Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-19
As Chief StatistiCian Of
Dept. Of Agriculture.
Arduous Duties and Investiga-
tions Wearing Life Away.
Resignation is Accepted and Assistant Sec.
Hays Is In Charge.

Washington, July 18.-The resigna-
ton of john Hyde, statistician and
chief of the bureau of statistics of the
department Of agriculture, was handed
To Sec. Wilson, today, and promptly
accepted. Willett n. Hays, the assis-
tant secretary of agriculture has been
placed in charge Of the bureau tenn
porarily, and will continue to act pend
ing the investigation Of the cotton
scandal and until a competent statiS-
tician is found.
Secretary Wilson ana other officials
Of the department have stated that
Mr.. Hyde has not been implicated in
any manner in the Irregularities that
resulted in the dismissal of Edwin >.
Holmes, the associate StatiStlcian
whom. secret service operatives charge
with being guilty of giving to brokers
advance reports of charge cotton
statistics.
There is general speculation as to
the probable successor to Mr. Hyde.
one name that has been suggested IS
3. w. Snow of Chicago. StatiStlclan Tor
Weli-known farm journals ami once an
assistant statistician under j. K. Dodge,
who was chief of the bureau about II
?ears ago.
Colonel Henry Hester. secretary of
the New orleans Cotton Exchange, in
conversation with Sec. Wilson. con-
tended that the salary paid by the de
HartnIeut Is inadequate to get the right
man for the place.
The following is the text of Mr.
Hyde's letter of resignation and Sec
Wilson's reply thereto:
~. =. Department of Agriculture, Blu
reau OF Statistics, Washington, ID. c..
July Is.
During The last four years, or since
| succeeded III making the crop reports
OF the department reasonably accurate
and correspondngly valuable to agri-
cultural and and commercial interests
OF the country, my administration OF
the office | have the honor 10 hold has
been constantly under fire from one
.id,. of the market to the other. Five
times it hls been investigated and on
every occasion | have been Nindicated.
In JHuIary, 1909. | was awarded $500
damages in Il libel suit against Il prom
Ilent iirm of cotton brokers by Il jury
al ti..r ,.Nn friends and fellow citi-
Zrle. These results have been very
gratifying to ne, but | have the high
est medical authority for the state
lnrnt that the continued war upon me
has already considerably shortened my
lit". This time it is an accepted fact
that Il powerful organization IS Dent
on bringing about my retirement by
one M, ans or another Now, | do not
think the position hold IS worth tn"
fight necessary to its retention ana the
organization in question is welcome
10 whatever satisfaction il can derive
from my withdrawal from the Strug-
gle II any of my friends think that l
uurht not to retire under fire, | would
haN. them remember that there Is
l,rlrr Il time when | am not under fire.
have. the honor therefore, to tender
herewith my resignation of my ap-
continent as statistician and chief of
fh hur,au of statistics of this depart
m'nt.
with my appreciation Of the uni
form courtesy and Kindness you have
shown me and of the many tokens OF
coutiI, nee | have received from you, /
am,
Most respectfully yours,
tSiguedD JOHN HYDE"
"nnn. James Wilson, Secretary of
Agriculture"
Mr.. JOnn f1Nue, sDtdtlStlclili, IL
pa,tmcnt of Agriculture.
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your
RESIGNATION as statistician of this de-
partmnnt. In accepting it, | cheerfully
testify to the ability with which YOU
have discharged the heavy and difficult
duties of Office since you were appoint
ed The accuracy of your reports has
been recognized by the public general
III. ia, ha tn
with regard to the charges mad
against the integrity of the bureau OF
statistics that no facts have been called
to my attention duplicating you in any
way.
Il am familiar with your devotion &c
your work and with the untiring efforts
you have made to render the burden OF
the highest service to the growers
manufacturers and consumers of farm
products in our country and | regret
that failing health should compel you
To bring your work to All end.
Every truly yours.
lSigncdD James Wilson. Secretary"
Mr. Hyde at his house, tonight. said
that he felt that he had cast Oft an inn
mense burden from his shoulders. He
ad fully intended to resign some time
curing the coming autumn. he stated
and therefore. he had only advance
his resignation by n few weeks. Mr.
Hyde spoke OF how congenial tie work
had been to him, Notwithstanding its
laborious character.
AS regards the investigation now be
ing conducted by the district attorney
Mr. Hyde said that he had calculated
To assist in every possible way in get
ting to the bottom of the case. and
that even now that he was out of office
he viii. if called upon. be only too hap
Ply to contribute in any way his aid in
the investigation.