Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-11
PROSECUTION MAY FOLLOW
Subject of Leak in Agricultural Depart
msnt Considered by Attorney General,
SECRETARY WILSON WILL "STANO PAT
Head of Department Says He Has
No Fear of Libel Suits Grow
Ing ont OF His
Report.

OYSTER BAY, l. l., July 1O.-It is re-
garded here as not unlikely that criminal
prosecution may result from the investiga-
ton of the cotton report leak in the De-
partment of Agriculture While no decision
to institute criminal prosecutions is now
had, the subject is being considered
by Attorney General Moody, who later will
take the matter up with the president.
Secretary Wilson stands Firm.
WASHINGTON, July 1O.-That Secretary
Wilson intends to take no step backward
in his report on the cotton leak investiga-
ton was evidenced today by his statement
that he is not afraid of a libel suit which
might be saved against him by Mr.. Price
or others mentioned in the report. In fact.
he said, he would welcome such action be-
cause it might be the means Of developing
some facts not already uncovered and
which 1t was desirable to know.
This is quarrel among gamblers" he
said, brought about by the dissatisfaction
of some Of them in not getting what they
thought was their due. / have nothing to
take back. AS the head of an executive
department of the government 1t was my
duty and my right to give the public the
result of the investigation by the secret
agents into the charges which had been
filed, leading up to the dismissal of Mr..
Holmes"
The secretary added that he had given
consideration to Mr.. Prices request as pre-
sented through his attorney, William NJ.
Ivans of New York, Ito withdraw the I'M
just, offensive and unsustained charges and
| implications" and had reached the deter
mination to take no further action in the
matter. He said he would not communi-
cate with Mr.. Price or his attorney in any
| way.
Statement by Solicitor McCabe.
In view of the discussion that has taken
! place regarding the circumstances attend
ing the reference by Secretary Wilson to
| the United States attorney of the cotton
leak report for advice as to whether or
not criminal action against Assistant Sta
tistician Holmes would lie Solicitor McCabe
Of the Department Of Agriculture today
gave out the following statement:
About 10 a. m, Friday, July 7, under in
| structions from the secretary of agricul-
ture, l called upon Mr.. Beach, United States
| attorney for the District of Columbia, TAX
| ing with me the secret service operative
who had made the investigation in the
| reported leakage on the cotton crop re-
port. The secretary instructed me to place
| all the evidence in the possession of the
| department and the original report of the
| secret service operative in the hands of
| Mr.. Beach and to request that official 10
| advise the secretary whether in his opinion,
| a criminal action would lie against any OF
| the parties named in the evidence or in the
| report l carried out the instructions OF
the secretary, and further told him that
| the secretary desired TO have his opinion
on the matter as soon as possible, and
asked whether II would handicap him In
his efforts to maintain d prosecution II the
| secretary gave report OF the investiga.
! ton to the newspaper men pending Mr.
| Beaeh's determination of the matter. Mr.
| Beach replied that he did not want one
| word to be made public until he had time
TO go over the matter and satisfy himself
as to whether or not an Offense had beer
committed and prosecution could be main
| tanned.
| Upon my suggestion Mr.. Beach called III
the secretary OF agriculture by telephone
and advised him of the fact that he die
not want publicity at that time and tina