West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-12

poSiuNey Spsuu In Industries which
run only half the year. Ii frequently
results In averages which are less
than the least number considered. Az
MIR. III. l.. Bliss. the nonpartisan stats.
ucian. says:
1T VIII be seen by census bulletin
No. 30. giving statistics OF the can
ming OF fruits. vegetables and Ash, that
while the greatest number OF wage
earners employed at any one time dur
Ing the year was 1873. LOG and tho least
number employed at any one time was
so,l60 the average number Is reported
ms but 36.4o1. In the manufacture OF
building glass we ind the greatest
number employed given as 1903. the
least number as l6.o5o and the average
number as H. BOZ"
Mr.. Bliss says that this method OF
computing average numbers "seems to
have been planned TO create fictitious
Increase In earnings between 1890 and
1900 similar to the fallaclous increase
shown at the preceding census between
1880 and 1890"
He further says: ITO see how this
works let us suppose that some brick
and tile establishment employs an av-
erage Of 100 wage Gamers for each OF
six months OF the year and Is idle for
the remainder OF the year. Following
the new census method, we add togcth-
or the averages obtained for each OF
the six months and divide the total,
which is GOO. by II. This gives Us 80
as the number that would be reported
at the present census as the average
number. number that IL Just one-half
the number that would be obtained by
the method OF preceding ccnsuscs. Tho
effect OF reducing the number OF wage
carners onc-half is of course to double
the apparent average earnings"
Mr.. Bliss shows that II the lumber
and timber industry be omitted from
the census OF Michigan and Wisconsin
there will be shown n decided decrease
In wages I'm these states instead OF tho
rise that is shown by tho juggicd CEN
sus. He thinks that wages I'm this
country declined between and 10 per
cent from 1890 TO 1900 instead OF only
Ia per cent. as indicated by the off,
cial census.
This much for Colonel Wrights wage
statistics. His price statistics are Jug
gied even more deftly. Without at
tempting TO explain the juggle I'm them,
IL is sufficient to say that some OF the
Republican experts I'm tho statistical
bureaus at Washington do not hesitate
to say, though they do not publish
these statements, that Wright's price
figures are absurd, largely because they
arc practically not weighted" at ALL
that Is, because the prices of unimpor-
tant articles are given as much weight
In making averages as are the prices
OF important articles. Thus the prices
or 40 unimportant articles which show
decline Will Offset the prices OF 100
important articles which show a stint
lar advance. Mr.. Wright quoted the
prices OF 260 articles. He balanced the
price of nutmegs, which declined from
100 to 400, with lard. which advanced
from 100 to 1919. He put In bicarbo-
nate OF soda as of equal Importance
with fresh beef. Soda showed n de-
cline OF 1873 per cent, while beef rose
2o.e per cent. lie put In two quota
lions OF sheep, which showed rise OF
only per cent. and only one OF corn
which showed n rise or 500 per cent
The value OF corn sold IL twenty or
thirty times the value OF sheep sold
The price of matches, which declined
10 per cent, affects Mr.. Wright's aver
nges as much as does the price OF COKE
which rose 5S per cent. Wood screws
which show a decline of 81 per cent
affect the averages OF metals and i'm
piements as much as do steel blllets,
which show rise OF AZ per cent. The
Uaf Of ssfn
times that of wood screws.
or course an ordinary statistician
with an elastic conscience and repu-
tation TO insure the publication OF his
statistics can prove anything by such
methods. Yet IL is on such stun as
this that Colonel Wrights reputation
rs statistlcian rests. That he still
has some reputation left is due I'm part
to tly faithful and untiring efforts OF
his Republican boomers who have prof
tied by his errors OF discretion and
who, everywhere and ut all times, laud
him and his truly wonderful work, but
more largely TO the lack of effort of
the Democrats TO expose and publish
these errors. For instance, long arr
tcle Will soon be given TO the press
iioh NushlnBtOu quOtluR WflRutB Hg-
ures and results. 1t will be printed
In all papers, both Republican and
Democratic. Criticisms, no matter how
severe and well deserved, will find
space only I'm few scattering Demo
cratic papers and Will be unnoticed I'm
Republican papers.
In these ways well disciplined Re
publican press makes small men great
and great men small for the time be-
Ing. Future history will do much to
adjust matters. but the politicians are
looking for immediate results and care
little for the higher historical criticism
which may follow II their pockets
are well filled with the proceeds OF po-
litical graft they are willing to take
their chances with future critics.
Great is Colonel Wright professional
wage raiser and price reducer aud Off
cial statistical juggIer OF the O.. o. III
BYRON w. HOLT.
slight Hiatus between Words ana
Deeds.