Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-09-22
THE "PECKr MYSTERY.

Republican tariff contention.
THE "PECK" MYSTERY.
New York Tribune.
What most bothers the average OBJ
server of current political events at the
present moment is the question, "What
is really the matter with 'Peck'?" Mr..
E. Ellery Anderson says he has been
lying, and that gentleman is climbing
up his back with mandamus and other
processes to compel him to furnish in
formation in proof of the charge. In
an affidavit reciting the difficulties he
has encountered in his efforts to compel
"Peck" to disgorge all he knows. Mr..
Anderson says the reason why he is so
hot about it is that "Peck" made a
"false statement" in his report-to wit,
the following:
almost innumerable inquiries were
made of this Bureau by the great writers
upon economic subjects, the leaders of
thought and discussion in our pulpits, on
the rostrum, and through the public
press, for reliable data and statistics
bearing upon this very important sub
ject And it was by reason of this sit
uation no less than with view to
establish the truth or falsity of the
promises taken by the two great political
parties of the country that the under
signed finally decided to make the
subject of the effect of the tariff on
labor and wages one of special inye S
tigation."
Now, whether the falsehood consists
in the assertion that the inquiries were
''innumerable," or that they came from
'great writer's" or that they called for
reliable data" or that it was "by reason
of this situation" that the subject was
made "one of special investigation y
Mr.. Anderson fails specifically to state.
He does say, howe yer, that "the conclu-
sions stated by the Commissioner in the
said summary are based upon the ex
parte returns made by persons whose
names are unknown, and who are dl-
rectly interested in establishing by such
returns a state of facts favorable to
their own interests" Their names being
unknown, the inquiry naturally arises,
how Mr.. Anderson is able to swear that
they "are directly interested in estab-
fishing by such returns state of facts
favorable to their own interests 1t
looks very much as if he had made his
affidavit, not upon actual knowledge,
but upon the assumption that his theo-
ries and preconceptions were so solid
and substantial, so absolute and ire
futable, that whatever seemed to conflict
with them was necessarily fallacious,
and probably wickedly and maliciously
false. Some people do have that sort of
fondness for their own opinions. Still,
there are not many who, even in the
heat of controversy, are willing to stand
up and swear that everything in conflict
with their notions is lie, and that
everybody who sets up hostile facts and
figures is liar. For the plain inference
from this affidavit is that not only
Peck" but everybody who furnished
him his figures and facts, has lied. This
is rather sweeping charge. But Mr..
Anderson proposes to prove it whenever
he gets at the names of the five or six
thousand business men who furnished
the data on which "Peck" made his
report.
The queer feature about this whole
business, however, is the absence, so far
as can be discovered, of any adequate
motive on the part of "Peck." 1t is a
singular circumstance that no one has
charged him with having been bribed.
The effect of his report is favorable 20
the Republicans, but it does not appear,
nor has it been anywhere intimated,
that any Republican, prominent or OBJ
scure, knew anything about the report
until it was made public. There was
an attempt to connect Senator Hill with
it, but it failed. The Senator proved
an alibi. Indeed, if, as has been an
nounced, he intends 10 take the stump
for Cleveland, why should he advise or
connive at the publication of an official
report, the effect of which is plainly
damaging to Cleveland's cause? The
whole business is confusing. Here is
"Peck" himself-an appointee of Cleve-
land and supporting him in the present
canvass - charged with conspiring
against him, and with acting under the
advice of Senator Hill, who is about to
take the stump for Cleveland. Here,
too, are the special friends and wor-
shippers of Cleveland charging one with
falsehood and the other with treachery,
and getting ready to prove that five or
six thousand business men in various
parts of the State, whose names are not
known - much less their politics - are
conspirators and liars; and all this at
time when every man Jack of them is
asseverating that the party is harmo-
NOUS and everything is serene. If this
is harmony, what, in the name of good
ness, would be the situation if there was
dissension?
As for "Peck," we congratulate him
upon having, by some sort of miracle,
escaped the charge of bribery and cor
ruption; we sympathize with him in his
natural and praiseworthy repugnance