The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-22
Curious Obliquity Of Vision.

AS remarkable commercial editorial
as has appeared in print for long time
may be found in the current number of
the Cincinnati Price Current, under the
heading, "Attacks upon the Depart
ment of Agriculture and Results The
attacks referred to are those now being
directed against the bureau Of statis-
tics, wherein sat Edwin S. Holmes, Jr.s
bearing the title Of associate statisti.
clan and drawing the salary regularly,
and at the same time privately selling
out the important confidential informa-
ton with the collating Of which the
government had intrusted him. Holmes
is commonly credited with having made
a fortune. When his villainy at last
found him out, the head of the agri-
cultural department. having at first
made light Of the charges brought to
his attention, and it was disclosed that
thru Holmes Vaccinations the cotton
market had been seriously affected and
the price manipulated for the benefit of
his intimates, the attack upon the de-
partment followed, coming, the Price
Current would have it understood, from
"the spectators in agricultural prod
ucts who have for years been a seri-
ously disturbing element in official and
other efforts for securing and dissent
mating information concerning the
crops.' - ~ -. ~
Were it not that the Price Current
has been published since 1874, and, de-
spite conservatism suggestive of the
messy accumulation Of years, still main
tains a respectable standing in it's field,
the matter would scarcely be worth ex-
tended comment. But the failure or re-
fusal Of so old and ordinarily so fair a
publication to grasp the essential points
of this most important development of
the kind in many a year, is surprising.
Probably no one disputes the propo-
sition that the men who bought the in
formation from Holmes were equally
culpable, and that the man who offers a
bride is as bad as the man who takes it.
But to find Holmes pictured as man
whose ideals were the highest. who
having won his position thru practice
with honor until that arch fend, the
speculator, saw his innocence and came
and tempted him and he fell-t'i it is tt
laugh.' At least it would be to laugh
were it not so serious and so unfair.
We do not believe the commercial.
world doubts the honesty Of Mr.. Hyde
but Holmes was his immediate subordi
nate, and the fact that Hyde knew o.
suspected nothing Of what was goine
on does not speak rightly for his per
spicacity.
The fact Of it is that today an i'm
portant commercial element believes
there has been crookedness and corrup
tion in the department. far create
than yet disclosed. This may not b,
, the case, but the suspicion exists. Al
tho the scandal came out with refer
ence to the cotton report, allegation
are still being made that the Tobacco.
trust, thru arrangement with someon
inside, has long had access to confden
tial information respecting the report
!. covering the tobacco crop, and in Min
neapolis there has long been the sus
picion that the wheat reports hav
!, leaked. In short there has been enough
, brought to light to warrant fair
minded observer in harboring the sus
, picion that the reports have not onl,
been given out privately for money, bu
J that the figures have been doctored t
) suit the views Of certain cliques. TIL
department. has been injured beyon
: measure, odium has come over it, an
: other sickening illustration has bee:
afforded the world Of American dishon
8 esty and graft, and it may be doubte
| if, even within a decade, the depart
t ment can regain its former prestige
however honestly its statistical burea
Z may be conducted hereafter. Holme
brought this disho'Hor upon his office
!, and HYDE thru carelessness or incou