The Washington herald., 1914-07-04
Some Terrors Of Statistics.

i This is statistical age and no argumentor presen-
tation OF eause is complete without the figures for
proof. We revel in figures and no man need be at a
loss TO find figures to support any fad or fancy, for
added to the regular reports Of the decennia census,
we have special reports many important subjects.
the reports of the selfconstituted efficiency experts
the newspaper amanacs the statistics complied by this
that and the other Hplft society, and bargaincounter
cycopedias of figures. Statistics valuable, but
they are also variable according to the statstcians
and their employment Figures won't lie, but there
are false statistics.
distinguished member of Congress recently de-
livered temperance address in which he applied the
"res of exact science to every statement and quoted
statistics TO show that more killed by Demon
Rum in the United States every year than have been
killed in all the wars of the world from the Mace
doniau wars 200 years before the Christian Era be-
gan. down to the present time. The victims of DEM
on Rum were therefore, 100000 every year. These
were the statistics presented under the rule of exact
scientific investigation and the audience, composed Of
intelligent men and women, accepted the statement
in helpless and hopeless horror over the rayages of
the Demon Rum
The census statistics do not profess to be in the
line of exact science but they official and sup
posed to be as reliable any figures that can be col
lected by thousands of agents in every township town
and village in the United States and compiled by add
ing machines which no not appear to make mistakes.
The mortality statistics gathered by the Census Office
for the year 1912 made the deaths from all causes in
the registered area of the United States s325I. This
area included that in which twothrdS Of the
population is found and if the ratio held good
for the other third the total number of deaths from
all causes were I2s7,3z5, about onehalf the VIC
tins of Demon Rum Then, there are mass of
figures to show that than 100000 of these deaths
were of children under FIVE years old and $4,000 Of
men and women who had passed the age of sixty-hve
that more than 10000 were from tuberculosis, 10000
from cancer. 5000 from heart disease $1,000 from
accidents, and 3,IS3 from alcohol.
This does not. of course fully dsprove the statis-
tics of Capt. Hobson, as to the ravages of Demon
RUM for by the exact science of his investigation we
do not know but the Demon dragged millions to his
dungeon and devoured them without permitting the
census taker to even count the bones.
The contrast between the statistics of exact science
and those of the Census Office shows fascination
for statistics and the ability of clever marshals of
figures to build delightful that of Jack
the Giant Killer. and as juvenile. Capt. Hobson is
not the only statstician who is delghtng and horr
flying intelligent people by hurting at them batalions,
divisions and whole army corps of figures, and hypno
tizing them with the spectacle of goblns and giants
devouring humanity.
Dealing in statistics and manufacturing them is a
trade and the latest aid 1t touches every
part of government and every fad and fancy of the
people Every efficiency expert and every preacher OF
REFORM from the revision of church creeds to the
form of the laws of nature has his especial set OF
statistics and they are all presented the last word
in exact science but made to fit the demand.