The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-29
Mr.. Crane Writes
Why He Opposes State Publ
cation of Blank Books.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
I have bee reading a number OF
letters by Mr.. Austin, candidate LOT
state printer. He has said some 1901
1sh things which ought to be correeteu,
As I have been in the business mere ~
years and am quite familiar with the
work of the state printing plant II -
proper to tell what I know; not 10
knock on anyone, but to give ln1orn ma
ton in regard to'.work with winch tne
general public is unfamiliar.
Mr.. Austin says "the state PRIMER
should be a practical business man. ,
That Is absolutely correct. Polltlcai
influence should have nothing 10 40
with it,, for the state printer is man
ager of a large and very expensive
plant. containing much intricate and
expensive machinery. He Is IN chaTse
of large force of high class and mig n
priced workmen of four olHereHi y
trades. The state will be fortunate II
one is elected who has had experience
in the work and knows how to econo-
mize by having the four auxlhary
trades operate in harmony and to the
best advantage. Tom Brown is sucH
a man, he is a candidate and mas Deen
with the plant in responsible position
for MANY wears. This is not written at
his suggestion, nor with his knoWleoge
and consent 1 feel interested as a
taxpayer and desire to tell what
know.
"A
Kansas pay $780, per annum for
blank books; that on this amount OF
work there is a profit of over sou OOO;
that this profit goes to enricn the
blank book trust, and that S5O,O per
annum could be saved to the people OF
the state were these books to be mace
by the state printing plant
Mr. Austin is as ignorant on every
one of these points as he is IN the
management of a big oookmakins
rot
advise the people of this state on an
important matter of which ne is en-
tirely Ignorant and inexperienced. he
is trying to make an issue for his cam
paign where there is none, and Is tnus
trying to obtain votes under false pre-
lenses.
The counties of Kansas do not pay
100000 per annum for blank books,
nor half of that amount.
There is not $4,000 per annum
profit on the work, nor is there one
eighth of that amount OF prof1t.
There is no such thing in Kansas as
a blank book trust, nor anything that
in any manner approximates a trust
combine or pool. Such talk, haVlns
no foundation. is demagogism. The
sales of blank books to counties Is
marked by the closest competition.
which keeps the profits much below
usual commercial rates.
The state printing plant could not
furnish these supplies WITHOUT HISl pc
ing greatly enlarged and new machin-
cry of an expensive kind added.
The present plant is too small to do
all the state work required. When the
legislature is in session much work is
desired which can not be done.
But all of this has nothing to do
with the election of a state printer. If
it is to be the policy of the state to
engage in the manufacturing business
in competition with existing interests,
it will be for the legislature to decide
and not the state printer. If advice
is desired on that point some person
will be consulted who knows some
thing about the business, and not an
inexperienced man like Austin.
The state of California experimental
600 for plant to print school books,
school books at cost. They get them
at cost, actual cost to the state, but
that cost is 25 per cent higher than the
Kansas maximum prices, and those
maximum prices carry a profit to the
publishers of 40 per cent.
The state can not successfully COM
pete with private capital and expert
ence. 1t is foolish to try it while there
are other uses for money, and impo-
little to jump into competition with
Kansas citizens who have their capital
invested in their business. That ex-
pertinent was tried in the oil business,
but the courts would not sustain it.
Were a paternalistic policy of that
kind started, there would be no place
for it to end. Governments are not
Instituted for that purpose.
GEORGE w. CRANE.