The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-05

statistlcian OF the department OF agrieul-
ture, did not agree with those OF the CEN
sns@the members Of the board OF trade
of Chicago. the New York cotton exchange
and the produce exchange OF the same city
Joining In tho complaint. We are assured
s g1,d tne nm, monthly crop report should be
noon Of the 10th OF each month"; since this
hour places American markets al n disad-
being assured OF the secretary's support
does not worry, and says the present hour
OF publication mas received the indorse-
ment OF prominent boards Of trade In the
There seems to be propaganda organ
lied In Washington, aided and Allotted by
criucise and detract from the work Of the
ststistoian of the department Of agricul.
TIRE c,a and to belittle and ,humiliate this ofh-
clhl In every conceivable way--a practice
not. creditable TO those In whose Interest II
Is being conducted. The SUMS informant
sald there is a difference of 2oQ.O0o.oOp
nushels between the estimates of wheat by
Inese two bureaus. and ms this statement
Is quite 90 per cent out Of the way. II is
Inst as near MS some persons can get to the
tact, and doubtless is a criterion by which
TO Judge the remainder Of their statements.
- Those who have been brought IN most
dlrect contact with Mr.. Hyde realize he Is
a most capable, painstaking. earnest Off
cinl, irving under adverse circumstances to
40 MS fuil duty to the public. of which he
recognizes himself a servant. The official
representatives. OF the Chicago board Of
trade, the New York produce exchange and
the Philadelphia commercial museums have
no criticisms to make of Mr. Hyde's eff
clency and earnestness of purpose and
they believe that he can measure up fully
10 the requirements of the situation by fur
mssihlng estimates Of the various crops,
which viii prove to he approximately cor
rect and which the business interests Of
the country demand
This is a very different thing from stat
Ing crop after Il has been produced-a
mere matter OF detail and correct addition
Of figures. No one assumes that the census
IS absolutely correct, and Mr.. Hyde Is
criticised because his figures are at yari
ancc.
IT Is pertinent to ask what substitute
could be furnished for the statistical divi.
sion of the department Of ngriculture2
Certainly not a bureau that would tell Ms
what a crop was year and half after it
SUCH n condition TO realize how much ut
sea producers. receivers, exporters. bank
ers and transportation interests would be
In a single season.
Further. the hour at which the report
appears is not fixture Of Mr.. Hyde, It
having been set at the instance of his pred
ecessor.
This article Is not intended to he taken
as defense of Mr.. Hyde, but us sim
pie statement OF facts as they have been
found to exist by disinterested observer.
In the first place, It is not plain that Mr..
| Hyde needs any defense. and In any event.
| tha sols purpose OF The Post correspond
tth lHE tue Wuole OF Lue controversy
has been to tell the truth about the mat
| ter SO that that portion of the public
which Ia interested In the compilation and
dissemination o. crop statistics may Judge
/ for Itself as to the merits Of the case.
| That Mr.. Hyde's figures do not agree with
those Of the census bureau, Is plain; That
complete. accuracy in making estimates
of growing crops is impossible should be
equally plain. And that Mr.. Hydes ex-
plantations Of the alleged discrepancy be-
| tween hia figures and those of the cen
sus bureau ara OF satisfactory nature
to legitimate business interests all over
the country seems just as Obvious.
Mr.. Hydes refusal to play into the hands
| Of the spectators furnishes the motive
for the attack on, him. When all the
| facts are made public those persons who
have been consistent in their confidence
in Mr., Hydes ability and integrity will,
| unless all indications are at fault, be glad
| thar tfey have not becn induced 10 take
the opposite view. The facts spoken Of
| Will no doubt all he Forthcoming in the
report OF the investigating committee and
| lAe statement from Mr. Hyde which will
| follow the report. With this evidence he
| fore it the public should have no difficulty
| in arriving at the proper conclusions in
| tho premises