The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-11-04

Dus that the workingman does not buy
his food 1t wholesale. 1t is, therefore,
clearly wrong to compare the working
mans wage with wholesale prices. The
Democratic Text Book ~learnedly dis
o0urses on tie stability OF wholesale
prices, while as a matter OF fact, it is
recognized by all authorities on prices
that Wholesale prices are exceedingly
sensitive and that retail prices are more
stable, never reaching relatively as high
Or ~ low levels as the former. But,
leaving aside the question of stability, it
b the retail price which the ordinary
consumer is compelled to pay, and which,
therefore, discloses the more accurately
the cost of living. Further, it is stated
In this Bulletin OF the Bureau OF Labor
that these retail prices were secured
directly from the books Of sales Of over
200 retail merchants-that these prices
represent actual sales to consumers eX-
tending over each month Of the fourteen
year period covered-that they represent
every important center Of industry in The
country-and that the stores cOntribut-
Ing the data are such as are largely
~patronixed by the working classes. 1t is
understood that these prices will be pub
Eehed in the greatest detail for each city
covered in the Eighteenth Annual Re
port of the Bureau. now in press-an
evidence that the officials of the bureau
have no doubt as to the integrity of their
data.
As the 6nal court. the Democratic
managers suggest that the whole mat
ter of cost of living he left to the house
wives OF the country. They do not per-
honA rorol1 +ho cfofornapt rnalo in tho
criticised Bulletin that over $4,000 fam
lies contributed to the report-that the
bureau has practically lone already what
n suggested--left the matter to the
wives Of over %, 600 representative work
tngmen.
Tu1l of Misstate M ents.
The criticism OF the wage data ap-
pears to be quite as futile as that of the
figures for cost Of living. 1t is full
Of Measurements OF fact, as may be seen
by reference to the Bulletin itself. The
method of averaging imputed to the
bureau was not used. Even the most
cursOry examination OF the Bulletin
could not fail to disclose the falsity Of
the premises upon which the entire criti-
cism as TO method is based. 1t has been
charged In soine quarters that the in
crease Of 1873 per cent. in wages shown
by the bureau is greater than is actually
the case, because the wages which form
the basis OF the report represent highly
uniOnized c~enters, where wages have
been increased most rapidly. This charge
IL readily refuted by comparing the Bull
letin wages with the average of the mini
mum union wages shown for the same
occupations, as compiled by the Secre-
tary of the Building Contractors Coun-
al Of Chicago, Ill, and published by the
Building Employers Association OF New
York City. Bearing in mind that the
union wages quoted are minimum wages
and that the actual union wages would
average considerably higher, the COM
p~arisons in a few occupations are as fol-
lows: Minimum union wages Of masons
IN % cities average "a cents per hour,
while the average OF the bureau is not
quite 46 cents; minimum union wages
Of hricklayers in % cities average 57H
cents per hour, while the average OF
the bureau is SAN cents: minimum
union a OF structural iron workers
In Is cities average 46A cents per hour.
while the average Of the bureau is less
than AN cents; minimum union wages
OF plumbers in % cities average 47%
cents per hour, while the average of the
bureau ID 43A cents. These examples
might be multiplied, but those given are
sufficient to show that the averages of
the bureau are considerably lower than
the average Of minimum union wages,
n are, therefore. fairly representative
Of both union and non-union labor in the
occupations covered. The charge that
IN unjustiiable increase in wages is
secured by the bureau by the collection
Of its figures from strongly unionized
centers is readily refuted by the above
facts.
1he principal charges have been men
Goned-the minor ones are equally un-
warranted and unsupported by the facts.
The report OF the bureau represents the
sum Of. i patient and painstaking ~investi- !
CATION OF nearly three years, and its per
nAnent value cannot Be lessened or OBJ
secured BY partisan attacks. Its value
- . scientific study of economic condi-
lions and as q contribution to the some !
ehat meagre statistics Of wages and cost
u living has already been recognized
both 1t home and abroad. The accuracy
and excellence Of the reports OF this
bureau Of the government have never
0SNa 0SAAVOSiy 4OGSSsOANA 0o - ANS CASh-
years OF existence. Under the able
and conservative management OF Com
missioner Wright. it has always merit
"a its reputation Of being q non-parti-
IN once FOR the. collection and presen-
ta0on Of facts, and so far as can be
eeen from ! careful examination OF its
Ateet report, the charges made for par
1isan efeOt win not warrant the with
AAA-64FADkA ~ krnASornA - Aho ~.,h1:o
O1ney and C~leveIand's Aonumental
Brass.
The Democratic donkey is trying to
dance Into power over the graves OF
United States soldiers who died for the
freadOda ~ Cuba. The result is already
appaeent. Gross stupidity could 90 40
8nfther than Richard Olney ventured in
IL recent speech. Grover Cleveland's
jaud4tion 81 the Experienced, nndrama-
tic Buchanan" was ! recArd-breaker in
che way ( dull imperviousness to the
feelings Of national pride, but Olney. in