The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-12

put the matter in the hands Of secret
service agents, after first dismissing
Assistant Chief Holmes upon whom
suspicion pointed. The investigation
resulted in proving that there were
leaks and that these leaks had been
paid for by cotton dealers in New
York, and that Holmes had been gull
ty of manipulating the returns to af-
feet the market.
Thus the farmers, who kicked inef-
fectually when unorganiZed, kicked to
some purpose when thorough organi-
the proof to more than justify their
suspicious. Hardly had Holmes been
dismissed than cotton went up iVc
dollars a bale, putting in the South at
once MANY million dollars which
would otherwise have gone into the
pockets of the men who paid for the
leak. or the exporters and manufac-
turers.
Where is Holmes? It is given out
that there is no law to punish him.
but is there any serious effort to prose-
cute him? The New York Herald's
Washington correspondent says:
1.-The prosecution OF Edwin >.
Holmes Jr., the dismissed associate
statistician. is believed by many per
sons to be the only thing necessary to
open up a full disclosure OF all the
wrong-doing which is suspected to lie
hidden in the Department OF Agricul-
ture. The impression has broadcned
and deepened today that Holmes is
merely a scapcgoat and is being let off
with mere dismissal and immunity
from prosecution in order that he may
not be tempted to tell all he knows
about things in the crop reporting di-
vision and other branches of the De-
partmcnt. 1t is thought to be incon-
ceivable that such long series Of
leakages Of crop reports, covering
1903, 1904 and 1905. could be carried
on, involving transactions, in hundreds
OF thousands of bales of cotton, with
out other persons In the Department
being parties to the affair
ut is the general opinion here that
if was because OF Secretary Wilson'S
desire to hush the scandal up now. as
well as to retain John Hyde, chief Of
the bureau, that matters were so ma
nipulated that Holmes should go scot
free"
But Richard Cheatham. the cour-
ageous secretary of the Southern Cot
ton Growers Association, to whom the
Southern cotton farmers owe a debt
they can never pay, Is as persistent
now in demanding that the Govern
ment go "HIGHER UP" as he was
persistent i'm forcing the investigation
when Secretary Wilson refused to be-
lieve there was anything wrong. The
Herald thus gives some particulars of
an interview between Mr.. Cheatham
and Secretary Wilson:
"Mr. Cheatham then proceeded TO
express, as Il representative OF the
Southern Cotton Growers Association,
his entire atiSfaction with the
manner in which the investition or MS
charges had been conducted ana with
the treatment of the secret service re-
port by the SecretarY Of Agriculture.
"NIr. Cheatham declared that no ef-
fort whatever seemed TO have been
made to go beyond Mr.. Holmes. He
told the Secretary the latter appeared
more DESTROYS of saving MIR. Hyde,
chief statistician of the crop reporting
bureau, than 10 serve the pnDilc. Tic
asserted that Mr.. Hyde was the maj:
who was responsible for this long Sc
rios of leaks, because he was the head
of the bureau. But for Mr.. Hyde's
management of the bureau. he argued,
such things could not have happened.
"Mr Cheatham declared his belief
that when he reported to his associa-
ton a systematic effort would be made
to force the Secretary to remove Mr..
Hyde, even if an appeal had to be
made to President Roosevelt and GER
tain unpleasant revelations made to
the President.
"'You have been told, Mr.. Secrc-
tary,' said Mr.. Cheatham. that there
IL IL man over there completely under
the domination of u woman. You
have been told all about the facts, and
you are familiar with the facts from
personal Investigation. Yet You are
shielding men when you know they
are not fit for the position
Secretary Wilson told Mr.. Cheat
ham his decision as to the cotton leak
matter would stand as announced yes
terday, and Mr.. Cheatham left the
Secretary's presence and packed his
valise for Atlanta, Ga
There is crying need Of a complete
overhauling OF the Department of
Agriculture. Commenting upon the
matter editorially the New York
Herald saws:
Reform the Department OF Agriculture
SO there was leak in the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. and spectators
in cotton did get information In adj
vance as to the nature of official re-
ports on crop conditions.
Worse than this. The associate
statistican Of the department not only
made merchandise of the facts OBJ
tanned in his official capacity, but 1T Is
asserted that he deliberately altered
the figures forwarded to the depart
ment by the field agent-presumably
to make the published reports based
upon them conform to the require
ments for his speculative interests In
the cotton market.
The recent assertions Of Secretary
Wilson that a leak" was impossible
appear ridiculous In the light of the
statement he is now impelled to pub
lish. There should be a thorough In
vestigation OF the department. Mere
dismissal OF the accused statistician
seems an absurdly inadequate punish
ment for the gross violation of his
trust, to the injury of all Interested
In f,,f lon IN no