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Story
October 24, 1904
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic
Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
Political critique of U.S. Labor Commissioner Carroll D. Wright's report, alleging it juggles cost-of-living figures—balancing essential item price hikes (e.g., butter up 112.9%) against non-essential decreases (e.g., vinegar down 88%)—to aid Republican campaign claims of minimal increases over the past decade.
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COST OF LIVING
Figures Juggled by the Administration Officials to Sustain Its Policy and Credit.
As an illustration of how figures may be juggled to prove most anything that is desired, Carroll D. Wright, Commissioner of Labor, who prepared a report on the cost of living, which report is being used for campaign purposes by the Republican committee, gives a few comparisons to bear out his contention that the increase in food stuffs has been on the average inconsiderable.
A comparison is made between the cost of butter and vinegar. The former, it is shown, has increased in price 112.9 per cent., and the claim is set up that this increase is overcome by the decrease of 88 per cent. in vinegar.
By comparing these two articles the cost of living remains stationary by setting a 12 per cent. increase in the price of butter against a 12 per cent. decrease in the price of vinegar, yet the butter bill of the average family must be fifty times as great as the vinegar bill.
In Mr. Wright's table on fuel and lighting we find that the average price has risen to 139.8. This table includes a number of different kinds of coal, candles and petroleum, also coke and matches. Coke and matches show a decrease in price, while all the others show an increase:
Increased in price:
Anthracite coal, chestnut. 137.7
Decreased in price:
Matches 85.4
Average for both articles... 111.5
Which goes to show that the cost of fuel and lighting has not increased a great deal, although many men will think that the decrease in the price of matches is hardly a fair set-off against the increase in the price of coal.
HOW PRICES HAVE INCREASED,
Concerning the alleged "statistics" furnished from the National Bureau of Labor and given circulation by the Republican Campaign Committee with a view to showing that the average wages earned in comparison with the cost of living is equal to, if not greater than under Democratic rule, a few figures may not be amiss.
It seems to be an uncontroverted fact that wages have not increased within the past ten years to any perceptible degree, and the "statistics," prepared under the direction of Hon. Carroll D. Wright, admit that the cost of food has increased approximately a little over 5 per cent.
In his figures, Mr. Wright submits a table showing prices which have increased and those which have decreased. In the column of increases the commodities most essential and therefore mostly used appear, while in the opposing column, many of the articles enumerated are by no means necessities.
The table follows:
Increased in price:
Flour 104.5
Butter 112.9
Codfish 118.6
Cheese 121.0
Potatoes 126.1
Beans 130.1
Milk 127.8
Eggs 193.6
Average price 129.1
Decreased in price
Soda Crackers 90.5
Vinegar 88.0
Dried Apples 72.8
Prunes 67.8
Nutmegs 67.1
Soda 64.0
Rice 87.
Corn Starch 93.6
Average price.. 78.92
COST OF LIVING
Figures Juggled by the Administration Officials to Sustain Its Policy and Credit.
As an illustration of how figures may be juggled to prove most anything that is desired, Carroll D. Wright, Commissioner of Labor, who prepared a report on the cost of living, which report is being used for campaign purposes by the Republican committee, gives a few comparisons to bear out his contention that the increase in food stuffs has been on the average inconsiderable.
A comparison is made between the cost of butter and vinegar. The former, it is shown, has increased in price 112.9 per cent., and the claim is set up that this increase is overcome by the decrease of 88 per cent. in vinegar.
By comparing these two articles the cost of living remains stationary by setting a 12 per cent. increase in the price of butter against a 12 per cent. decrease in the price of vinegar, yet the butter bill of the average family must be fifty times as great as the vinegar bill.
In Mr. Wright's table on fuel and lighting we find that the average price has risen to 139.8. This table includes a number of different kinds of coal, candles and petroleum, also coke and matches. Coke and matches show a decrease in price, while all the others show an increase:
Increased in price:
Anthracite coal, chestnut. 137.7
Decreased in price:
Matches 85.4
Average for both articles... 111.5
Which goes to show that the cost of fuel and lighting has not increased a great deal, although many men will think that the decrease in the price of matches is hardly a fair set-off against the increase in the price of coal.
HOW PRICES HAVE INCREASED,
Concerning the alleged "statistics" furnished from the National Bureau of Labor and given circulation by the Republican Campaign Committee with a view to showing that the average wages earned in comparison with the cost of living is equal to, if not greater than under Democratic rule, a few figures may not be amiss.
It seems to be an uncontroverted fact that wages have not increased within the past ten years to any perceptible degree, and the "statistics," prepared under the direction of Hon. Carroll D. Wright, admit that the cost of food has increased approximately a little over 5 per cent.
In his figures, Mr. Wright submits a table showing prices which have increased and those which have decreased. In the column of increases the commodities most essential and therefore mostly used appear, while in the opposing column, many of the articles enumerated are by no means necessities.
The table follows:
Increased in price:
Flour 104.5
Butter 112.9
Codfish 118.6
Cheese 121.0
Potatoes 126.1
Beans 130.1
Milk 127.8
Eggs 193.6
Average price 129.1
Decreased in price
Soda Crackers 90.5
Vinegar 88.0
Dried Apples 72.8
Prunes 67.8
Nutmegs 67.1
Soda 64.0
Rice 87.
Corn Starch 93.6
Average price.. 78.92
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Cost Of Living
Price Manipulation
Economic Statistics
Food Prices
Fuel Costs
What entities or persons were involved?
Carroll D. Wright
Story Details
Key Persons
Carroll D. Wright
Event Date
Past Ten Years
Story Details
Critique of Commissioner Carroll D. Wright's report on cost of living, accusing it of manipulating figures by comparing essential price increases (e.g., butter, flour) with decreases in non-essentials (e.g., vinegar, matches) to downplay rises and support Republican policy.