The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

statements embodied in the evidence
filed by Mr.. Cheatham.
1T was developed yesterday that the
most serious charge preferred by Mr..
Cheatham is that the returns from
various sources, which are used as Il
basis in the preparation of the gov
eminent cotton reports, have been
manipulated after reaching the de-
partment. Chief attention has been
paid so far to alleged leaks, but it
was not publicly known until yestcr-
day that Secretary Wilson had been
confronted with a statement that the
government figures had been mantpu-
lated before their official publication
under his signature. Secretary Wilson
undoubtedly made every possible effort
to devise a plan whereby the govern
ment cotton reports would be absolute
Nv accurate, so far as the department
could make them so, and so to ar
range the tabulation that it would
be Impossible for any official to give
out advance information or manipu-
late the figures even if he were in
ciined to do so. If the statements of
Mr.. Cheatham are to be accepted, the
Secretary's system has proved a fail
ure, because, according to the accusa-
ton filed by Mr. Cheatham, the figures
have been manipulated, and there is
almost absolute evidence that officials
have been responsible for leaks.
"Thinks Case is Strong.
"Mr. Cheatham said yesterday that
the documents which he had placed
i'm the hands of Secretary Wilson had
been prepared with the greatest care,
and that they had been scrutinized by
able counsel before it was decided to
move on the Department of Agricul-
ture
"T consulted a firm of attorneys in
Wall Street. he said, and they advised
me that the case was complete in every
respect, and that it would hold
mfr. Cheatham maintains a mys
terious silence as to the nature of the
papers he submitted to Secretary Will
son.
:" TT was agreed between us he said,
that it would be better to make the
inquiry without belling the cat l be-
lieve that this is the thing to do. AS
/ understand it, the results will be
made public when the Secretary COM
pletes the investigation.
Secretary Wilson will discuss the
case only in a general way. 1t was
stated by his private secretary yester-
day that the Secretary had no desire
to comment on the suspension of Mr..
Holmes. All that Mr.. Holmes had to
offer on the subject was that he sug-
gested suspension pending the inquiry,
and he did not fear the outcome"
Mr.. Cheatham has done a great
service to the cotton producers of the
world in presenting his evidence and
demanding a full investigation. The
fact that the assistant statistician
has been suspended is sufficient proof
that there is something rotten in
Denmark" The interest involved Is so
great that the department must go TO
the bottom and put stripes upon every
man who has been guilty Of the leak
which was designed to rob the cotton
growers The frauds of Machen ana
his associate amount to nothing in
comparison to doctoring the govern
mGnt cotton reports. Machen and his
associates obtained a few thousand
dollars by rebates and contracts. This
leak" in the Agricultural Department
has cost the farmers of the South mill
lions of dollars, and it may be found
that the same men guilty of this have
been Systematically doctoring the re-
ports in the interest of the specula-
tors and exporters. -
The people will demand to know the
truth and will demand that no guilty
man escape.
The suspension of Holmes is due to
organization. If there had been no
Southern Cotton Association, there
would have been no suspension of
Holmes and the leak" that robs
farmers of millions would, like the
brook, go on forever.