Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-09-15
HcclLs KcnOrt DMnliCntcd.

When Labor Commissioner Peck of New
York threw u bombshell into the camp OF
the free trade democrats by the premature
publication Of his statistics sustaining re
publican claims in relation to the benefits of
protection, the managers OF the democratic
campaign and their mugwump allies made
all sorts of wild charges against the report
as well as its author. 1t was
alleged among other things that the
report was based upon the state
Inents Of manufacturers alone and that Hill
had caused the report to be colored and
published at this time for Jhe purpose of
stebbing Cleveland in the back In
fortunately for tho democratic leaders they
have been utterly unable to impeach the
character Of Peek report and 1t has more
over just been materially streng thened.
The facts and figures contained i'll his report
are completely sustained by another report
OF a similar nature published by Chief
Peele Of the Indiana bureau of statistics.
Tho report By Chief Pece shows that
there hGs been marked increase in the
wages of factory employees in the principal
manufacturing centres of Indiana, and the
pay Of laborers in indianapolis, Evansville
and Terre Haute is mentioned in perticnlar,
showing the benefits of protection. The
figures Of this report, like those published
by Commissioner Peck of New York, fur
nish direct and explicit answer to the
claims made by "Gen.n Stevenson, demo
cratic candidate for vce-presideut, by Gov.
Russell Of Massachusetts and others that
ci, tr1n no who
the Mckinley tariff has raised the wages Of
employees.
The objections made to Mr. Peck report
can hardly apply to that OF Mr.. feele vino
has been in his present position for 10
years; for his figures are ba ed entirely up
on the testimony of wage earner5, and Mr..
! Ieels himself is Il democrat of democrats,
not identified with any faction in the great
| fight which is now rending the democratic
party. Under the circumstance We do not
readily sec upon what grounds our demo
cratic friends can object TO the character of
! MIR. Feeie's report, but they will of course
take exceptions to the contents of the report
and democratic newspapers will ignore it
altogether or "bury'' it in some obscure
position in their columns as was done in
the case of Comm ,ssioner Pecli's report.
These reports are plainly throwing the
democratic ranks into Il completely de
moralizcd condition. Tho facts and figures
contained in them are at direct variance
with the democratic tariff plank which de-
nounces protection, and il one democrat can
believe another the result Of their publica-
ton ought to DO this conversion Of many OF
the bhndly free trade democrats.
Some Defects OF the Ballot Law.
Reports from different sections of the
State show that largo degree of dissatis-
faction prevails in relation to the operation
of the new ballot law, and this feeling il
not confined to any one party. Numerous
defects in the system have already been an
nounoed and tho list viii undoubtedly be
largely extended before the discussion oil
the matter closes. The returns of the vote
in tho State show that In counties where
two or more senators were voted for the
second neLno on tho ticket invariably re
csiyed G smaller vote than the first, and tn;
third name a smaller vote than the second
This is equally true of the assistant judge,
in all the counties. For instance. IL
Chttenden county on the vote fol
senators Mr.. Brownell, whose name wa
second on the ticket, received -.
less votes that Mr.. Foster, whose name wa
first on the ticket, and Mr. Gleason 2s5 les
than Nr Foster. Thore was a still largel
falling Off on the last two names on thu
democratic ticket for senator, as compared
with the Hrst-that OF Mr.. Holton. Now
il the republican majority in Chittender
county had been only 2SO instead of abou
900 1t is plain TO be seen that Mr.. Gleason
would have been defeated and Mr., Holton