Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-25
TROUBLE BRt ! !. VIC
OVER STAl- PRINTER
Delegation from Portland
Here Because Printers Do
Not Like Appointment

Before another week rolls around il
is pretty certain that there will be
something doing in the state printer
embroglo and it is more than probable
that such a pressure will be brought to
bear upon the members of the state
printing board that it will be obliged
to recede from its action in appointing
W. NJ. PiimPton, present secretary Of
the bSaIa, as state printer pro TEN to
sarvS during the session Of the legisla-
ture, and make permanent appoint
ment for the position,
When Mr.. Plimpton s temporary ap.
pointment was announced it was con
ceded by the members Of the printing
board that he could not qualify for the
position under the strict Interpretation
of the constitutional provision which
prescribes that the state printer "shall
have had at least 10 years actual eK.
perience in the art and science of
printing" but he was selected to fill
the position through the session on
account of his familiarity with the vast
volume OF printing which would devolve
upon the state printing plant for the
next 60 days However, before the ae-
tion of the board had been made public
somebody no doubt some interested
candidate for the office who was dis.
appointed in the temporary appoint
mcnt, proceeded to get busy and they
succeeded in starting something which
is pretty sure to bring matters to a
| focus before the first Of the year, the
time fixed by statute when the appoint
ment of a state printer shall be named
by the board.
Printers Get Busy,
Yesterday afternoon the first tangible
evidence of the approaching storm ap-
peared upon the otherwise peaceful and
serene horizon of the state printing
board when delegation Of the Portland
| Typographical union, composing the eX-
ecuiive committee Of that body headed
by W. II. DAILY, member Of the Port
land city commission. slipped into town
/ during the afternoon, made q hurried
/ call upon Secretary Of State Olcott and
/ Governor West and went back to Port
land on the 4 clock Oregon Electric
train. II was learned upon inquiry as
/ to the nature of the business of this
delegation that they had come up
"merely to get set right upon the state
printer proposition and TO make sure
that the makeshift appointment Of the
board was not to be permanent
thing, but it is not hard to read be.
tween the lines and to deduct that this
visit is but warning and a fOrerunner
of what may be expected to happen
| within the next few days,
This visitation will no doubt be fol.
lowed by the receipt Of written and
widely circulated protest against the
appointment of Mr.. Plimpton, upon con
stitutional grounds urging the board to
rescind its former action in the matter
and to make a permanent and bonafide
appointment Of a man for the position.
Needless to say the typographical union
wants practical printer on the job hut
whether or not the movement is being
made in the interests of any particular
candidate is merely q matter cf con
lecture.
His job Not Permanent,
II is also certain that the printing
fraternity wants the state printing
plant run upon the contract system in
order that the state work will be
" farmed out" and the members of the
craft in Portland will get a chance tC
i profit by some of the benefits to be
derived from state work which costs
on the average about 50 per cent more
than the work can be performed in the
state printing plant as operated under
the present law.
1t is understood that a bill has beer
prepared for presentation TO the legis
lature which will remove entirely some
of the antiquities Of the law which will
90 into effect on the first OF the wear
4 providing that, in the discretion Of The
l printing board, work may be con
tractcd out, no as to make 1t compul
sorry on the part Of the board tC
"farm' the greater part Of the worh
Of the state printing out and leaving
the state printing plant merely as al
auxiliary or reserve plant to take care
OF extraordinary emergencies such a.
the work Of the legislative sessions.
At any rate well organized move
ment has been started to compel tht
state printing board to comply with thu
law and make permanent appointment
for the position and one which will ful
fill the qualifying clause Of the con
stitution, namely, one who has had n
least 10 years experience In the ar
and science Of printing, and that thl
whole proceeding was planned and exc
cuted to put the board "in the hole
and force the issue Is plainly eyiden
J from a political point Of view. II i
known and conceded that Mr.. Plimptol
/ is not to have a job permanently, ever
IL he Is allowed to act in the capacit,
Of state printer until after the session
because every member Of the board i
aware, and so is Mr., Pllmpton. that h
does not fulfill the technical qualifica
tions Of the constitution, but th
printers do not want TO take an,
chances on the proposition.
If the board does not recedc from II
action before the first Of the year 81
injunction will probably be sued out il
! the courts to restrain Mr. Plimptoi
/ from assuming the duties Of the offc
or mandamus proceedings will b.
brought against the board to compc
the appointment Of state phntc
,,ttIln fhn man nu n1 thn aonaiitutiou