Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-08-03

SHlHSlOn, august o.-HarVle JOf
dan and Secretary Cheatham of the
Southern Cotton association have is
sued a statement addressed to the
members Of the association calling at
tentlon to the recent disclosures in
the cotton statistical work in the de-
partment OF agriculture, declaring
that efforts are being made to divert
the system istelf "to the thieving
propensiites of a few unworthy Off
cials'' and setting forth demands to
be made Cn congress to reform CON
ditions. The statement follows:
ITO the Members of the Southern
Cotton Association: The members of
this association have been apprised
through the public press from day to
day of the work done by the officers
of the association at Washington. AS
q result of their charges the unreli-
ability Of the reports of the depart
ment of agriculture relating to the
cotton crop has been fully disclosed.
and the maladministration of that de-
partment under it's present head has
been made evident.
Would Divert Attention.
Following these exposures efforts
are now being made to divert public
attention from the main issue, which
is the imperfection of the department.
toward an attempted prosecution of
anybody who can be found as scape-
goat. Their punishment. even if it is
accomplished, is of secondary import
ance as compared with the reforma-
ton of the system which has made
their performances possible, and the
purpose of this address is to secure
the cooperation of the members of
this association in influencing, in ev-
cry legitimate way. reformation of
the system and reorganization of
the department.
"The membership of this associa-
tion now numbers nearly 100000,
and includes the producers of the
most valuable product of American
agriculture. The cotton crop Of the
United States and it's by-products is
worth between $500. 900 900 and $780,
100000 nnually It furnishes two
thirds of our annual trade balance,
and in it's production and manufac-
ture employs many million individ
uals. No other product of the United
States is of greater or of equal i'm
rortance
America in Peculiar Position.
"The practical monopoly of cotton
which America enjoys, and the mar
row balance which has existed for
years between sufficiency and scar
city in the worlds supply, render the
cotton market peculiarly and acutely
susceptible to the reports of the de-
partment of agriculture regarding the
condition and prospects of the cotton
crop. Under the present circum-
stances a great duty devolves upon
the members of the association. We
are less concerned with what has
been done by few individuals and
the consequences thereof, regrettable
as they may be, than with such re-
formation of department methods
as shall secure for us just and accu-
rate reports in the future. Under the
system at present in vogue, and which
seems to be undisturbed unless public
attention shall be aroused to the need
of reform, the reports issued by the
department of agriculture. are, in
their last analysis. simply the indi-
vidual opinion of few officials of
doubtful experience and honor, by
which the value of the cotton crop
may be, and has been, affected a.
much as $75,OOO,000 in single day.
Desire incorruptibie Expert.
mo such power should be delegat-
ed to any individual or board. except
under conditions which guarantee the
most incorruptible expert and intelli-
gent opinion, arrived at by the appli-
cation of the most scientific meth
ods and safeguarded by the most
scientific precautions. 1t is therefore
urgently recommended to the men,
bers of the Southern Cotton associa-
ton that through their representa-
tives in congress and by every other
means available to them, they exert
their influence, and that of the associ-
alton toward securing the immediate
reorganization of the agricultural de-
partment, especially with reference to