River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-09-29

over six thousand representative and
leading business firms of the state.
The facts show that there was net
increase in wages of Sc, 3I7, 925 in the
year 1891 as compared with 1890, and a
net increase of production of S3l, 3l5.-
1870 in the same period. An analysis of
this table further demonstrates that of
the sixty-seven industries covered.
IS per cent. show an increase
either of wages or product, or both,
"and there were no less than 50, III in
stances of individual increase of wages
during the same year" 1s91). Speak
ing of another table the commissioner
says; "Of the sixty-eighty industries
included, - per cent of them show an
increased average yearly earnings in
the year 1891. while the total average
increase of yearly earnings of the 2S5,-
BOO employees was S23.1l He adds:
THE average increase of yearly earn
ings of the employees in the fifty-one
trades was s43.9 90 in 1891 as compared
with 1890"
The significance of these facts can
not be overrated. They rest upon evil
hence which is indisputable. They con-
stitute lSnock-down blow for the
democratic free traders. They cannot
be answered. They show that the Nc
Kinley tariff has given new impulse to
the manufacturing interests of the
country, and has been of practical adj
vantage to both business men and wage
sarners. II is true that these facts re-
late alone 10 the state of New York,
but they are in the largest sense repre-
sentative. For, as Mr.. Peck remarked
in his report: mo state in the union
offers field so varied or extensive
within which the statistican can carry
on his work with greater assurance of
intelligent success than is presented by
the state of New York. Within its
borders are to be found by far the
greatest number of manufacturing es-
Establishments, the most varied indus
tries. and the largest number of in
iividual employers and wage earners
Of any of the forty-four commemorative
embraced in the United States. So
that whatever the statistical data col
Iected and tabulated may prove, rela-
tive to the effects of protection on
labor and wages in New York. may
Justly be taken as fairly representative
OF the conditions throughout the whole
country"
Some of the democratic newspapers
are ende avorinc to break the force of
this report by the silly pretense that it
was conceived in hostility tn Mr.. Cleve-
land. and was instigated by Senator
Hill in his desire to injure his success
81 l. - 20.
this pretense that in the first place
there is no evidence that Senator
Hill does not propose to support
Mr.. Cleveland's candidacy, while in
the second place the conclusions arrived
at are based upon official data and are
therefore unimpeachable. Besides, the
accuracy of the report is confirmed
from another official source, also demo-
cratic, and equally trustworthy. The
report of the superintendent of the
state banking department, which was
given to the public cotemporaneously
with that of the labor bureau, shows
that the increase of deposits in the saw
ings banks of the state during the last
six months amounted TO Sl0,4lI.s49,
while the gain since January l, 1889,
amounted to $50. So. SIG. That is To say,
the workingmen of New York have
been able during six months of the
operation of the Mckinley tariff act to
increase their savings in the enormous
sum of over ten millions of dollars. IL
is significant that this prosperity is es-
pecially exhibited in the savings banks
of the manufacturing cities of the
state. III it were true, as is claimed by
the democracy, that the protective pol
lev has tended TO the depression of in
dustry. il is certainly amazing that
such an enormous gain in savings
should be exhibited. The figures go to
show conclusively that the Mckinley
act has given profitable occupation to
the operatives employed in our great
manufacturing industries
1t is to be expected. of course, that
our democratic friends will persist in
their declarations that free trade is the
only wise policy, and that the interests
of our working people are bound mp in
the overthrow of the existing protee-
tive system. They have committed
themselves by their candidate and plat
form to a definite economic theory, and
they mean to insist upon it. no matter
how absolutely the facts of the case
may be against them. But they will
not be able to deceive the American
people by their Juggling with figures
and their loud-mouthed assertion of an
indefensible theory.-Frank Leslie's
Weekly.