Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-09-29
CAN'T ANSWER PECK.
THE DEADLY BOMBShELL FIRED BY
CLeVELAND,S APpOlNTeE.

A Powerful Endorsement of tho Repub-
lican Position-Futiie Efforts OF tho
Democratic Leaders to Break 1t Down.
An ImpregnabIe Report.
The report of Commissioner Peck has
proved to be 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 Democratic
official appointed by Mr.. Cleveland him
self, its testimony TO the advance Of
wages and production under the protec-
tive policy has been 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 rs futile as the other
1t will fail because Mr.. Pecks report
is substantially correct. 1t 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 impregnabls be-
cause its general tenor and its general
conclusions are indisputable 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. II would be no disproof of Re-
oil 8
were shown under the Mckinley law.
No intelligent and rational protection
ist 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 large reduction Of wages3 There
can DO only one possible answer. and
that settles tho broad issue.
But though tho friends of protection
are not called upon to show that there
has been an increase Of wages under the
Mckinley act because they didn't prom
lse it, and because it Is not necessary 10
the vindication Of the bill. yet as a mat
ter of fact the increase has come. We
have shown the great increase OF pro
duction. In u single year the imports
Of woolen goods have fallen off $2l ,00n.-
600, and their place has been filed by
home manufactures. The output Of pix
iron has advanced one half. This aug
mentation represents a corresponding
increase in other branches. Such an en-
largement OF production is naturally nc
cumpanied by an increase Of wages.
The TWO 90 hand in hand.
Commissioner Peck showed that tho
enhanced production in New York for
year since the Mckinley bill went into
force was equal to S3i 900 900 In value
Can any one doubt it in view Of the ad-
mitted fact that tho increase for tie
country In single industry was SELL
600 600? And when New York shows
an aneIpanslon of production to the amount
Of S3l 100000. IS it unreasonable tina;
there should be an expansion OF wages
TO tho amount Of 5000 900? Mr.. Peck's
facts fit each other and fit every other
known fact.
Our tests arc not limited to the past
two years. The Mckinley bill only EN-
phasize! AMI adapted 10 iAser ConLiti III
what we have been doing for long
period. We have been under tho pro-
tectiye policy for thirty years. During
this time the tendency of wages has bee.
upward. The census figures show that
III the ten years from 1850 to 1890 tho
number Of employees i'll tho woo.en
manufacture increased 81 per cent, and
their average annual wages increased IS
per cent. The average annual wages
for men, women and children in 1850
We're $293, and in 1890 they were $3i1.
These figures are beyond dispute.
Some time ago Mr.. Edward Atkinson,
q statistician OF high and acknowledged
reprte, demonstrated that since 1865 the
wages Of foremen, overseers and other
skilled workmen had advanced l0S PEI
cent; those Of average mechanics, 90 per
cent. those Of factory operatives and
others Of like grade, 7S per cent. and OF
common laborers G6 per cent. Commits
sloner Pecks report is i'll line with all
these demonstrations. The angry free
traders who undertake to impeach his
statements will have to overthrow a
cloud Of other witnesses.-New York
Press.