The Portland daily press., 1892-09-21
THAT AWFUL PECK
A Democratic Committee Undertakes
to Catechise Him
sharp Passages Between Peck and e
Ellery Anderson.

This was the day appointed by the
committee of the literary bureau of the
Democratic national committee in which
to examine the transcripts of the statis-
tics collected by the Hon. CharlesF. Peck,
commissioner of labor statistics, which
form the basis for his tariff report which
has created such alarm in Democratic
circles. Mr.. Peck was in his Office at 9
o'clock and waited patiently for the APP
pearance of the committee. But up to
lunch hour, /. 80 o'clock. it came not. E.
Ellery Anderson and b. f. McSweeney,
the committee on examination, reached
here in the middle of the night and regis
tered at the Delavan. They were about
the hotel this morning, and then went to
Norton Chase's Office.
While Mr.. Peck was at lunch mes
senger inquired at the Office if the Com
missioner was in. He said the commit
tee from New York were ready to come
UP to his office if Mr.. Peck was there.
The messenger was informed that Mr..
Peck would be in his office at 215 o'clock,
and departed. Mr.. Peck came in pune
tually at the appointed time, and 10 min
utes later the committee came in. 1t
consisted of Nelson Smith as chairman,
K. f. tNIcSweeny, j. Schoenof and E. Ell
lery Anderson. Mr.. Peck shook hands
with Messrs Smith and McSweeny, but
ignored the others.
Mr.. Smith said, when Mr.. Peck had
settled back in his chair: 1--WE would
like to see the originals from which the
figures in your summary were made" I'll
ssAll the material that is going in my
report is on that table pointing to a
table covered with packages tied with
red tape). There is transcript of every
thing. / will show you all the tables,
but will not let you see the original mat
ter"
Mr.. Smith protested that the committee
had come here in friendly spirit, and
for the benefit of the people generally
they would like to see the originals. Nh.
Peck again replied that that was impos-
sible, Mr.. Anderson started to say
something, but was cut short by Mr..
Peck saving with some warmth: Il
don't care to have any discussion with
YOU"
Mr.. Anderson rerorted: perhaps you
will have to-.
Mr.. Smith again asked if the commit
tee could not see the original blanks.
ssFor the fortieth and fiftieth time
will tell you that you cannot see the orig
inal communications, said Mr.. Peck.
ssWe have prepared a list of ques-
tions,'' said Mr. Smith, unfolding five
type written pages, (which we will ask
you to answer
II don't know whether will answer
them or not | don't know by what right
you come here to catechize me" ejacu-
lated Mr.. Peck.
ssWe came here in the interest of the
Democratic party y answered Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Peck-sI hope to God you did"
question. Mr.. Peck grew red in the face
and said: 81 don't want any of your
questions at all: / don't want anything
to say to you. will have nothing to do
with you. No one can question my
fealty to the Democratic party. | have
never bolted a nomination or failed to
vote the Democratic ticket"
Mr.. Anderson retorted by saying that
Mr.. Peck would get plenty Of his ques-
tioning.
Turning to Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Peck said
he thought the catechizing of him a SUI
perfuous piece of business. "You asked
to be allowed to look at the transcripts
of the returns. They are ready. You
will get all the information that have
promised. have never broken my word
yet, and don't propose to now"
The reading of the questions had been
delayed by the little tilt. Mr.. Anderson
suggested to tread the questions through
and maybe some can be answered"
''You won't get any answers" re-
turned Mr.. Peck, angrily.
Then this little solioquy followed:
Mr.. Anderson-You appear to have
been well brought up.
Mr.. Peck--I was brought up not to
snoop into other peoples business.
Mr.. Smith, came here as citizen.
| You charge that we have discredited the
figures in your report. [ have not. 1
simply came here to examine the fgu res
| and see whether they are actually fact
| I was placed on this committee last Fri
day, and did not know until to-day that
was it's chairman.
Here Mr.. Smith took off his overcoat
and, reaching over, helped himself to a
cigar from pile which lay on Mr.. Peck $
desk.
| There was some warm talk over the
methods pursued, and Mr.. Peck said he
| did not consider it courteous to him to
send an investigation committee coh.-
posed OF two men who had assailed him
| in the public print. "Schoenof and this
man Anderson have discredited my
| figures said Mr.. Peck. Then he con-
tinued: II also question the propriety of
sending resident of Massachusetts, Mr..
McSweeny, to question the figures of an
official of the state of New York;
| Mr.. McSweeny said that the question
was one which concerned the interests of
| the whole country.
Mr.. Peck asked-'sIf my report had
been Numerically different, would you
have come here to question my fgures?"
Mr.. Smith-s'No, not personally. Then
the Republicans would have been hunt
ing you.''
Mr.. Peck-"Then they would have
been treated worse than you have been. !"
Mr.. Anderson endeavored to interject
a remark, but was shut off by Mr.. Peck.
This called from Mr.. Anderson the re-
mark that Mr.. Peck was an ''impertinent
cuss.'' The questions were read through
but not direct answer was given by Mr..
Peck. Then Mr.. Smith asked if it was
Mr.. Pecks intention in making these
figures to benefit any political party.
Mr.. Peck referred him to the summary.
MI. Peck then asked this pertinent
question: what has created SO much
interest in my report? Is it because of
the great prosperity of the state that you
wish to decry the figures in it?''