New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-18
THAT DREADFUL PECH."

The trouble with Peek continues Inc
moor man probably had no idea what trouble
bc waS making for himself when he sent out
bis circulars f. several thousand business men
making the inquiries necessary to the discharge
Of his official duties, and promising to each one
| who made answer that the secrets OF his pusi-
! moss should not be disclosed by the pnbllca'ion
of his name in connection with the STATISTICS
| furnished "Peck" seems TO have held inc
aneer notion that he had no right Official con-
.tiutional or other. to require persons dong
business in this State to unfold to him or any
body else all the details of their business such
rs amount and cost of production. rates OF
wages. etc. etc. But that was precisely what
he wanted TO get Wanted il, not for any use
,bat might be made If It by business rivals
in the way Of competition, but for the inIorma-
ton of the public for the ligh the figures ana
facts thus derived could throw on questions OF
legislation in which all the people are inter
cstcd Not viewing himself aS an lnquINIt'r
authorized under the law TO put every business
man in the STAT on the rack ana compe nm
,o disclose the most intricate secrets OF his
trade. he naturally took the more persuasive
and insinnatng course Of making courteous
injuries for the information he desired ac-
| COMMANDED by the assurance that while the
facts and statistics given would be made pnp-
lie the names Of his informants would be held
a. strictly confidential. II was probably
peck's idea that only in this way could he OBJ
tain the needed information and make his
office useful 10 the people. II l. far 10 pre-
sumo that he went about his work in this way
and with this Wow.
He mscalculatci He was not aware that he
was taking the risk Of finding out some facts
,ba. vould disturb T.. Ellcry Anderson and
.Tosi,h Quincy and the Democratic National
Committee and that the publication of them
would bring the whole company Of superior per
sons down on his back with mandamuse' and
o,hcr processes 10 compel him to violate conf
dcnce and give the names of his intormah'S' 80
,bot the superior persons could impeach bofh
him and them and set the whole OF them up
os constructors and liars. But he did happen
70 dig M some troublesome facts. Very
troublesome 10 Mr. Anderson and Mr.. Quincy
and other superior persons and the Democrltc
National Committee. And like fooT'-that
uba, some of them say" like mischief
making cuss," others say-he went ara pun
lisbcd them. In consequence OF which me SUI
norior persons have pounced on him and called
him Peck" with brcyiiy amounting 10 dlSrc-
spcct. Not stopping there. they have pursued
him with opprcbrious cpithcts and legal pro-
cesscs and al this moment are Threatening 10
throw him into Jail. Ellcry Anderson SAYS he
is AN impertincnt puppy. ana Inc New
Work World" Notwithstanding the fact that
he is an appontee of Mr.. Cleveland and sup
por,cr Of that gentleman for President, calls
him an "irrcdccmablc blatherNkitc'-and
throws him overheard with the remark: Tho
Rcpublicans are welcome 10 Peck"
but the Republicans are not asking for
d" Peck " They have nothing to do with the
cyj,ting complication between MIR. Clcvelands
appointco and supporter and the superior per
sons who are climbing up his back. Yet the
Republicans are well aware that if the superior
ror.ons should compel "Pccll" TO dSgorgc all
he knows down 10 the most intimate ana
sacred confidential c)mmuncation-lf they
should establish the principle and precedent
that no official communication can be ccnSld-
cred private. and that all documents i'll pubic
office are open TO inspection-that precedent
would be exceedingly useful to them when 1t
came 10 ovcrhauing the proceedings OF the
n,cscnt State Offices and the last Legislature
And if "Pcck" has burned his confidential
communications as is now charged there is no
affection on the part of Republicans to the
superior persons proceeding against him Grim
ipally and whackng him into the pcnitcntiary
although he would undoubtedly have the sym
nohy of all decent citizens in taking extreme
measures to prevent the violation of confidence
and forfeiture of his word to several thousand
business men who have trusted him.
The trouble with "Peck" is one of the en-
l;vening features of an otherwise dull canvass.
The superior persons are entitled TO public
gratitude for stirring it up But 1t must not
he forgotten that il is purely domestic affair
family quarrel Republicans have no concern
with it whatever, except to witness its prog
ress with amusement.