The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-14
Secretary Wilson and the Cotton
Scandal.

Mr.. Secretary Wilson's attitude toward
existing scandals in his department is
little difficult to understand. The
President has been SO little satisfied With
1T that he has now removed the work
OF investigating the affairs of the Bureau
and turned it over. for immediate atten-
ton, to the local district attorney. This
ought to insure a thorough airing of that
at present rather malodorius office, and
n In SO far is well. But why couldn't
Mr.. Wilson have done this himself?
Yesterdays dispatches conveyed the
somewhat surprising information that
Holmes, despite the Presidents several
days-old order for his arrest. was still
transacting his business privnte. not de-
partmentaD about the streets of Wash
ington as of old. The inference of those
on the spot, astonishing as this may
seem, was that Secretary Wilson's dispo-
sition was to let Holmes go free.
Mr.. Wilson'S statements in regard to
Theodore Price are familiar to our read
ers. His charges against the cotton
broker were based on the alleged report
Il Of a. secret service agent. though Mr..
Richard Cheatham, secretary Of the
s Southern Cotton Association, was person
ally assured by this agent that Price
was in no way implicated. Upon this
direct conflict of testimony, Mr.. Wilson
has done nothing. we believe, to she'd
further light but he has declined to cx-
onerate Price or to modify or retract his
charges. This entire phase of the mat
ter, indeed, he dismissed as mere
quarrel aiming gamblers"
But the most surprising of all mani
festations in this connection was the
sccrctary's reply to Il recent Inquiry as
< to plans for further investigation. Mr..
Wilson Is quoted as saying: II DO not
see that there Is anything moro to do.
having dismissed the offending employee"
Tho naivete of this remark would be
amusing II the matter In hand were not
so serious. That member OF the Presi-
. dents Cabinet, having unearthed or had
uncarthed for him n grave scandal ar
fectlng the integrity Of his department.
and rnenaclng the interests Of important
industries should conceive that his whole
duty was discharged In dismissing the
clerk whose guilt was too obvious to be
overlooked Is well nigh Incredible. How
Holmes obtained his apparently unllm-
tied facilities for dishonest work, and
whether other employees were not also
concerned in this dishonesty are qucs-
lions in connection with which he dis
claims all responsibility. Though his
statistical bureau Ia now inevitably the
object OF general Suspicion Mr.. Wilson'S
attitude suggests that he is not unwlll-
ing TO have the current scandal die Of
general neglect, Why?
Broadly speaking II may be said that
the work in this bureau has been done
honestly, or 1t has been done dishonesty.
If 1t has been done honestly, Secretary
Wilson owed it to himself 10 demonstrate
the fact / dishonesty, he owed 1t Ia
the public 10 locate that dishonesty and
to demonstrate that he had eradicatcl
Il, root and branch.
However the mptter is now out of Mir
Wilson'S hands within the last day OF
two the Southern Cotton Association ana
the New yorl; Cotton Exchange hay,
both petitioned the President to hay,
the bureau affairs thoroughly invest
gated; and Mr. Rooseye,'s point Of view
coincides with theirs rathor than win
that of seeretury Wilson, District AT
torney Beach has already gotten 10 worl
and the papllc VIII await his repor
Win considerable interest. AS regard
abuses and misbehayloF in this bureau
there IS a pretty general conviction tha
lhs half has not yet been told,
~ @=-===T--======--=--
The Jews AS Nation"
AT the oren!ag session OF The JEWS