Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-07-11
INSIDE TIP GIVEN
COTTON BROKERS
Government Statistics On Cot.
ton Crop Leaks Out.
IN LEAGUE WITH THE BROKERS'

This Outcome 10 the Result OF an, In
vestisatlOn Started by the cotton
Plsntsrs' Association, WlO Cha, 9ed
that Information Leaked Out.
Washington, July 10.-As result Of
the investigation by secret service
agents into the charges made by Rico.
ard Cheatham secretary OF the Cotton
Planters association, that information
had been given to cotton brokers in
New York by some person or persons
In the bureau Of statistics, department
Of agriculture, Secretary Wilson today
made public an official report in which
he states that Edwin S. Holmes, the
associate statlstician has been guilty
OF Juggling" the official report. The
report says:
1T has been found that Mr.. Holmes
communicated advance information 10
l.. c. Van Ripper, New York broker,
and NJ. Haas, OF New York, who acted
as a go.between in conveying infor-
nation from Holmes to other New
York brokers, including Theodore
Price. Steps have been taken bytSec.
rotary Wilson to prevent any funher
leakage OF the department figures and
an entire reorganization OF the bu-
reau OF statistics and manner Of pre-.
pairing notify crop reports has been
outline yhim The papers IN con-
nectiOu with the investigate nweks re-
ferred to the United States attorney
for the District OF Columbia and he has
reported that In his opinion a Grim.
inal prosecution will not lie against
Holmes. Holmes has been dismissed
from the service Of the department
According 10 the report Wilson
Judd Of New York. formerly In the
employ OF l.. n. Van Ripper induced the
latter TO tell OF his connection with the
latter TO tell OF his connection with
Holmes and then made the Information
to Mr.. Cheatham. Van Ripper became
the principal witness In the lnyest'ga.
ton conducted by the secretary ser.
vice and said he was oinduced to com.
municate the fact that advance iniur-
nation was given out by Holems be-
cause he had heard that Holmes and
his associates had intended to try TO
manipulate the June cotton report
Using this information as a founda.
ton, the secret service agents inter.
viewed numerous persons who had
been mentioned by Judson and Van
Ripper as well as gathering a mass of
correspondence including many letters
written by Holmes TO Van Ripper and
others. The report made to Secretary
Wilson and the secretary's coiNments.
together with details OF the neW plan
OF conducting the bureau OF statistics.
makes more than 1000 words. II re-
views the entire investigation begin.
min gwith the charges that were laid
before Secretary Wilson by Mr.. Cheat.
ham several weeks ago. The charges
by Mr.. CheathAm were backed up with
certain evidence that information had
been given 20 cotton brokers In New
York by some person or persons IN.
ployed in the bureau OF statistics. ri.
alive to the acreage and condition oi
the cotton crop Of the United States
prior To the oficiRl publication OF the
Information and that the crop hgure-
had been tempered with In the depart.
meut in the Interests OF certain cot on
spectators. Secretary Wilson de.
termlned once upon q thorough Invest
CATION and furnished to ofhcers of the
United States secreS service all OF tts
evidence which Ia dbeen given 70 the
department Agents then were put in
touch with MT CheatAAm and direct
ed TO use ever, possible effort TO az
certain Whether there had been n leNk
In the department. and II 70 70 furnish
the secretary with the name OF the per
son or persons responsible Helnes
10 the only empaoye 81 the roveFAmsu,
who has beeu fonnd 20 have had any
oOssnectiOn Win snpplyiAG lnformsilos
to hrOeers DriuE % "a pnhllenilpn q
he ofaulal repprf
anRg fermN's1 ~
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