The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-06-13
SERIOUS At TACK
ION CROP REPORTS
Cotton Scandal Has Spread
to Other Statistics.
WILSON'S SEAT IS MENACED
WILSON'S SEAT IS: MENACED
Inaccuracy of Figures Would Reflect on
His Competency-Popularity OF
Iowan With Farmers.

If the scandal in the Department of
Agriculture, involving the integrity OF
! the Government crop reports, should de-
velop into so gigantic an affair, as Is
now intimated may be possible, 1t
| would far overshadow the Posto9ice
/ Departments troubles. 1t would Deces-
sarily involve one OF the two Cabinet
seats now held by Iowans. for Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wilson would be
gravely embarrassed by the develop
| nent of SO serious an affair in his de-
] partment
/ Originally, 1t was merely charged that
| there had been leakages. by which adj
vance information reached spectators
| concerning the report on the cotton
crop This caused the suspension Of
| Edwin S. Holmes. assistant statistician
/ of the department.
| Then came the more serious charge
| that the figures on the crop conditions
| had been tempered with and the public
! had been given dishonest report while
! favored speculators had been permitted
| to know the truth.
Opportunities for Manipulation.
| The immense advantage possessed by
| speculative interest thus able to mis-
| lead the public. while itself knowing the
truth, Is so obvious that 1t hardly need
! be suggested To know the crops con-
dition was improving, and to be able
to make the public believe 1t was grow
| ing poorer, would enable those withA the
inside knowledge to sell at higher prices
when conditions would warrant only
lower ones.
The possibilities of manipulation thus
opened are unlimited.
But seyen tbs Is not al. On the heels
of this report of the manipulation or
figures came sne intimation, from Secre-
| tary Chatham, of the Southern Cotton
Association that before he was done he
would raise serious question as to the
/ honesty of all the crop reports. This
brings the matter up close to the North
ern and Western farmer. as 1t has al
ready been brought TO the Southern
planter.
The allegation involves the reports on
corn. wheat. oats. fruits. hay. and every
agricultural staple. The Government re-
ports have been supposed the most re-
| liable that care and money could secure.
A Vital Disease.
Such manipulation would enable fav-
ored spectators to fleece at will the
| millions who depend on agriculture. The
agricultural industry would be sys-
tematica5ly robbed It would show that
the cancers OF corruption had reached
the mest sacred functions of the Gov
ernIncnt. and that nothing was safe
from It's blight. It would brand the crop
reports as a confidence game
When Secretary Cheatham first declar-
ed he might drag into the investigation
a sensation. Immediately afterward IT
was announced that Chief Stasistician
hyde who had gone to Europe had
been summoned home: This added to
the gravity OF the situation and pre-
pared the public for almost anything in
the line of sensations
The tragedy of 1t all is IN the fact that
While nobody dreams that Secretary
Wilson could possible be involved the
charges reflect on the competency of
MIS- administration. There were reports,
IN the beginning OF the affair that Mr..
founded
Nobody suspected anything against the
Secretary himself Everybody agreed
investigation He has taken hold. of n
with VIII. but win require some time
70 go tc the bottom.
Veteran of the Cabinet.
Secretary Wilson is now the vetera,
OF the Cabinet just beginning the ninth
year of service. Everything has indf-
Gated that he will break all records by
twelve years continuous service. No
man has made the department so Ise
fuI, popular. or widely respected
y. So Sn people say he was the first
ton districts consider him their special
friend The semi-artd zone has found
nm pressing research into alfalfa.
rnacaronf wheat, and other crops adapt
&c to their needs. -
Owners of abandoned farms IN the
East hare received from him wealth
or intelligent, useful suggestions The
pirgfnian with WORKOUT farm has
been told how to restore its fertility
Inc sub-tropics of Florida or California.
and the almost arctic regions of Alaska
have been equally well looked after
In every direction the work has been
practical helpful. and disinterested If
President Roosevelt is entitled to be
called the broadcast American in grasp
Of the problems and possibilities of the
country, Secretary Wilson is as well en-
titled to be characterized as the pre-
nifer American farmer
He has never played politics or policy.
Yet the very man who started all this
crop report trouble, Secretary Cheat
nam, OF the Southern Cotton Associa-
ten. declared enthusiastically that "if
Secretary Wilson would run for Presi-
dent, even as a Republican, he would
come mighty near carrying some of our
Southern States. -
This is Secretary Wilson, as Wash
ington and his nationwide constituency
of farmers know him. It Is no wonder
that the threatened scandal in his de-
Germ aside from the immediate posi-
bilities it suggests.