The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-25
CHEATHAM CONFIDENT
THINKS CHARGES OF COTTON
 GROWERS WILL BE SUSTAINED.
Secretary of Association still In Wash fnEtOn and Calls an Mir. Will son--Investigation of
 the "Leaks."
Advertiser Bureau,
 1925 c. St., NV 1.


 Washington, June 24.
 T feel that practically every charge preferred by the Southern Cotton Crow CTS Association against the Depart ment of Agriculture concerning leaks in the Bureau of Cotton Statistics and the manipulation of figures has been sustained" said Secretary Richard Cheafham tonight While the report on the Investigation will probably not be ready for publication for several days yet, I am confident that enough has been found to warrant me in say ing that abuses complained of will be remedied and the cotton interests Of the country greatly benefited thereby"
 Mir. Cheatham returned to Washing ton today after an absence of ten days, during which time he visited New York, Atlanta and New Orleans. Soon after his arrival MT. Cheatham called at the ofice of the Secretary of Agri- culture, Wilson, where he had pro- tracted conference with that official The latter told him that the investiga- ton was being pursued by secret ser vice agents whom he had instructed to 20 into every phase of the problem.
 Tn thiS connection I desire to say, continued Mir. Cheatham, that Secre- tary Wilson has acted nobiy through out the entire investigation and Is sim cerely interested in arriving at the true status of affairs, regardless of who may be affected thereby. I am satisfied that Mir Wilson never suspected wrong -do- ing in his department. else he would have instructed a thorough investiga- tion long ago upon his own initiative. The fact is his own honesty of purpose prevented him from suspecting wrong in others.
 Discussing the probable system adopt ed in the alleged manipulation of the oaffoa ranOrfS in giving ont advance information. Secretary Cheatham sad he doubted that money was used as direct bribe He thought the New York brokers who profited by this advance Information would make deals for the person or persons in the Department, the latter being put on the right side of the market in consideration for their tips. Mir. Cheatham does not make this statement upon definite knowledge, but adavnces 1t as a theory.
 Chief Statistician Hyde. who was or dered back to Washington from Liver pool two weeks ago, had not arrived late this afternoon. Secretary Wilson cabled Mir. Hyde to return to Wash ington immediately after it had been decided to make a thorough investiga- ton of the charges against the Depart ment of Agriculture. As stated before, MT. Hyde Is not suspected of wrong doing in the premises, but his presence is desired because 1t Is in his branch of the service that the probe has been applied. The impression still prevails here that Edwin S. Holmes, Jr., who was recently suspended from the Bu- reau of Statistics pending the conclu- sion of the report of the secret service agents, will not be reinstated.
 MT. Cheatham said tonight that he felt absolutely certain that Holmes was out of the service for good.
 "when the report In question is made public I believe the contention of the Southern Cotton Growers Asso- citation will be more than substantl- ated, the actual disclosures that have been going on being worse than we thought" concluded Mir. Cheatham.
 Until the report shall have been con cluded and submitted Mir. Cheatham will remain in Washington
 B. H. Watkins,