The record-union., 1898-10-17
SHAMELESS FALSEHOODS FOR
POLITICAL ENDS.

It is amazing how lies travel and the
truth goes laggard. When the devil
drives there is speed in the wheels.
Here now is the Rio Vista ''News," p"
only lately to the front with a reprint
of the forgery concerning the literary
branch of the Republican State Cen
tral Committee now republishing the
infamous and anonymous assault upon
"A. J. Johnston, the superintendent Of
State Printing and Republican nominee
for reelection.
We have already stigmatized an
onymity as it deserves as illustrated by
this assassin-like, unsigned and un-
fathered circular, at first secretly cir
culated throughout the State but now
said TO have been adopted by the DEM
ocratic State Central Committee, and
by it urged upon the attention of the
people No political committee has
ever before descended to so contempti-
bic a device.
But the News" is the only newspa-
per thus far that has deScended to the
low level Of infany necessary to be
reached to print it in its columns. 1t
certainly has not done so without be-
ing moved thereto by some agency. It
is a lengthy document, replete with full
faced type, emphasizing gross mis-
statements and rank lies, and has all
the appearances of being plate matter.
We argue, therefore, that some con-
scienceless intelligence has had stereo-
type plates of the circular prepared, and
is using them wherever paralysis of
moral sensibility gives opportunity.
The Rio Vista News" is not content,
however, with printing the anonymous
circular in full, but it attempts TO re-
inforce it in a leader editorial, in which
untruth fairly overfows the brim. For
instance, it editorially charges virtually
that Mr.. Johnston's last official report
shows him to be a defaulter TO the ex-
tent Of S51. 600, or as the News Euts
it. "a deficiency unaccounted for" Yet
the fact is that there was no such de-
flcIency and could not be; that the Su-
perintendent of State Printing does not
handle one dollar of State money, and
cannot do So 1t is therefore impossi-
bic for there to be defalcation in that
office. and equally there can be no de-
fciency created without the order Of
the State Board of Examiners, Of which
Governor Budd IS Chairman.
.o1ae f,nY>F n
which is worth passing notice, is that
the office under Mr.. Johnston's admin
istration has steadily augmented in
cost of conduct But those who make
this charge, as does the News" fail to
add the important truth that the
State has steadily enlarged it's calls
upon the State Printing Office, by in
crease Of departments and business de-
manding printed matter; by multipli-
cation of State institutions requiring
printing from the Superintendent's Of
fee. and general increase of demand
along the whole line of State Govern
ment.
Where once we had a single insane
asylum, we now have five; where once
we had one State Normal School, we
now have four; where once there were
few governmental branches in the
form Of commissions there are now
many; where once there were few pet
ty officers entitled to statutes and re-
ports there are now hundreds; where
once the business of the State was dis
charged with but a moderate amount
OF printing, there is now such call by
the growth of the political importance
OF the commonwealth that the demand
for printed matter has enormously in
creased.
New counties have been created.
statistical gathering has been much
broadened, the school system has so
much enlarged as to vastly increase its
demands for printed matter. The work
OF all the, permanent boards has aug
mented, demanding more and more of
book blank and other printing. Every
Legislature has increased the bulk OF
State printing, and so It has gone on
from year to year Be it noted that
the State Printing Office is the great
hopper into which all these demands
are emptied, SO that its outgo, instead