The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-13

u
dan of the Southern Cotton association
reached Atlanta last night and after near
ing the report of Secretary Rlcharu
Cheatham with reference to the lnVesu.
cation of the bureau of statistics at
Washington, authorized the following In
terview for publication:
,"rhe report of the investigation into the
manipulation and leakage of the cotton
bureau report, as conducted by Secretary
Chatham at Washington during the past
five weeks has been entirely satisfactory.
The charges preferred by the assoela-
ton have been fully substantiated as the
chief statistician, Holmes, has been dls-
charged for manipulating the figufes ana
furnishing advance information. Inc IN
yestigation of the bureau OF statistics
along other lines will be vigorously
pressed by the association. We will not be
content to let the matter drop where IL
Is as we are satisfied others besides
Holmes should be relieved of further con-
nection with the department. United
States District Attorney Beach is now IN
active charge of the investigation of the
bureau of statistics, and the people OF the
south may rest assured that the South
ern Cotton association will not diminish
its activity one iota until everything re-
garding the methods and operations OF the
bureau of statistics has been fully uncov-
cred. and If there be found any more cor
rupt officials they will be promptly dealt
with and the whole department reorgan-
lied.
Has Taken Active Steps.
president Roosevelt has already taken
active steps in the matter and still more
important disclosures may be looked for
in the near future.
1.-THE result of the investigation at
Washington fully emphasizes the abso-
lutte necessity for the support and main
tenance of great association in the south
to protect and safeguard the interest OF
southern people. The Southern Cotton as
ISOLATION feels assured that its report on
the acreage, issued at New Orleans on
May 81 was correct and believes that a
fair and full revision of the bureau report
ISSUED June will substantiate the cor
rectness of our associations report show
ing the actual reduction In the cotton
acreage for 1905 to be not less than IS 43
per cent"
President IIarvie Jordan and Secretary
Richard Cheatham of the Southern Cot
ton association left this city for Wash
ngton tonight. According to a state
ment by President Jordan, these officials
go to Washington for the purpose Of
looking further into the matter Of the
cotton report leak.
How Holmes Began.
Atlanta, Ga. July Especial. Edwin
S. Holmes. recently discharged from the
office of assistant chief statistician of the
agricultural department at Washington, as
a result of charges of leakage relative to
reports of cotton receipts, began his career
in the national capital as $500 clerk in
the census department under Captain
George Donnell, then chief clerk of the
eleventh census under Clevelands last ad-
ministration, but now commissioner of the
| southeastern civil service board with
headquarters in Atlanta.
John Hyde, chief statistician, was also
III Captain Donnelrs department
Holmes was appointed from Massachu-
sets. He is practically young man.
married and is said to have had nothing
on earth save his salary when he began
to work in the census department.
Hyde seems to hail from no special
place, and is an Englshman by birth.
Captain Donnel, when interviewed to-