Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-10-07
ANSWER PECK.
THE DEADLY BOMBSHELL FIRED BY
CLEVELAND'S APPOINTED.

THE DEADLY BOMBSHELL FIRED BY
cLEvELAND's APPoINTEE.
A Powerful Endorsement of tho Repub.
lican Position-FutiIe Efforts of the
Democratic Leaders to Break 1t Down.
An I~mpreEnable Report.
The report of Commissioner Peck has
proved to be a deadly broadside into the
ranks Of the Cleveland free trade Democ-
racy. Nothing since the adoption of the
Chicago platform has been more de-
structive. Coming from o Democratic
official appointed by Mr.. Cleveland him
self, its testimony to the advance Of
wages, and production under the protec-
tive policy has been a powerful support
to the Republican position. At first the
free traders attempted to scout and de-
ride it. Finding that they could not
disarm its influence in this way, they
have now set out more seriously to
answer it and break it down. But this
effort will be as futile as the other.
It will fail because Mr.. Peck's report
is substantially correct. It matters not
whether every item is just. 1t matters
not whether the inquiry in every case
was exhaustive. Whatever . special
criticism may be- offered on particular
points the report is impregnable be-
cause its general tenor and it's general
conclusions are i~ndisputable. Whether
Mr.. Peck's authority as a statistician be
greater or less, he is essentially right in
this case because he reaches the same
results which every other investigation
brings. 1t would be no disproof of Re-
publican claims if no increase of wages
were shown under the Mckinley law.
No intelligent and rational protection
list maintains that any particular meas
ure necessarily involves an advance of
wages. There are two crucial questions:
Are not wages far higher in the United
States under protection than in England
under free trade? Would not the adop.
ton of free trade in the United States
force a large reduction of wages? There
car be only n possible answer, and
that settles the broad issue.
But though the friends of protection
are not called upon to show that there
has been an increase of wages under tho
Mckinley act because they didn't prom.
Use it, and because it is not necessary TO
the v%indication Of the bill, yet as a mat
ter of fact the increase has come. We
have shown the great increase of pro-
duction. In a single year the imports
Of wooden goods have fallen off $21 ,O0O,-
600, and their place has been filled by
home manufactures. The output of pig
iron has advanced one-half. This aug
mentation represents a corresponding
increase in other branches. Such an eli.
largement of production is naturally &C.
companied by an increase of wages.
The Two go hand in hand.
Commissioner Peck showed that the
enhanced production in New York for a
year since the Mckinley bill went into
force vas equal to 1871, 600, 900 in value.
Can any n doubt it in view of the ad-
mitted fact that the increase for the
country in a single industry was $751;
600. 600? And when New York shows
an expansion of production to the amount
of 1871, 900 900, is it unreasonable that
there should be an expansion of wages
to the amount of Sc, 900, 900? Mr.. Peck's
facts fit each other and fit every other
known fact.
Our tests are not limited to the past
two years. The Mckinley bill only EN-
phasized and adapted to later conditions
what we have been doing for a long
period. We have been under the pro.
tective policy for thirty years. During
this time the tendency Of wages has beeH
upward. The census figures show that
in the ten years from 1880 to 1890 the
number of employees in the woo'el,
manufacture increased 81 per cent, and
their average annual wages increased 10
per cent. The average annual wages
for men, women and children in 1880
were $293, and in 1890 they were 8
These figures are beyond dispute
Some time ago Mr.. Edward Atkinson,
a statistician of high and acknowledged
repute, demonstrated that since 1865 the
wages of foremen, ovsrseers and other
skilled workmen had advanced 1O8 per-
cent; those of average mechanics, 80 pei
cent, those of factory operatives and
others Of like grade, IS per cent. and Of
common laborers Sc per cent. Commits,
sioner Peck's report is in line with all
these demonstrations. The angry free
traders who undertake to impeach his
statements will have to overthrow .
cloud of other witnesses.-New York
Press. ~
Let Every Vote Re Connted.