The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-08-09
An ADDRESS
In Which Attention is Called to
the Cotton Scandal.
ISSUED TO MEMBERS

of the Southern Cotton Association Id
Reference te the Recent Disclosu''
&C of Fraud in the National Ag-
riculiural Department ano
Work Accomplished.
President Jordan and Secretary
Chesthsm Of the Southern Cotton as
sociat:on Tuesday issued statement
addressed to the members Ct the asso,
citation calling attention to the recent
disclosures in the cotton statist.ca'
work In the department. OF agricul-
tu-e, declaring that efforts are being
made to divert attention from the
deficiencies" Of the system itself to
the thiev1ng propspsities CT few IN
worthy officials and setting forth de-
mandS to DO made On congress TO re-
form conditions. The statement 1ol-
lows:
ITO the Members Of the Southern
Cotton Association:
THE members Of the association
have been apprised through tie pubic
press from Gay to day Of the work Gone
by the officers Of the association at
washington. As a result Of their
charges the unreliabiliry Of the reports
Of the department OF agriculture re-
lating to the cotton crop has been ful,
ly disclosed, and the ual.administra'
tion OF that.departnent under its pres
ent head had been made evident.
Following these exposures, efforts
are now being made to divert public
attention from the main issue, which
is, the inperfsctions Of the depart.
ment, toward an attempted prosecu-
tion OF anybody who can be found
as a scapegost. Their punishment,
even II it Is accomplished, is OF second
ary Importance as compared with the
reformation CT the system which has
made their performances possible, and
the purpose Of this address is to secure
the cooperation Of the members OF this
association in influencing in every
legitimate way a reformation OF the
system, and a reorganization OF the
department.
The membership Of this assccia-
tion. numbering nearly 100000, In.
cluded the producers Of the most Vaiu-
able product OF American agriculture.
The cotton crop Of the United States,
and its by. products is worth between
$500 900, coo and 500, 900, 600 annual
II. It furnishes two-thirds OF our an
nual trade balance, and in it's produc-
tion and manufacture employs many
million individuals. No other product
OF the United States IS Of greater or
Of equal Importance. TIE practical
monopoly OF cotton which America
enjoys, and the narrow balance which
has existed for years between sufh
cheney AID scarcity in the worlds cot
ton supply, render the cotton market
peculiarly and acuteiy susceptible to
the re ports OF the department. OF az
riculture regarding the condition and
prospects Of the cotton crop.
Under the present circumstances a
great duty devolves upon the members
OF the association. We are less con-
cerned with what has been done hy 3
few individuals and the consequences
thereof, regrettaole as that they may
be, than with sucn reformation OF de-
parsmental methods as shsu secure
for US jlst sn6 accurate reports In
future. Under the system at present
In vogue, and which promises to be
undisturbed unless public attention
shall be aroused to the need OF reform,
the reports issued by the department
Of agriculture are, in their last analy-
sis simply the individual cpicion OF a
few officials Of doubtful experience and
honor by which tie value OF the cotton
c1op may be, and has been, affected rs
much as s75, 900, 900 in single cay.
mo such power should be Gelegao-
ed to any individual, or statistical
board, except under COZ d.tions which
gusrsntee The most iEcorruptlole ex,
pert and intelligent opinion, arrived
at by the application Ct the most
scientific methods and safeguarded by
the most scientific precautions. IL IS,
therefore, urgently recommended to
the members CT the Southern Cotton
association that through their rapre-
sentatives in congress, and by every
other means available to them, they
exert their influence and that OF the
association toward securing the I'M
mediate reorganization OF the agrlcui'
tural department, especially with re-
ference to its reports oo the COTTON
crop, and that their representatives IL
congress be requested specifically t.
demand: () Tue establishment with
in the department Of agriculture OF
bureau. to be known as the cotton
bureau, charged specially and solely
with the duty Of reporting upon the
cotton crop and all matters concern
ing that staple. (2) the appointment,
as the head Of that bureau, at an aoe
ouate salary, OF a man whose repuoa
lion and antecedents shall % beyonc
reproach, and whose familiarity WITT
cotton cultivation shall be 81 addi
tioral guarantee Of bis fitness. 81 al
organization Of the bureau 50 es5ao
lished upon thoroughly scientific lines
as will insure no possible bias lr!1aYo
of either buyer or seller, or produce
or manufacturer can be pre- suppose'
or asserted. a The passage OF ia7
that will be more specific in its scope
snd under which government enploye
can be prosecuted for giving away 0
selling valuable information as ma
neen done in the statistical bureau.
I'VE have no doubt OF the zeal Q
the ofScers Of the department., but /
seems to be as mlsdliec5eo IN 5hi
IT,, ~ SonnSnnf n5I