The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-19
STAYlSTICIAN HYDE GETS OUT,
COTTON LEAK BRINGS COMPLETE
REORGANIZATION.
Resignation OTered and Accepted After
Conference With secretary wilson
New Men and New Methods In the
Bureau-HOped to Close All Leaks.


Bureau-HOped to Close All Leaks.
WARRINGTON, July ls.-The expected
happened to-day when James Wilson, the
Secretary Of Agriculture, announced that
John Hyde, the Chief Statistician OF tho
Department, had handed in his resignation.
and that It had been accepted to take effect
at once.
Willett N. Hays, the Assistant Secretary
Of Agriculture, has been temporarily placed
In charge OF the division of statistics
pending the appointment Of Mr. HYDE
SUCCESSOR. The vacancy may be filled In a
few days, and 1t may not be filled for several
weeks. That Is a detail that will be con-
sidered in connection with Secretary Viii
sons plan to reorganize the crop reporting
section Of the Department Of Agriculture.
Mr.. Hyde's letter to Secretary Wilson.
announcing his intention to retire on the
ground Of Ill health, and the latter's reply
are oouched in the language customary on
such occasions, and there is nothing in
the correspondence that would indicate
that Mr.. Hyde's resi- gnation was influenced
In the slightest degree by the disclosures in
the division over which he has presided for
many years.
Mr.. Hyde's letter to the Secretary follows:
"DEAR MIR. SECRETARY: During the last
four years, or since succeeded in making
the crop reports OF the Department rea-
sonahly accurate and correspondingly valu-
able to the agricultural and commercial
interests of the country, my admins
tration OF the office l have the honor
to hold has been constantly under fire
from one side of the market or the other.
Five times 1t has been investigated, and
on every occasion have been indicated.
I,v,t lnxl
damages in a libel suit against a prominent
firm Of cotton brokers by a jury of their
own friends and fellow citizens.
These results have been very gratifying
to me, but ! have the highest medical
authority for the statement that the con-
siderably shortened my life. At tho present
time it is an accepted fact that a powerful
organization Is lent upon bringing about
my retirement by one means or another
Now l do not think the position l hold
Is worth the fight necessary to its retention.
and the organization in question is well
come to whatever satisfaction it can de-
rive from my withdrawal from the I'M
equal struggle. II any Of my friends think
that l ought not to retire under
fre would have them remember that
there is never time when ! am not under
fire.
4 have the honor, therefore. to tender
you herewith my resignation Of my ap-
pointment as statistician and chief OF the
bureau of statistics of this Department. With
much appreciation of the uniform courtesy
and kindness you have shown me and OF the
many tokens Of confidence l have received
from you. am. most respectfully yours,
john HYDE
Secretary Wilson'S reply Is as follows:
MI John Hyde, Statistician, Department of
Agriculture.
DEAR SIR: ! am in receipt OF your resig-
s,&t ot. Sc 90 49, mt
In accepting 1t l oheerfully testify to the
ability with which you have discharged the
heavy and difficult duties Of the Office since
you were first appointed. The accuracy Of
your reports has been recognized by the
public generally, and i am glad to be able
against the integrity Of the bureau Of statis-
tics that no ia cts have been brough to my
attention duplicating you In any way.
Il am familiar with your devotion to
your work and with the untiring efforts
you have made to render the bureau Of the
facturers and consumers Of farm products
in our country, and / regret that failing
health should compel you to bring your
work to an end. Very truly yours,
JAMES WILSON, Secretary.
While Mr. Hyde's integrity has not been
for some time that it would be impossible
for him to retain office and his resignation
was expected The Southern Cotton Crow
ers' Association has been after MIR. Hyde
for several months, and it would have con-
tinued the campaign against the division Of
statistics if Mr.. Hyde had been retained
as chief statistician.
Secretary Wilson came to the conclusion
some days ago that in recognizing the divi-
sion Of statistics with view Of reestab-
fishing the confidence Of the public, radical
changes would have to be made both in
methods and personnel. 1t is probable that
Mr.. Hyde followed the suggestion Of the
Secretary and decided to retire.
The names Of several statisticians have
been mentioned in connection with the
vacancy. Among these are LIE Grande
Powers of Minnesota, d. w. Snow of
Illinois and Victor Olmsted of North
Carolina The latter was recently appointed
associate statistican of the Department,
succeeding Holmes. Mr.. Powers is at
present the agricultural statistician in
the Census Bureau. He is a man OF ability.
and his work in the twelfth census at
tracted widespread attention. Mr.. Snow
is connected with the Orange Judd Com
pany Of Chicago
Cotton. representatives have repeatedly
suggested that full publicity should lie
given to all returns and that reports down
to the smallest subdivisions should be
given out as fast as they are received. This
proposal is now under consideration by
Secretary Wilson.