Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-19
HYDE QUITS DEPARTMENT
Nebraska Ststistioian Tires Of the Constant
Warfare on Him.
INVESTIGATION MEDICATION OF HIN
Uncertain what His Future Course
Will he, but Probably VIII BE
Employed on Statistical
Work.
From a stan Correspondentl }

CFrom a Stan Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, July 1S,-(Special Tele-
gram. John Hyde, statistican of the
Department of Agriculture resigned today.
For several years he has been under fire
from the cotton growers, who felt that
his advance information as to cotton con-
ditions was being used clandestinely on
one side or the other of the market.
Having been vindicated frequently on
charges that there were leaks in his office,
he left for Europe last month in search
Of health, to be met his boat was touch
ing Englands shores with peremptory or
ders to return at once. signed by Secre-
tary Wilson. Believing that the telegram
was quiet way Of breaking the news to
him that another man had been appointed
in his place, Mr.. Hyde returned by the
next boat to find a most chaotic condition
Of affairs in the Agricultural department.
Hyde's assistant Holmes, had been sus-
pended previous to his arrival pending the
report of the secret service officials. and
shortly after his landing President Roose-
welt issued his letter regarding Holmes,
wherein he characterized the latter as
unworthy of public confidence. Mr.. Hyde
gave what information he had in regard
to the making up of the cotton report and
it is safe to say his statement was ac-
cepted by Secretary Wilson, in view of
Wilson's letter today.
But Mr.. Hyde would not stand the In
situation that he was a party to the leak
age and having justified himself in the
eyes of his chief, resigned today.
Proud of His Work.
Mr. Hyde in his letter of resignation said
| in part:
Dear Mr.. Secretary: During. the last
&c. afWo enc Nah n m "
| ing the crop reports of the department
| reasonably accurate and correspondlngly
valuable to the commercial interests OF the
| country, my administration of the oh1ce 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 IN
| vestgated and on every occasion | have
! been vindlcated. In January, 1903; | was
against against prom prominent firm Of cotton brok-
| ers by a jury Of their own friends and fei-
low citizens These results have 1 been grail grail
| cal authority for the statement that the
! continued fight upon me has already con-
! ent time 1t is an accepted fact that a pow
erful organization is bent upon bringing
about my retirement by yo some h means ns,fio or an
| hold is worth the fight necessary to its
retention and the organization in queS-
| ton is welcome to whatever satisfaction 1t
can derive from my withdrawal.
! With much appreciation Of the uniform
courtesy and Kindness you nave sa9%m 3a9S,iod me
have received from you, I am, most re-
spectfully yours --.,-
| In accepting the resignation of Mr. Hyde,
! Mr. Wilson said:
Dear Sir: / am In receipt OF your resig-
nation as statistician Of this department.
ability with which you have discharged
the heavy and difficult duties of the Office
curacy Of your reports has been recognized
| by the public generally and ! am glad to
be able to testify with regard to the the
bureau statistics that no facts. have been
brought to my attention implicating you
should compel you to bring your work to
an end.
Record in Department.
John Hyde came to Washington from
Nebraska to take charge OF the agricul-
| tural statistics in connection with the
| eleventh census. Before he entered upon
his duties as agricultural statistcian he
was given general charge of the census
| enumeration under the then superintendent
of census, Robert p. Porter Mr. Hyde
was in charge of the census enumeration
when the question arose whether Omaha
should be re-enumerated, the census OF
1880 showing a most unprecedented in
| crease for that city Hyde decided that a
new enumeration was not necessary and
by the enumeration given Omaha, Ne
| braska secured three additional representa-
tiyes in congress. Henderson and Paddock
| were then senator's Connell, Dorsey and
Laws being representatives in the lower
house. WI an the appointment was made
based on census of 1880, Nebraska Sc
cured six representatives, an increase of
three, the largest increase of any state
In the union Since that time there has
been no change in the number of repre-
sentatives in the lower house from Ante
lope.
Greatly wrought up over his physical
worries, Mr.. Hyde was hardly in condition
to be interviewed today by representa-
tive Of The Bee.
He said, however, that he was proud
Of having been able TO bring up the sta
tistics of the Agricultural department to
the high degree of efficiency they now
nossess. 'I shall probably follow my sta
tistical bent" said Mr.. Hyde. for that
seems my forte / went to the b. & NJ.
wears ago and located in Nebraska to do
general statistical work 10 induce immi-
grafton. l had been connected with the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific be-
fore that time along similar lines. I have
tried TO make the statistical bureau OF
the Agricultural department absolutely re-
liable Having been under fire for years
past and having established my innocence
Of leaks, l Just concluded to resign and
II need be go back 10 railroading. l have
no plans for the future"
Wulet D. Hayes, the assistant secretary
of agriculture has been placed in charge
of the bureau temporarily. Secretary VIII
| son and other officials of the department
have stated that Mr. Hyde has not been
implicated in any manner in the irregulari-
ties that resulted in the dismissal Of Ed
win s. Holmes, the associate statistician.
whom secret service operatives charged
with being guilty OF giving TO brokers ad-
vance figures Of cotton statistics
There is considerable speculation as 70
the probable successor of Mr.. Hyde. One
name that has been suggested is B. w
Snow OF Chicago statistician for well
known farm journals and once an assistant
statistician under John r. Dodge, who
was chief of the bureau about twelve years
ago. Mr. Dodge was in charge at the
time the present system of gathering crop
statistics was devised.
Colonel Henry Hester, secretary Of the
New Orleans Cotton exchange in a con-
versation with Secretary Wilson contended
that the salary paid by the department is
inadequate to get the right kind OF men
, for the place.
New order on Crop Reports.
Secretary Wilson today issued a sweeping
| order that ali reports Affecting crop con.