Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-19
STATlSTICIAN
HYDE RESIGNS
Chief of Bureau of Statistics Re-
tires Oil Account of the Re.
cent Cotton Scandal.
HIS job NOT A sINEoURE
Fight Against Him by Conflicting In
tercsts. He Says, Has Already
Shortened His Lifc-Not Implicated
in the Irregularities fer Which
Holmes Was Dismissed.
tBy Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. July lS.-
The resignation of John Hyde, sta
tistician und chief of the bureau Of
statistics of The department of agri-
culture, was handed To Secretary Will
son and promptly accepted. Willett
n. Hayes, the assistant secretary of
agriculture, has been placed III charge
of the bureau temporarily and will con
tinuc to act, pending the investigation
of the cotton scandal. and until
competent statistician is found.
Mr. Hyac's withdrawal from the dc
partmcnt created wide interest. Sec
rotary Wilson and other officials of
he department have stated that Mr..
Hyde has not been implicated in any
manner in the irregularities that no.
suited in the dismissal of Edwin S.
Holmes. There is considerable specu.
lation us to the probable successor or
Mr. Hyde. Ono name that has been
suggested is Is. w. Snow, of Chicago,
staiistican for we'll known farm jour
nails, and once an assistant Stats.
tician under j. II. Dodge. who was
chief Of the bureau ahcut twelve years
ago. Mr.. Dodge was in charge at the
time the present system Of gathering
crop statistics was devised
Colonel Henry Hester, secretary Of
the New Orleans Cotton Exchange,
in conversation with Secretary Will
son, cuntcndcd that the salary paid
by the department is inadequate to
get the right man for the place
Hyde's Letter of Resignation.
The following is the text of Mr.
lIyde'S letter of resignation, and
Secretary Wilson's reply thereto:
Washington. ID. c. July is, 1905.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
During The last four years, or since
succeeded in making the crop reports
OF the department reasonably accurate
and coricspondngly valuable to the
| agricultural and commercial interests
OF the country, my administration Up
the Office have the honor 10 hold
| has been constantly criticized from
| one side of tho market or the other,
| Five times i. Eas been Investigate ed
| and or every occasion | have been
Eindicated. In January, 1908, | was
awarded $4,000 damages in libel suit
against prominent firm of cotton
| brokers by Il jury OF their own
friends and fellow citizens. These
REGULATIONS have been very gratifying
to me, but have the highest medical
authority for the statement that the
continued fight upon me has already
considerably shortened my life. At
the present time il is all accepted fact
| that powerful organization is bent
upon bringing about my retirement by
one means or another.
Now, do not think the position
| hold is worth the fight necessary To
Its retention, and the organization in
question is welcome 10 whatever salts.
faction it can derive from my with
drawal from the unequal struggle.
If any OF my friends think that I
ought not to retire under fire, would
| have them remember that there was
never time when was not under
| fire.
Il have the honor therefore to ten
der herewith my resignation of my
appointment as statisiician and chief
of the bureau OF statistics of this de.
partment.
with much appreciation of the unit
form courtesy and kindness you have
shown me and of the many tokens of
confidence have received from you,
am
Most respectfully yours.
(signed) JOHN HYDE"
Secretary Wilson'S Reply.
July Is, 1906.
John Hyde.
"Statistician, Department of Agri.
culture:
"Dear Sir:
Il am in receipt of your resigna.
ton as statistician Of this denart.