Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-01
BOARD OF CROP STATISTICS
Secretary Wilson Announces New Plan Of
Collecting and Compiling information.
WILL COMMAND CONFIDENCE OF ALL
Bureau TO He i'm Charge of
Four Experts, Two of whom
VIII He from the
south.

statistics Of the Department Of Agriculture.
according to information here tonight. AL
ready he is seeking men of high standing
and education to conduct the work of the
bureau-men in whom the farmers and
growers OF the country will have explicit
confidence, and who will place the report
Of the bureau on a standard OF excellence
never heretofore achieved. One man he
has found, although he does not at this
time wish to publish his name. The other
three he hopes to secure in short time.
Two of them will be southern men. and
both will be experts in cotton and tobacco
statistics. This, in brief. is one of the ideas
which Secretary Wilson elucidated to Presi-
dent Roosevelt today.
In response to invitations twice extended,
Secretary Wilson visited the president at
Sycamore Hill this afternoon. He arrived
here on the Long Island train at 1920 p m,
and with Baron Rosen, the Russian ambas-
sador, was conveyed to the presidents
home. Prior to his conference with the
president, Secretary Wilson was not COM
municative.
1t was known that he had come TO Oyster
Bay to discuss with the president, the
situation in the Department of Agriculture
as developed by the Investigations now in
progress In the bureaus of statistics and Of
any details until he had talked with the
president In addition to the inquiry which
is being made into the alleged irregulari-
ties which have developed, the secretary
on his own account, is making a rigid in
vestigation of other bureaus of the depart
ment, his determination being absolutely
| to purge It of any taint of corruption In
| his work Secretary Wilson has the approval
| of the president, whose direction has been
| to eliminate every form of graft in the de-
partment.
VIII Not Resign.
! At the conclusion of his conference Sec
retary Wilson talked frankly about some
phases Of the work in his department. He
was asked whether there was any likelihood
Of his early relinquishment of his portfolio
as secretary of agriculture. He replied
| with a smile:
| do you remember the story of Andrew
Fairservice, in Sir Walter Scott's Rob Roy?
Andrews master was going TO discharge
! him. In fact ne told him to go. Andrew
| said: i won't GO
why not? asked the master.
Because l won't replied Andrew
"'Well you are dicharged.' declared the
master.
:" i won't CO. retorted Andrew.
"'If you don't know when you have a
good servant, l know when l have a good
master.
mine is not precisely a parallel case"
continued the secretary, but II serves to
illustrate the situation. 1 have not been
asked to go and l am not intending
to resign. | am going to stick to my post
and continue to build up that great depart
ment. You will recall that when l went
there found practically nothing but few
| he nd baI ba1 sto
scientists. Since that time we have built
up an improved branch of the government.
The Agricultural department today Is a
great department and may say is sound
as a nut. We are trying every day to make
II better. Since l took charge of 1t 279 peo-
pie have been let out of it's service for va
rious reasons, many of them on charges of
one kind or other. We make 1t a point to
keep only frst-class men and women. The
purpose of the Investigations now in pro-
gress is to purge the department of all
selhshness and corruption, and that end
will be accomplished. 1t is my purpose and
it is the purpose of the president.
Cotton Statistics Scandal.
mo l haven't the slightest idea of re-
signing" continued the secretary. II see
Mr. Jordan, president of the Southern Cot
ton Growers association. is demanding my
resignation in an interview published to-
day. Now, l haven't thing to say about
Mr.. Jordan. He may say what he pleases
about me. That his own people do not
agree with him. however, is evidenced by a
telegram which l have just received-in
fact, you saw me open it. Here it is:
Washington, July 81, 1905. To Hon
James Wilson, oyster Bay-Dear Sir: In
! reference TO the interview of President
Haryie Jordan. published this morning in
"a al in VTn 1 Il
cannot endorse the same. The farmers and
cotton growers of the south have implicit
purge. the department of all grafters, and
they hope the president will not interfere
with the great work you are now doing for
Southern Cotton Growers Association '
Il have no intention OF becoming in
volved In a newspaper controversy with
Mr.. Jordan or anybody else. I have my
work to do and I'm going to do it."
Have you heard anything about Mr.,
Hyde?"
''Well, he has gone TO Europe" replied
! the secretary grimly. Il had no idea he
was going away from the country when he
left the department l received a letter
from Mrs Hyde explaining that she was
responsible for his departure; that she mad
purchased herself his steamship transporta-
tion, and had insisted that he go away on
account Of his health. She said he was in
danger OF a nervous collapse"
I investigation of Charges.
/ Concerning the inquiries now being made
into the scandals by the Department OF
Justice, Secretary Wilson did not care &c
talk.
"Manifesty," said he, 1T would scarcely
e be proper for me TO discuss the work OF
E another department, particularly in the
present circumstances. Only two cases now
' are before the attorney general from my
$ department. that OF Holmes and that OF
g DR.. Moore. What may be the result of tbs
inquiries l have no idea. Dr. Moore had
accomplished some fine results and il h,
had only made clear TO the department hii
entire connection with the Nitro Cultur,
oompeny, think we would have kept hin
on a straight course"
. NO" continued Secretary Wilson in re
sponse TO an inquiry about the Statement
, OF T. d. Harman manager of the Farmer
and Stockman OF Pittsburg. made in a let
ter 10 the president, as 90 the proof he DOS
sessed against Or. Moore, Il have no
r seen the specific proofs he refers TO. bu
!. such as have seen are OF no public in
n terest, You would not publish them II 20,
a had them"
Board of Crop Statistics.
Then Secretary Wilson outlined his new
plan for the bureau Of crop statistics.