The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-07-13
COTTON LEAK SCANDAL
Believed President Will Put Attorney
General on Case.
SECRETARY WILSON wILLNOTRETRACT
II Is Understood That Attorney -0enersI Moody
VIII Review the Report Of the Secret Ser.
vice Officers and the Evidence Already 10
Possession Of Secretary James Wilson, Of
the Department of Agriculture.

Washington, d. c. (SpcciaD .-Prcsi-
dent Roosevelt will take hand in the
cotton leak scandal in the Department
of Agriculture. 1t is understood here
that he will direct Attorncy-Gencral
Moody to rceiew the report of the Sc
cret Service officers and the evidence al
ready in possession of Secretary James
Wilson, of the Department of Agricult-
urc. When this, action will be taken
is not known, btR it is anticipated that
the President will manifest his interest
in the disclosures quick enough 10 fore
Stall the demand which it is believed tho
Southern Cotton Growers Association
will make for further and sweeping ac
ton.
Mr.. Richard Chcaiham, the secretary
of that association. who first presented
the charges to Secretary Wilson, left
here for Atlanta, Ga. TO make a re-
port on the whole matter TO the associa-
ton. Mr. Chcaiham is not satisfied with
the way in which the investigation has
been handled and does not believe il
WIS EiNCu tuC iutiNSl DoSSlDlC ldtlluut
After Secretary Wilson issued his state
ment of Saturday, telling about the ac-
ton of Mr. Beach on the Secret Service
report. Mr.. Chcatham was on tho verge
of hurryiug to Oyster Bay to bring the
matter Immediately To the attention of
Mr.. Roosevelt. On second thought he
changed his mind and concluded to lay
the case before the Cotton Association
nj
Secretary Wilson is standing pat upon
the action already taken by the Depart
ment of Agriculture He declines TO
apologize TO Mr. Theodore H. Price. the
New York cotton Spcctlaior. on account
of the mention Of the lattcr's name in
Saturdays official statement and the in
timation that Mr.. Price benefited by the
cotton-crop leaks. Secretary Wilson
said he came TO this conclusion after
serious consideration of the complaint
made by Mr. Prices attorney. and dc
clarcd that he would he glad if legal
proceedings were instituted. such as
would bring about searching judicial
inquiry.
When he was asked whether he in
tended to make 4 retraction in favor Of
MIR. Price, Secretary Wilson said:
public statement or private statement.
either of the character demanded by Mr..
Price and his attorney. | told them so
last night, and they know exactly how
| feel about it. Mr. Price asked me
yesterday TO sign u statement which he
himself had prepared, and ! emphatic
ally refused 20 obige him. The state
ment was one cXonerating him of any
crop report.
He endeavored to convince me that
the statement / gave out Saturday con-
corning the result of the investigation
lbeled him and that he would have re-
course against me i'll the law He said
he could prove, moreover, that he was in
no way implicated with Associate Stat
iStician Holmes, whom | have dismiss
ed, but | replied that | would not hang
a pointer dog for sucking eggs on the
testimony of brokers who were trying
to corrupt a public official"
Concerning the structures passed upon
him by l.. c. Van Aiper for alleged
breach OF confidence and of the criticism
OF Richard Chcatham. secretary of the
Southern Cotton Association, Secretary
Wilson said:
Why. Van Riper himself filed a state
ment with the department which he
had sworn TO, that statement being am
piihed later by verbal testimony in my
office. Furthermore, Mr.. Cheatham put
us onto Mr. Price, and fail TO sec why
he should be so put out because the
brokers name was mentioned in the re-
port If these men do no; want TO get
the rough side of my tongue they had
hiatt L.