsigned circular attempts to.
In the Twentieth Assembly District
the Renlhlican nominee is Hon. Grove