The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-12-25

Siatician Hyde of the Depa tment OF
E! agriculture. The subject OF inquiry
has beer the low crop yields, as report
ed by the department, con pared with
the returns of the census for the crop
year of 1899 Mr.. Hyde. it seems, no
longer attempts TO defend the accuracy
of his figures. He admits that they
underestimate the grain and cotton
Yields, and then says in about so many
words that they do so purposely. This
is what he says
The division OF statistics Of the Department
of Agriculture whatever it may be in statute
books and appropriation bills, whatever II may
be neminally, is really practically great
aggregation or organization OF farmers for their
mutual protection, to do for them that which
they cannot do for themselves by an associa-
ton, state oranges, national oranges, or any
other organization; that is, to protect them
against the Spectator.
He went on to cay that about So per
cent Of the departments 240, 600 CORES
pondents are farmers and planters
interested in under reporting the acre
age and condition OF crops 80 az to bull
the price and that they always reported
their figures too low A small per cent
of the crop correspondents are local
bankers and brokers, but they are also
interested in misreporting crop condi-
tons. In THE case Of cotton, for exam
pie. Mr. Hyde says: You might say
that the entire South as unit IL inter
ested in getting good price for its
cotton Asked hy one member Of the
committee whether it was not the pur-
pose Of his crop reports to prevent the
Spectator from depressing the price of
cotton, Mr. Hyde responded; Pre-
cisely.' Asked by Mr. Lowering of
Massachusetts where the cotton manu-
facturer came in, Mr.. Hyde cody said
The spinner can look after his own
interest good deal better than the far
mer
1T has been said that while figures
never lie liars sometimes figure. The
Agricultural Department was created in
the interest of the farmer, but not for
the purpose of warning upon other
interests, and least of all through
methods of deception It's statistical
division was established to secure
figures, which do not lie; 1T never was
established to make place for liars
who figure. 'Statistics'l What u
name to give TO IN official concoction of
reports from an organized system OF
deception. And what business for
the government of the United States to
be engaged in-doctorlpg agricultural
facts to help one American interest and
hurt other interests. Extraordinary Is
a mild word to describe the admissions
Of Statician Hyde.
Quite as remarkable is the fact that
IT should ever have been considered
possible in the long run thus to bolster
up agricultural prices and establish
them on an artificial basis of falsehood
This game might be worked effectually
for season or two but in the long run
it would Of course. beimpossble. Price
in the end Is determined by an actu al
state of supply and demand, and not by
2 misrepresentation Of supply. The
statistics Of the Agricultural Depart
ment now stand discredited by the word
of the department itself, and nothing
has been gained for any interest to com
pensate for this loss. The statistical
of the department needs thorough
overhauling.