The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-05

ject or has taken the trouble to sound
popular opinion on the matter knows
that this department, last except one
to be created, is one of the most inn
portant among the nine great divisions
of the general government. 1t has been
a fortunate thing for the department.
that its heads thus far have been men
of good practical sense, men who were
willing to devote all of their time and
attention to the work of promoting the
agricultural interests of the nation.
There have been but four secretaries
since the foundation of the department
as it is now observation-disclosures ].
Coleman of Missouri, jeremiah NJ.
Rusk of Wisconsin, J. Sterling Morton
of Nebraska and James Wilson of Iowa,
the present incumbent. All of them
have proved to be admirable selections
Mr.. Coleman was secretary less than
month"; but he had been commissioner
and had obtained an excellent, record in
that capacity. No other department
has shown quicker growth or has in
trenched itself more securely in the af-
fections of the people. 1t has become
an indispensable part of the govern
mental machinery. and vast interests
are bound up in it. The eagerness with
which its monthly crop bulletins are
awaited is an evidence of its standing
among the farming community. and the
very fact that questionable methods of
| obtaining them in advance have been
resorted to shows their commercial
value. Ever, since their first issue at
| tempts have been made to manipulate
! them dishonesty, and it is quite likely
that occasional leaks will continue in
spite of the increased vigilance.
Until congress assemblies Mr.. Hays
will have control over the entire work
of the bureau This appointment was
in accordance with the presidents rec
ommendatfon. He believes that Mr..
Hays is peculiarly qualified to take
| charge of the governments immense
| system for collecting crop reports and
has unlimited confidence in his ability
to put stop to the leakages in the re-
| ports. The salary of the chief statis-
tician has been only $500, and it has
! been difficult to get capable man to
accept the Office. On that account con-
gress will be asked at the next session
to increase the salary to at least
$1,000.
Mr.. Hays has an excellent reputation
among agriculturists and scientists. He
has not been in the agricultural de-
partnent long enough to establish a
record, having been appointed assist
ant secretary last fall after a spirited
contest which lasted several months.
He is an unassuming and scholarly
man, who prides himself on the fact
that he is first of all a farmer For
fifteen years before coming to Wash
ington he had been a professor in the
agricultural department of the Univer-
sity of Minnesota. His specialty has
been plant breeding, and his successes
in that direction have made him famous
all over the world.
Mr.. Hays is the experimenter who
from a. single plant developed Mime
sofa wheat No. 169, which has been
adopted by the great wheat growing
, section of the northwest and has in
creased the aggregate yield by millions
of bushels. He has also been very
successful in breeding new varieties of
J, corn suitable for culture in the far
| northwest He is a man of tireless
{ industry, precise methods of work and
| a thoroughly scientific mind. He COM
: bines with the studious habits of the
scholar the directness and good judg-
, ment of the practical man of affairs
and is also reputed to possess execu-
! tive ability of unusual force
ALBERT ROSSITER.