The Penn's Grove record., 1913-05-16

1t is shown by the reports filed. that Of
twenty-seven establishments, fifteen Of
which are silk mills, showing an az
gregate capital invested of $1,494, 900.
employing 1,458 w~age-earners, and pro.
ducing goods during the ear 1911 val
ued at $2,294,591, passed out of exist
ence during the year 1912. OF these
eleven ceased operations voluntarily
because no money was being earned,
and four were forced into bankruptcy
by creditors. One of the former class
was a silk manufacturing oncern that
had been moved to Plainfeld from
Paterson to get away from labor trou.
bles, but found matters in that re-
spect so much worse in the new loca-
ton that the firm was forcsa to give
up, and retired from business.
The most serious loss which our in.
dustrial interests suffered during the
year was, however, the removal of
nine establishments to points outside
of the State, taking with them the en-
tire equipment of machinery, and a
large proportion of their aggregate
working force. In these nine plants
there were $2,656,e00 capital invested,
$50 wage-earners were employed, and
the total value Of products as reported
by them in 1911, was $3,126,9S
In all, we have lost thirty-six plants
-twenty-seven closed in consequence
of inability to earn money, and nine
honauCn of moro odvoptaooon oopd;
tons being found outside of our bor-
ders. The total capital invested in
these establishments was $4,150, 900;
the total number of w~age-earners en-
ployed, 2.438; the total value of all
products as shown by their last re.
ports, $5,421, 571; and the total amount
of wages paid, $1,173,978. Each sue
cessiVe years compilation of the sta
tistics Of manufactures shows a num-
Der Of establishments having retired
from business from one or another
cause, but the number this year ID
very much greater than at any time
since beginning the compilation of
these annual statistics; We nearest
approach to the shrinkage of 1912 was
during the panic years, 1907-1908. AL
ways heretofore the growth Of industry
from the starting of new plants, many
Of which came to us from outside
States, has much more than offset
these losses; just how far they will
be cancelled by this years growth can
not be determined until the close OF
the fiscal year, when the reports re-
lating to new factory construction are
all in.
The Jury Reform.
The prospects of jury reform by the
Legislature are less encouraging than
they were, and it now appears prob
able that the real purpose of the re
fusal is to injure President Wilson
If it is put forth through the nation
that the Democrats of the Presidents
home State have rejected him, his op
ponents elsewhere and especially
those in Congress will pluck up cour
extending very far. Of course, few
members Of the Legislature who are
opposing the jury reform will confes!
to this publicly, but there is not ONE
of them who does not know that such
will be the construction placed upor
it, and, far and wide, will go the CRY
that Wilson has lost New Jersey
In view of what men like Champ Clarl
and Oscar Underwood have sacri
feed for party harmony, the Demo
cratic legislators of this State MAJ
well be ashamed.
The object of jury reform is simpl!
to make it possible to obtain justice
which is now denied the people il
many counties of the State. A few
days ago the last of the defendants IL
the courst-house fraud cases in Jerse.
City were discharged without trial
The prosecutor and judge were com
PEELED to let them go because the chic
sinners had been acquitted by a jury
That Is one concrete case among the
many which have brought out public
and private protest, which are de
nounced by the judges, and which thu
President has characterized as abom
Unable.
There cannot be a free and safe gov
eminent in this country without hon
est and fearless juries to try Grim
inals, and so long as juries are select
ed by sheriffs controlled by part.
bosses, so long will the people be de
MED their rights and live in danger.