The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-02-23
From the RALEIGH STATE GHeHS
a aE~pUBLICATIOy \.

The CHRONICLE was the first paper in
North Carolina TO advocate the esta blish-
meut of Bureau of Labor Statistics. We
hailed the action of the Legislature in
making an appropriation for this needed
work with JOY, and we have watched the
progress of the work with qualification and
satisfaction. The department started with
out the endorsement of the whole people,
and without their cooperation. 1t had
no enthusiastic backing. 1t had no army
of correspondents or helpers 1t was a
pioneer in new country. 1t had to cut
down the forests, make the roads, and
erect the first habitations What to
make the department of value to the
pie was the question that confronted the
Commissioner. He came into the office
with no enthusiastic applause. He heard
only muttcringS Of discomfort and predic-
tions of failure. Such was the beginning
of the work one short year ago.
Commissioner W. N Jones has won the
confidence OF the people, shown that his
department is valuable aud necessary, and
is entitled to that praise due to an honest,
industrious, and efficient man for faith
fully performing difficult, untred and
delicate duties. He has been aided by his
efficient Secretary, Mr.. j. NJ. Broughton
We have on the CHRONICLE table copy of
the First Annual Report of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the State of North
Carolina. 1t is a valuable publication anu~.
teaches valuable lessons, and is credit to
North Carolina. Speculation, supposed
conditions, and generalities mislead Thsrs
was some wisdom in the words of Thomas
Gradgripd, III Hard Times, when he said.
''Now, what | want is, Facts. Teach
these boys and girls nothing but Facts
Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant
nothing else, and root out everything else.
You can only form the minds of reasoning
animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever
be of any service TO them This is the
principle on which l bring up my own
children, and it is the principle on which
shall bring up these children. Stick TO
Facts, sir"
Gen. Francis A. Walker spoke still more
wisely when he declared that it is only by
statistics that the results of wide and
varied experience in any department of
life can be collected, classified, and stud
led. "The country" said this eminent
statlstician, lis hungry for information;
everything of "a statistical appearance is
taken up with an eagerness that is almost
pathetic"
This first report fairly bristles with facts
about the condition of the workingmen
and manufactures of the State. The facts
need to be studied, and employees and
employers will do well to give their DAYS
and nights to careful examination of the
facts elected and printed. If the Bureau
has rendered no other service the nnhli
cation of this book justifies its establish
ment and continuance. We congratulate
the Commissioner upon the fullness and
accuracy of the information the Report
contains. 1t establishes basis of knowl-
edge upon which calculations may be made.
Heretofore we have known nothing of the
wages, numbers of hours, and such facts
in regard to the wage-earners in the State.
and all theories have been based upon
SUPPOSED condition. Now we have the
data for exact calculations. The CHRoNf-
Gle expects to use the facts given in this
report, and to shortly MAXI t6emsthe texts
fsr series VI articles If NE N&hsr Pr eblem