The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-22
MEN WHO STUDY FIGURES.
How State Bureaus of Statistics Have Been
Developed and q New Science Advanced.

To-day the sixth national convention of Com
missioners and Chiefs of Bureaus of Labor
Statistics viii begin in this city. The
session will last three days The first con-
vention of the kind was held in Columbus. o.,
in September. 1ss3-eleven States being at that
time represented. Massachusetts was the first
In the Union to establish such . department
Being one Of the chief manufacturing States.
the Importance Of collecting some facts and hg-
ures concerning the labor question esrly i'm
pressed itself on the minds Of her legislators.
The meeting at Columbus brought about a per-
manent organization and an adjournment to st.
Louis until the year following, whore the
membership was increased by represent
atives from two more States. During
that year eight of the commissioner spent
several days at Pullman, Ill, investigating and
studying the industrial system there developed.
The third convention was held at Boston In the
following year, three more bureaus being ad-
mitted. The fourth followed at Trenton. N.
j., and last year the fifth was held at Madison.
Wis. whore five new bureaus were admitted,
making twenty-one in all, including that Of the
United States.
The whole OF labor statistical work has devel-
oped in eighteen years, and during that time IL
Is claimed much has been done by it TO facili-
tate q scientific and accurate study or the Rreae
social and industrial problems. By this means,
il Is said, data of all kinds are gathered, from
which statesmen and political economists are
able TO make q rational study of all questions
that come up. These bureaus are car
ried on separately from that of the United
States and are meant to gather informa-
ton that may be chiefly of local interest, while
at the same time they consider questions that
reach national Importance. The statistics and
information are gathered in various ways, and
great care is taken to see that the utmost &C
curacy is secured.
1.-The science Of Statistical said one OF the
gentlemen connected with the bureau, yester-
day, lis q new science. l mean by that it is a
new thing as applied to the study Of social and
industrial probien,s-comparatively new l may
say. In Europe they have had statistics in
regard to their population for some time, but l
am persuaded that anything like q scientific
collection of facts and figures on the great ques-
tons of to-day is o new departure. The settle
ment Of many of these problems, / think, will
the statistician. There is undoubtedly an i'm
mense field here in this country for his work.
and the man who writes on industrial questions
in the future will first have to acquaint himself
with statistics and then draw his con-
clusion, not sitting down in his study
and evolving theories IS economists have
In the past, which have utterly no foundation in
fact. / believe that the thorough organization
OF statistical departments In all the different
States of the Union. with capable. honest, con-
scientious men at their head. means an immense
benefit to this country"
The convention will assemble this morning in
the Office of State Statistician Peelle. 1t is ex-
pected that fifteen or twenty delegates will be
present. Papers are to be read during the meet
ing by several prominent men identified with
the work.