The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-01
TO HAVE new men
Secretary Wilson Is in No Way
Discouraged
BY Recent Developments in His
Department.
PROUD OF HIS WORK.
He Will Clean Up and Then Go
Ahead.
Expects to Come West in a Short
Time.


Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. 1.-Secre-
tary Wilson will reorganize thoroughly
the crop statistics bureau of the de-
partment of agriculture, according to
information here Already he is seek
ing men of character, standing and
education to conduct the work of the
bureau-men in whom the farmers
and growers of the country will have
implicit confidence and who will place
the reports of the bureau on a stand
ard of excellence never heretofore
achieved. One man he has found, al
though he does not at this wish to
publish his name. The other three he
hopes to secure in a short time. Two
of them will be southern men and both
will be experts in cotton and tobacco
statistics.
This, in brief, is one of the ideas
President Roosevelt.
At the conclusion of his conference
with the president Secretary Wilson
talked frankly about some phases of
the work in his department. He was
asked whether there was any lkeli-
hood of his early REIMBURSEMENT of his
portfolio as secretary of agriculture.
He replied with a smile:
DO you remember the story Of An
drew Fairservice in Sir Walter Scott
Rob Roy?' Andrews master was go
ing to discharge him. In fact, he told
him to go. Andrew said: I won't
CO. Why not?' asked the master.
Because 1 won't replied Andrew.
"'Well, you are discharged de-
clared the master.
"I won't CO., retored Andrew. If
you don't know when you have good
servant, I know when 1 have good
master
Has Built Up Department.
I1o1
case" continued the secretary, but it
serves to illustrate the situation. I
have not been asked to go, and I am
not intending to resign. am going to
stick to my post and continue to build
up that great department. You will
recall that when 1 went there I found
pra ctically nothing but a few ro1ltop
desks and a half dozen half starved
scientists. Since that time we have
built up an important branch of the
government. The agricultural depart
ment today is a great department and
1 may say it is as sound as nut We
are trying every day to make it better.
Since L took charge of it 27S people
have been let out of its service for
various reasons, many of them on
charges of one kind or another. We
make it point to keep only first class
men and women. The purpose of the
Investigations now in progress is to
purge the department of all SelfShneSs
and corruption, and that end will be
accomplished. 1t is my purpose and
| it is the purpose of the president.
mo, have not the slightest idea of re-
signing continued the secretary. 81 see
| Mr. Jordan, president of the Southern Cot
| ton Growers association, is demanding
my resignation in an interview published
| today Now, I haven't a thing to say
about Mr.. Jordan. He may say what he
pleases about me- That his own people
| do not agree with him, however, is evil
denccd by a telegram which l have just
received-in fact, you saw me open il
| here. Here It is:
Washington, July 81, 1905.
90 TO Hon. James Wilson, Oyster Bay.
s" Dear Sir-In reference to the inter
view of President Harvie Jordan, pub
Iished this morning. in the Washington
Post I would say that cannot indorSt
! the same. The farmers and cotton grow
| ers of the south have implicit confidence
1 in your honesty and ability to purge the
department of all grafters and they hope
| the president will not interfere with this
| great work you are now doing for them.
| IS. Z. PETERS,
vice President Southern Growers Asso
| ciation.'
| II have no intention of becoming in.
yolved in a newspaper controversy witt
! Mr. Jordan or anybody else. I have m.