Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-11
Resortipg to Shameless Triekery.

The Star, as q last resource TO bolster
up free trade, is obliged to revert to what
is known as the percentage trick" The
idea is this: AS a new country like the
United States increases In population and
wealth the percentages of increase natur-
ally decline. The history of the progress
of every nation of the world has demon
strated the fact that the growth of each
new decade, whether in population,
wealth, production of tie soil or manu-
features, has been attained with greater
difficulty than the one preceding it.
IL is therefore quite possible, as in the
case of the United States, that the actual
figures show a growth of population and
wealth unprecedented in the history of
the world; and yet, were we to study
these results by percentages alone, it
would appear that we had refrigerated.
To illustrate, take, for example, the popu-
lstion Of Ohio, which in 1900 was 10, 1850;
in 1910, $50, 760, an increase Of 400 per
cent; in 1920 it had reached 5S1 ,434, a
remarkable and healthy increase of 152
per cent.
In 1880 this state had reached q popula-
ton of 937, 903, numerically a most salts
factory increase, but submit it to the per-
centage test, and 1t is found to be but 81
per cent. In 1910 the population of Ohio
had reachad 1,519,467, an increase of 62
per cent; in 1850 it was 1880, 1923, an in.
crease of 80 per cent. in 1860 2,339,511
an increase of 1S per cent. in 1870 it was
2, 6G5, 260, an increase of 13 per cent, and
in 1880 it had reached 3,19S, 239, an in
crease OF 16 per cent.
Apply this method of reasoning to the
population of the state of Ohio, or to any
of our western states, and we should fine
that while the majority would be weeping
over the fact that thesper cent. of increase
had decreased from 400 per cent. in tn,
decade ending in 1910 to 16 per cent. il
the decade ending in 1880, the world a
large would be marveling at the tremen
dous increase of population in this state
from as, 1865 In 1900 to 3, 198, 239 in 1880
If the doctrine of percentages is.to be tn,
test, of growth and population, then Obi
has been most unfortunate. Her per
centage between 1900 and 1910, if con
tinued, would have given her a population
of over II, 900, DOC, 1000.
! What is true in the case of population
equally true when applied to agriculture
manufacturing and the material progress
) of a country generally. These facts wer
brought out clearly a few years ago by
minority of the ways and means commit
: tee, but free traders like "~Naumkeck" j
The Star go right on, giving forth the oil
; played out percentage trick and, lk
: "green goods men, we suppose, catch til
: unwary.
: Wifprotective journals please pass TIL
along2 1t will prick many a free trad
bubble and take the point out of macy
!, free trade Grafton. Pass it along.-Ne1
: York Press.
:, Taking Advantage of Opportunities.
!, The administration, having disposed
!, all the regular offices in q manner
y strengthen the chances of Cleveland for
denomination, is at work appointing Gait
inspectors all over the country, under IL
a convenient covering of the pleuro-pneN
il monia bill. The projection of a larl
! army Of these officials throughout Ne
!. York at this particular time is annoyil
T to the lieutenants of Governor Hill, wi
"a had been hoping to hold Cleveland to /
+ promise not to run again. All that seer
; to be necessary to secure the appointing
= of these inspectors anywhere is for sor
: Democratic politician to write to Was
!. ington his suspicious that pleuro-pne
I. monia is prevalent in his %neighborho
and out comes a squad of inspectors. ]
the.way, here is a branch of industry th
ya seems to have been overlooked In Califs
81 p;a = Gov, E,ro nnicco Tao ~