Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-14
Long Conference Over Leak
on Cotton Report.
CHEATHAM RETURNS
SEES Mr.. BEACH AND THE HEAD
OF THE SECRET SERVICE.
Mr.. Jordan, It is Believed, Has Gone to
Consult the Observation-Disclosures
Hyde's Statement

The investigation now being made under
the direction of District Attorney Beach
into the cotton-crop report scandal. with a
view to the criminal prosecution of former
Associate Statistician Holmes and his ASSOC
ciates, was resumed today with renewed
vigor. President Harvie Jordan and Secre-
tary Richard Cheatham of the Southern
Cotton Growers Association arrived in
Washington from Atlanta. Ga, last night.
Mr.. Jordan continued on his way to New
York, and 1t Is understood he will have an
interview with President Roosevelt today
or tomorrow on the subject of the cotton
scandal. But Secretary Cheatham remained
in Washington, and Il is understood that
from now on until the investigation by the
district attorney is completed he will re-
main in the city and lend his aid to the
government officers in their efforts to d.s-
cover evidence which will justify the crimi-
nal prosecution of the offenders.
The same reticence that has marked the
progress of the investigation by Mr.. Beach
was observed today by all of the principals
to the inquiry. Secretary Wilson referred
all persons making inquiries in connection
with the investigation to the Department of
Justice, the latter department passes the
questioner along TO Mr.. Beach, and the dis
trict attorney refuses to talk.
Conference With Beach Suspected.
Mr.. Cheatham. when seen by a Star re-
porter soon after his return after a four
hour absence from his hotel, refused 20
| say where he had been. 1t is understood.
however. that the secretary of the Southern
Cotton Growers Association was in con-
| ference practically all of the time with Dis
| trict Attorney Beach and Acting Chief
| Moran of the secret service and that con-
| siderable progress made in the work
| OF reviewing the preliminary investigation
m "A in MI for tha tim, typ,, of
| the inquiry
Mr.. Cheatham put himself on record in
| one important particular. however, when
| he declared to the Star man that he did
| not favor the adjustment of the system OF
government crop reporting. LAS result
| of all this scandal Mr. Cheatham re-
| marked. 'it Is but natural that most people
| should at once decide that the government
| should go out of the crop reporting bust
| ness. But second thought on the subject
! should be sufficient to reveal the error. II
the government cotton crop report should
| be discontinued the producers of the sta.
| pie. the manufacturers who use it, and, in
| fact, everybody legitimately concerned
! would be at the mercy of the SPECTATORS,
| and conditions would be infinitely worse
| than now.
In my opinion the government should
| continue to gather and to publish the crop
| statistics. Surely honest men can be found
| to do the work and system devised which
| would keep temptation out of the way
| of the weak"
Mr.. Cheatham refused to say just how
| long he intends to remain in Washington.
After Mr.. Hyde's Scalp.
Some days ago the statement was made
In The Star that Chief Statlstcian John
Hyde of the bureau of statistics of the Ag-
ricultural Department would probably be
retired as result of the conditions dis
covered in the bureau under his charge.
1t was indicated then that no charges af-
fecting Mr.. Hydes personal integrity had
been preferred but that it was believed
in some quarters that the statistician had
been guilty of negligence in permitting
Holmes to juggle with the cotton figures
under his very nose, and should in conSe-
quence be removed
The grounds for expecting Mr.. Hyde's re-
tirement are considered to be even stronger
at this time. President Jordan and Sec
rotary Cheatham of the cotton association
are now confessedly after Mr. Hydes scalp.
While reiterating the statement that they
have preferred no charges concerning Mr..
Hyde's personal integrity. both these gen
tlemen have been quoted as saying as that.
by his admission, he did not know anything
about the leaks in the bureau and Holmes
connection with them the statistician brands
himself incompetent and unfit to hold his
immensely responsible position.
1t is probable that when the inquiry Is
finished or even before that, at least one
employee of the bureau of statistics Will be
removed. The employe In question. while
receiving only small salary from the gov
eminent, has apparently grown wealthy.
The secret service officials have spent
some time the case.
Mr.. Hyde's Statement.
Statistician Hyde has refused to pay any
attention to the personal attacks made upon
him, but has given out for publication the
following statement concerning the conduct
of the bureau of statistics:
ut is unnecessary that l reply to Nj.
Cheat differences / will say just this: |
In Mr. Holmes, who was my associate and |
not my subordinate, l had the most implicit !
confidence. He was apparently most capa- |
BILE. and no suggestion of mine for further |
safeguarding the figures. thought, went /
unheeded. In 1903 l was absent from the |
bureau for eight months, partly on account |
of illness, and when l returned l was so
i'll that Mr.. Holmes continued practically IN |
charge During that eight months and for
some time thereafter the associate statisti-
clan was the trusted man in the compilation
of the reports. 1t was impossible that sub
ordinateS in the bureau should have con-
spired with him. Under the system he alone
could have been guilty of wrongdoing."
Investigating Tobacco Statistics.
Through the receipt of numerous COM
n,:nfcatiops from the south and statements
appearing in the press at various times that
the statistics of the Department of Agrf-
culture on tobacco were being manipulated
in the interests of the so-called tobacco
trust Secretary Wilson has begun in
curry into the subject Pending the inves-
tigation the publication of the tobacco sta
tisticS of the several districts VIII De neia
up, although the regular monthly figures
by states will be given out Monday next.
1t was stated at the department today |
that special agents have been sent to the
dark tobacco districts of Tennessee and
Kentucky for the purpose of verifying or |
correcting the departments figures. Mr..
Hyde, the chief statistician, said the action
was in Difference to the sentiment which |
had been cngendered that the departments |
figures were wholly incorrect. Mr.. Hyde has
been given direct charge of the investiga-
ton, which 1t is expected will be concluded
within two or there weeks.
Hard Questions.