Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-31
DEFENSE OF WILSON
Cotton Association Men Not
All in Accord.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION
VICE PRESIDENT PETERS DIsA-
GREEs WITH PRESIDENT JORDAN
Head of Agricultural Department and
President Roosevelt Confer-State-
ment From Holmes.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION

An important conference was held at
Oyster Bay today between President Roose-
welt and Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
on the subject Of the cotton crop report
leaks and other scandals in the Depart
ment of Agriculture. According to advces
received in Washington the President has
decided to leave the conduct of the inquiry
in the hands of the Secretary, first having
impressed upon him the necessity for a
thorough and exhaustive investigation, and
Tor a general house-cleaning in every bu-
reau OF the department where scandal,
fraud and irregularities are found.
the influence of this conference will un-
doubtedly be felt in Washington immedi-
ateiy upon the Secretary's return The
investigation that Is now under way will
be pushed with the utmost vigor, and the
Secretary, realizing that the President is
intensely in earnest in the matter, and
that the Department of Justice and the
secret service branch Of the Treasury De-
partment have received independent in
structions on the same subject, will un-
doubtedly do all in his power to make up
for lost time.
Like the Postal Scandals.
The present situation in the affairs Of
the Agricultural Department finds a par
allel In the postal service scandals.
In the Post Office Department, irregu-
lar1t1es were discovered first in the salary
and allowance division Allegations of
greater scandals were at once laid before
the late Postmaster General Payne, who
refused to give them credence. Many de-
mands for Mr.. Payne's resignation were
received from influential quarters, but the
President placed him in nominal charge of
the investigation. impressing upon him the
necessity for general and thorough IN
qulry. AS a consequence, there were but
few branches of the postal service in which
fraud and irregularities were not discov-
cred.
The investigation Of the Agricultural De-
partment will be just as rigid as that into
the affairs Of the postal service, and from
present indications 1t will be fully az pro-
ductive of results. 1t is not considered rea-
sonable to suppose that the first turning
over of the sod has uncovered all of the
Irregularities in. the Agricultural Depart
ment. and there Is no doubt In the minds
OF those conversant with the facts that
other and even more serious frauds will be
uncovered before the inquiry is a. an end
and the final report has been turned In.
Cotton Men Not in Accord.
An interesting feature of the present sit
uation lies in the fact that the Southern
Cotton Association-the medium through
which the first formal allega ations of fraud
in the bureau Of statistics were laid be-
fore Secretary Wilson'S not unit in the
demand for Secretary Wilson's resignation.
President Harvie Jordan and Secretary
Richard Cheatham of the Southern Cotton
Association have repeatedly stated that in
their opinion Secretary Wilson's recent
revelations in connection with the Depart
ment of Agriculture have indicated that
Secretary Wilson was entirely incompe-
tent. and they have called for his resigna-
ton.
In an interview sent out from Atlanta
Ga, yesterday President Jordan indicated
thot ha
President Roosevelt by the Southern Cot
ton Association and Secretary Wilson's res
ignation requested.
Today, however, Vice President E s.
Peters of the Southern Cotton Association,
who is In Washington, sent to Secretary
Wilson, at Oyster Bay, a telegram pro-
testing against President Jordan's state
ments in connection with Mr. Wilson's de-
sired resignation.
I'm reference to the interview of President
Harvie Jordon. published In the morning
papers in Washington today, l would say
l cannot indorse the same. The farmers
and cotton growers of the south have i'm
plicit confidence in your honesty and abil-
ity to purge the department of all grafters
and hope the President will let nothing in
terfere with the great work you are now
doing for them
President Jordan's Statement.
The statement by Mr.. Jordan which
aroused the ire or Vice President Peters
was follows:
''The charges preferred by the Southern
Cotton Association against certain high off,
cials in the bureau of statistics two months
ago have been fully sustained. and the de-
velopments in the scandal Investigations
proceed have startled and amazed the pro-
ducers and business interests of the entire
community. 1t has developed a condition
of graft in the Department of Agriculture
that might well be compared to official dis
n "a ad hn SAINT n1r, irfc
ration of certain governmental officials of
the Russia nempire.
The present head official of the De-
partment of Agriculture has proven a
stumbling block to the investigate
from its incipiency.
'As a result of these scandalous hap
penings in the Department of Agriculture
Secretary Wilson's resignation will be
absolutely necessary to inspire confidence
among the producers and the trade gem
orally in the Department of Agriculture
est and sincere. but it is quite evident
that he Is incompetent and that his days
OF usefulness to the department have
passed / am receiving a great many let
terS and communications insisting upon
Secretary Wilson's resignation.
The matter will be presented to Presi-
dent Roosevelt officially on the part of
our association. and Mr.: Wilson's resig-
nation will be requested. If the depart
ment is thoroughly reorganized, with
good and capable man placed at its head,
confidence can be restored, otherwise 1t
will not. The President is determined to
purify the department, and 1 am con-
WINGED that he can be fully depended
upon to safeguard the peoples interests
in the departments under his official con-
troll"
No Action by the Association.
Mr.. Peters said today:
There has been no action taken by the
cotton association looking to request for
Secretary Wilson's resignation. President
Jordan may be expressing his personal
ideas and I may now be expressing mine,
but the executive committee Of the asso-
citation has never considered a request for
the resignation Of Secretary Wilson. I am
assured that the farmers and the cotton
growers of the section west of the Mis-
sissippi Will never listen to such propo-
sition. In our opinion Secretary Wilson is
the only Secretary we have ever had.
THE tremendous influence OF the bureau
OF plant industry and entomology, depart
ments with which / am particularly con-
Yersant. Is eutirelY his work That work