Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-09-17
PHCK'S DYNAMITE.
THE DEMOCRATIC NEW YORK LABOR COM
MIssIoNER's REPORT HAS BROKEN
THE FREE-TRADERs' CLAIMS INTO

1Ofh Duitdu Vi LaODT STATISTICS, mas
never made an official report of greater
interest to the public than the one which
has just appeared from his bureau. It
will create great excitement among his
Democratic associates, and they are
already loud-voiced and passionate, as
well as utterly unreasoning, in their
charges of treachery to the party because
he has seen fit to print the results of an
investigation by his bureau which do
not accord, as he freely states, with the
declarations of the Democratic National
platform, or with the arguments con-
stautly offered BY Democratic speakers
and journals.
The subject for the investigation this
year was chosen by Mr.. Peck with much
good sense and euLirc fidelity to the true
interests of The working people, whom he
is expected in measure to represent, il
not very shrewdly for the interests oil
the Democratic Party. No doubt Mr..
Peck expected, as indeed he frankly
says, that an investigation of the course
of wages and the increase or decrease of
State would show, in accordance with
the theories of his party, depression OF
industries, resulting from the enactment
of the Mckinley tariff. He states that
he determined upon the investigation
more than year ago, when the new
tariff had been passed, but had not gone
into effect as yet, and that he believed
its results would be in harmony with
Democratic convictions. When the
returns had been received and com.
piled, he discovered, much to his aston.
ishment, that the results were by nc
means favorable to Democratic theories
but he has, nevertheless, published his
annual report, giving the figures as he
finds them, without regard to the politi.
cal effect. The Democratic politicians
who arc now denouncing him, doubtless
expected that he would find 1t convent
ent TO omit altogether this year the au-
nual report required by law, because the
material collected for it did not happen
to suit the interests of his party.
Coming from such source, this report
must be accepted as exceedingly strong
testimony. 1t shows the progress of
manufacturing industries in the greatest
State in the Union during the first
year after the passage of the Nc
Kinley act, in comparison with the
last year prior to its enactment. This
comparison shows an increase IN value Of
products amounting to $31. Bis, 1870 in a
single wear, which is in itself remarkable
evidence Of the increased prosperity re-
sulting from the new law. The value
of products, however, is not by any
means the most important gain with
respect to the Interests of the wage. earn,
ers. The report of the Commissions,
goes furthur, and compares the rate of
wages in sixty eight industries for the
two years. The result shows an increase
in fifty -one industries. averaging S43. SO
for each, while the decrease in others
was so far unimportaut that the total
average increase in yearly earnings of
the employees in all the industries in
cluded in the investigation was 1913. IL
for each person. The official statement
shows that no less than 2S5, 900 employees
are directly embraced in the statistics
presented, and that there were no less
than S9,717 instances of individual in.
crease of wages during the year in the
industries reported to the bureau.
This is an official answer, and from a
Democratic labor bureau, to the oues-
ton asked so frequently by Democratic
Journals not long ago, whether any in.
crease in wages had followed the enact
ment of the new tariff in any depart
ment of industry. 1t is not denied by
advocates OF the protective policy that
under its operation fluctuations occur in
different industries i'll uoth directions,
for in some change of the popular de-
mand OF in the conditions of production
may cause general depression for the
time, and thus compel reduction of
wages even while the conditions in far
greater number OF industries warrant in
creased production and an advance in
wages. The evidence submitted by the
Commissioner establishes the fact that
in this State the number of industries in
which an advance in wages has been
realized is far greater than the number
in which wages have remained I'M
changed or have declined, and that the
net result has been equivalent to a gain
of S23. II for each one of more than a
quarter of million wage earners. 1t
will not be an easy matter for Democratic
orators to meet these disclosures in an
official TepOrt by Democrat sO we'll
known, and in his party so influential,
as Mr.. Peck. And he is quite right in
saying, in answer to charges of infdelity
to his party, that the Labor Bureau has
no business to modify, shade, twist or
suppress the results of an investigation
because they do not prove helpful to
political party. His official duty is to
tell the truth as he finds it.-New York
Tribune.