The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-07-21
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
Van Ripper Exposes the Cotton Manip
ulators' Rascality.
Makes Sensational Disclosures, and
Shows How Holmes Was I'm.
hamporcd in His Work.

hamporcd in His Work.
A dispatch from New York says L
@. Van Ripper, whose name was men.
toned In Secretary Wilson'S report as
having received advance information
on the condition of the cotton crop,
made public statement after the
publication of Secretary Wilson'S re.
port Saturday In which he declared
that he had nothing whatever to do
With plans to manipulate the govern.
nent cotton report. He amplified
Secretary Wilson's report and called
upon the secretary to make public
Mr.. Van Rlper's entire statement to
him. Mr.. Van Riper's statement is
as follows:
1t came to my knowledge early In
the year, Without solicitation on nv
part. that plans were being laid to
tnf1ueEce or manipulate the figures of
| the government reports on cotton dur.
ing the summer months beginning
with June. 1t was planned by Ger.
tain interests, including parties in re.
Sponsible positions In the bureau Of
statistics, to use influence to have Mr..
Hyde sent to Europe so that Mr..
Homples would be actiLg mead of the
| bureau of statistics, and in this posi-.
| tion would have free hand to furn-
ish such reports as wanted.
was also cOgnjz mt of the fact
that said Holmes had previously furn
ished advance information to certain
| brokers from time to time, but when
their plans for changing or manipulate
ing the cotton report figures were ex.
posed to me, | Immediately consulted
my attorney regarding the matter,
aud upon his advice, listened to their
stories and kept track Of their plans,
In some cases having witnesses un-
known to them, until the June re-
port on acreage and condition on cot.
ton came out.
1t was planned, as early as March,
to use every effort they could to Sc.
cure figures that would be as bearish
as possible, so as to break the price Of
cotton to q low point where certain
Interests could make large profits on
the short side, and then load up and
make an enormous SCOOP on the long
side. 1t was understood that, IN some
cases, government agents reports
would be influenced In that direction
or even f1cticlouS reports used.
! 'Ol June l, l was informed that It
vas impossible to get the condition
h1gher than rs per cent. and the
acreage reduction to show decrease
Of less than 13 per cent, in spite Of
all they had tried to do, but that at
the re quest Of a certain large market
operator, the go between was going
back to Washington that night to try
and have the figures stretched little
further, and to my knowledge said
go-hetween took the 1916 train on
the~8altimore and Ohio railroad for
Washington on the night of June /,
Or rather the morning Of June 2.
On the ulorning Of June 81, said
go between reported that lie had sue
ceeded In arranging to have the con-
dition figures given II or higher and
the acreage reduction about 112 per
cent, which would be construed as
oearish and enable them to break the
market. l received this advice before
8 o'clock on June 81 and the public
knows what the figure were when an
rounccd at noon.
The notoriety attached to this
matter is far from agreeable to me,
and was personally assured by Sec
retary Wilson that in bringing this
matter to his attention had done the
department. a great service and that
ny name would not be mentioned in
any way. Now that he has seen Ii +
90 publish or to give out for publica.
tion certain letters and documents
that were entrusted to him confldeu.
tially, | think it only fair to ask him
to give for publication my entire
statement made to him, Of which the
above is. part, but which has been
omitted in newspaper accounts that
nave been called to my attention.
From what / know Of their vari-
Gus conversations and the plans that
we're laid months In advance, | be.
leve that thorough investigation OF
, the bureau Of statistics would show
} that the real acreage reduction was
j from 18 to 25 per cent and not II 3 az
l announced on June 3D.. I would Sug-
gcst, or ask, that further statemen,
be made or asked for from the agricul-
! tural department as to what they
found by Investigating the records O.
said bureau. AS long as part OF the
matter has been made public, why
, not the whole?
My attorney and others will bacl
me up In the statement that | hat
nothing to do with the plans made by
these parties TO manipulate the gov
ernnent figures, but merely on lega
advice and in the hope OF doing grea
public service, followed the plan a
outlined and advised by my attorney
and at the proper time took sucl
! measures as deemed right and JUS
: to the c,tton trade and TO the agricui
4 6ural Department..
= Shot Him Deau.
t Major General Count Shouvalofl