Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-06-22
FEAR OF COTTON QUIZ
HIGH PERSONS IN WASHINGTON
VIEW INQUIRY WITH UM.
EkSINESS,
Accuser Exhcnerates Wilson, Bu4
Holds Others Guilty of Leak in
the Reports.

New York. June 22-Tne Wash
ington correspondent CT the Herald
telegraphs his paper as follows:
There is great uneasiness in high
governmental circles over the posi-
bic developments in the investigation
of the leak of cotton reports from the
agricultural department. Absolute
ly no information can be obtained
from the Office cf the secret service,
which is headquarters of this investi
CATION. The inquiry is still in pro
gress and the connection has been
established between the agricultural
department and the Offices of brCk
e, in Washington who is known to
have been the direct correspondent
on Gotten matters of one of the 1arg
est houses in New York.
Aecuser Makes Statement.
Richard Cheatham, the secretary
cf the Southern Cotton Growers asso-
citation, who is now in Atlanta. sent
the following statement to Washing
ton regarding his view Of the investi-
CATION:
"Some people think it is the same
cid hue and cry that has been made
year after year. but they will soon
see that it is an entirely different
thing this time and that the charges
have brought against the depart
ment will bear fruit. I received a
message stating that the evidence
could be secured against the man or
men who had altered the figures OF
the cotton statistics, and | left for
New York cn the first train. Getting
reliable lawyers to help me, | soon
found that I had the information |
wanted
81 was instructed tc' push the charg-
es, and | went to Washington. AT
irving there. I sent my card to Sec
retary Wilson.
No Blame for Wilson.
81 can't say my welcome was any
TOO warm. Secretary Wilson is an
old man, honest as the day is long,
and he thought his men under him
were as honest and as straightfor-
ward as he. 1t simply did me good
to see how loyal he was and how
scrupulOusly straightforward.
"The information brought him
cut him to the quick. Not that ne
did not want to do his duty CIR that
he did not want to rid his depart
ment of all possible traces of fraud
but simply because he hated to know
that men he had trusted had been
unworthy.
81 had brought with me from New
York four brokers, who swore pcsl-
lively that they had received tips
that came from the department aneau
of the time the report was given to
the public.
"The matter stands this way.
got ln1OrmdLlOQ luulopuIoOis I1A"'
certain man or men had altered the
figures of the statistical bureau. so
as to hurt cotton producers. consum'
ers and legitimate traders, and 10
help the few gambling spectators.
Says Tips Were Given.
"In addition to this, l found tna'
the man or men gave cut tips in re-
gard to what the report would be IN
advance of the report to the public
itself.
"With this proof in hand, E. 5.
Holmes. Jr., first assistant statlstl'
clan. who was acting chief statlstl'
clan in the absence of John Hyde
arv wilson y y 7
"When my information was given IN
Secretary Wilson had the secret
service notified Of the situation ana
the detective force went to work.
"The charges are neither dead ncr
dying. They are living and making
themselves felt. Not only this put
can say from my knowledge that
the charges will stick to Holmes.