The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-11-30
66s Nebraska Independent
p q 600

depOpulate the EARTH But we are somewhat re-
lieved of this horrifying conclusion when we find
that for the same period physicians and surgeons
have only little than doubled showing
according to Mr.. Gordon, that either they must
be working quadruple tme-killing four times as
maryland vndicating the statement that the
laborer accompshes four times his former result,
or proving that reliance such culled statistics
is absolutely farcia Mr. Gordon can take his
choice in occupying either position.
1t is from far broader field than from
few culled items to bolster up cause that can
not bear the light of full publicity that socialists
gather their facts. For what purpose then to de-
ceive can man go into file Of statistics select
ing those only that show abnormal increase
to the exclusion of those showing the reverse?
1t is pertinent question OF the thirteen occu-
pations culled from the list of over two hundred,
he has selected that have failed to keep pace
exceed the growth of population; and yet 9TH
there. Within the period Of his statistics
GS7O to 1900 population has doubled, and the
normal increase OF any occupation therefore.
should be to double itself in this period. But
he begins his list with the commercial travellers
(Which by the way is one of the parastical occu-
pations that had it's beginning about 1S70) with
increase of thirteen fold. Then follow bank
ers and brokers with an increase OF sixfOld;
builders and contractors fivefold; boarding and
lodging house keepers, six-fold;~ hotel keepers,
two-fold; (normaD livery stable keepers, four
fold merchants and dealers, little above nor
NAL; undertakers, eightfold; journalists, skiold;
physicians and surgeons normal; lawyers, three
fold dentists, four-fold; engineers electrical me-
chanical and mining, sevenfold, and so on through
the list. Add up the column under 1870 and null
tipy the by two and subtract it from the
sum obtained by adding up the column under
1900, and the remainder, 474,863, will be the sum
of the excess above normal shown by these in
dustres as compared with the increase of popu-
laton. One industry alone, from this list of oc-
equations from which Mr. Gordon has culled, wipes
out his fine showing and turns the scales to more
than million in the opposite direction. This one
occupation is agriculture.
In 1870 those engaged in agriculture sixteen
years of age and over were 5,636728. But the
reports since 1870 include all workers ten years
of age and and hence for accurate COMPARE
son those between sixteen and ten must be added
to the above The report shows for 1870 total chill
dren ten and fifteen years of age at work. 739 1874.
AS about onehalf the workers at this time were
engaged in agriculture one-half of the above or
369,5S2 should be added to the agriculture work
ers, making q total of 6,006,22S thus engaged in
1870. Now the natural increase for 1900 should
be just double this, or 12,012,456. But statistics
of occupations (the same Mr.. Gordon has culled
FROM show the workers engaged in 1900 to be
only 10,3S1,765. 1.630.691 short of the normal
prosperity of 1870. This obterates Mr. Gordons
little 474,S63 with more than million to spare,
and refutes every contention he is trying to sup
port by it. With flourish of trumpets he con-
cludes his statistics, which until had in
cluded 1870, with the declaration that ''manufac
turing plants for this nation for 1880 were 253852
while for 1900 they were 512276, showing that
they had increased faster than population. Now
why did he omit 1870? Simply because in 1870
the number was almost identical with 1880, being
less than two thousand less, and therefore of no
value In support of his contention. hence with
customary disregard for the facts, when they are
against him, he very promptly suppresses them.
Then to crown the iniquity of this last act he ex-
claims sarcastcally: How awfully scientific
these socialist statesmen are!" Then to make the
final of his summing up look big he says: I'm
1900 there were 70S623 proprietors engaged In
manufacturing" but omits to say that 215Sl4 of
these were hand and repair establishments with
Il product of less than $500.
| have had To spend the length OF an ordinary
communication TO tear down the rubbish set up
hv opponent whose own statistics anaiyzed
show he Is not looking for truth. but only for the
vanity OF victory Yet 20 the reader not having
access 10 the facts. this necessary although
TRANSPARENT as II now may seem.