Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-01
DECEMBER 1902

any officer of the government for the
benefit of any particular class"
Another very prominent member of the
exchange said: while Mr.. Wilson is a
cabinet officer, he should consider that he
represents the United States government
as such, and that all citizens OF the
United States should be treated alike; and
he should not single out one section ana
antagonize it against another. Mr.. Will
sons letter is an open acknowledgment
that 1t is the policy of his department to
deceive the trade. The department state
ment last year, with it's extensive re-
search, etc, was therefore-as well-posted
men at the time knew-a deliberate at
tempt to deceive the cotton trade. am
very glad Mr.. Wilson has made his state
ment, for it will now be generally un-
derstood; and when members of the cot
ton exchanges of the world agree upon an
average of 10, 900 bales-which, at the
season, is confirmed by actual count, al
most to bale-the people will now know
how to take a government estimate or
fully 100000 below the trade figures, even
when the government goes out Of its way,
as 1t did last year, to declare its report
to be more than usually reliable, as the
result of it's extensive research. And this
year. when they place the condition of
the plant at 5S-the lowest condition on
record-we may know that it is purely
part of the departments plan to try to
benefit the grower at the expense Of the
spinner and ultimate consumer. l always
supposed there was a motive for the re-
cent underestimate by the department
of agriculture; but it is certainly start
ling to have Mr.. Wilson come out and so
frankly publish it. Last year the gov
eminent gave a crop of 100000 bales,
which, as a matter of fact, turned out
1917 900 bales"
MR. WILSON NOT PROPERLY IN
FORMED.
'T cannot believe" said another member
of the exchange, that Secretary Wilson
had informed himself of the actual condi-
tions when he wrote such a letter. / am
inclined to think he wrote 1t under a mis-
apprehension, and will desire to withdraw
it. for it places his department in such a
position that neither President Roosevelt
nor the American people will stand for it.
The secretary, or his representative, Mr..
Hyde, must know that the past reports,
judged by the final crop outturns, have
been much too low. He must know that
something is wrong in the department,
and the thing to do is to improve the crop
reporting service. 1t should be modern
lied and all the defects as far as possible
removed. If clerks are to blame, new and
competent clerks should be engaged; and
If it is found that the reports from GER
tain correspondents are invariably not
Dy IGSuAlSg lncD NnOSO NOAAC-
spondents should be dropped and others
secured I am now speaking of cotton,
which is all claim to know about; but
as far as cotton is concerned am sure
a thorough revision of the crop reporting
methods is necessary.
eff were in Secretary Wilson's place I
would have given a definite reply to the
specific questions presented in the cour-
teous letter written by the editor Of The
Journal of Commerce. The information
sought is information that the public is
entitled to. 1 woulu have thought 1t proper
If 1 were in Mr.. Wilson's place to state
that as long. as there is doubt about the
crop the planter should get the benefit of
that doubt. would also have stated that
I was open to any suggestions, and espe-
cially to any private communications
from the planters or merchants or spin
ners, or any one interested in the staple.
The secretary's reply to your journal is
so unqualifedly in the interest of the
planters that it should be given the great
est publicity, and until Mr.. Wilson with
draws it he should in all honesty put at
the head of his monthly. statements,
whether referring to wheat, corn, cotton
or any product: This report is not intend
ed as a statement of facts; its object is to
satisfy the grower