The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-02
STRANGER CAME MONTGOMERY
 INFECTED WITH YELLOW FEVER

than with such reformation of depart mental methods as shall secure for us just and accurate reports in future. Under the system At present In vogue and which promises to be undisturbed unless public attention shall be aroused to needs of reform. the reports issued by the Department of Agriculture are. dividual opinion of . few onicials of doubtful experience and honor by which the value of the cotton crop may be. and has been. affected as much as $75,000.o00 in . single day.
 No such power should be delegated to any individual or statistical board except under conditions which guar antee the most incorruptible. expert and intelligent opinion. arrived at by the application of the most soisntinc methods and safeguarded by the most scientific precautions. It is therefore urgently recommended to the members of the Southern Cotton Association that through their Representatives in Congress and by every other means available to them. they exert their in- fiuence and that of the association to- ward securing the immediate reorgan- ixation of the Agricultural Department. especially with reference to its report on the cotton crop and that their Rep resentatives In Congress are requested specifically to demand:
 "First-The establishment within the Department of Agriculture Of bureau to be known as the Cotton Bureau charged specially and solely with the duty of reporting upon the cotton crop and all matters concerning that sta pie. The Buress's Head.
 ''Second-The appointment es the head of that bureau at an adequate salary of a man whose reputation and antecedents shall be beyond reproach and whose familiarity with cotton oul- tivation shall be an additional guaran- tee of hts fitness.
 "Third---.An organization of the bu- reau 10 established upon thoroughly scientific lines as will insure that no possible bias in favor of either buyer or seller or producers or manufactur- CT can be pre-supposed or asserted.
 "Fourth--The passage of law that will be more specific in its scope and under which government employees can be prosecuted for giving away or selling valuable information. as has been done in the statistical bureau.
 "wo have no doubt of tho zeal of the oflcers of the Department. but 1t seems to be as misdirected in this orists as 1t was in antecedent periods. All the powers and influence of the department of the lawyers and of ev- cry man of tho government seems to be devoted to tho attempt to dragnet . lot of irresponsible speculators That there have been for years leaks In the Department is as well known te the trade as the existence of the De-
 partment itself: but these are instg'
 nificant as compared with the funda-
 mental mismanagement. At this time | however, there Is a manifest endeavoI to divert attention from the radical errors and deficiencies of the Depart me,.t itself to the thievink propensi' ] ties of a few unworthy efhcials. I Let us not be misled by any sucf
 misdirected energy. Let us reform q | the top and not on the side. Let u. | root out the offenders. cleanse the per l sonnel. change the methods and reno vate the Department from root te branch. Then the cause of cotton and good government will alike be served | in Rooseveltian fashion.
 "(Signed.) Harvle Jordan'
 "President Southern Cotton Associa- tion.
 Richard Cheatham, Secretary