The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-07-21
GANG RAPED
BY ROOSEVELT
President Gives Explicit Orders to
Probe Cotton Leak Scandal.
A CAUSTIC ARRANGEMENT
Crooked Work of Holmes Designated as
Worse Than Stealing. Instructions
to the Attorney General.

President Roosevelt hiss determined
that the sCaadal growing out OF the
90. ton report leaks in the department
Of agriculture sal lie proLed to the
bottom. He holds tha, the man or
men responsible Tor the leaks are
even in a & eater degree culpable
than they would nave Leen had they
stolen money outright from tAe gov.
ernn.en,. He proposes tina. Assistant
StatistiCian Holmes, against whom Sc.
rious all, sat ons are maze. shall be
punished If il shall be found possible
10 secure his arrest AM conviction
under present laws.
The president has followed the
work o; the investigation conducted
by Sec:e airy Wilson wi keen inter.
est. The general results have been
presen ed TO him, to- etler with suSh
recommendations as Secretary VII.
son had TO maze. The pres dent took
prompt ami decisive tctiCn. He re.
ferrel the mat e. TO tie department
Of Justice, tn ins;rCc logs that 1t
should be given immediate and care
full attention. In a, cordanCe with
that order, Solicitor General Holt is
making a tho:oIgh inquiry into the
case.
To reinforce his formal order, Pres
ident Roosevelt wfoe the following
pointed letter to Attorney General
Moody:
my Dear Mr.. Moody; | most earn.
estly hope every eGort will be made
TO bring Holmes TO justice IN Connee.
ton with the cotton report scandal.
Please go over the papers yourself.
The man is, in my judgment, a far
greater scoundrcl than II he hal s'o..
en- mOrey from the government. as
he used the government to deceive
outsiders and TO make money for him.
self and for others. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
In response to The pres dent let.
ter, Attorney General Moody replied;
Boston Mass, july Il. 1905. Dear
Mr.. President: have received your
letter July y, and note with care the
anxiety you express that Holmes, the
offending Cmoih in the cot on case,
be brought to Justice, If possible.
have kept, through spondence
with the solicitor iCncra', in close
touch with this iuyestEation. II
shall receive my mos, earnest per.
sonal attention. | VIII not now ex.
press an opinion, as think it better
to await the result OF some invesiga.
lions now in progress in the depart
ment OF justice. Al the first season.
able moment, will communicate TO
you the progress We have made and
the prospect Of Ind ctments. Very re.
specially, WILLIAM II. MOODY"
Cotton Men In Conference.
Harvir Jordan, president Of the
Southern Cotton Association arrived
in Washington Saturday, and imme.
diately went into conference with
Richard Cheathem. score airy OF tho
same association, and Henry G.. Hes.
ter, secretary Of the New Orleans
cotton exchange. who are al the cap
ital in connection with the probing
The cotton men met at the rooms
OF Colonel Hester. at the Ebbtt
House. None OF hem would state
tho character OF the business under
consideration beyond saying that the
officials OF the two organizations in
every way possible will assist the
Investigation OF tho charges which
are being conducted by the depart.
ment Of justice.
New Acreage Report Ordered.
Secretary Wilson was In lengthy
conference Saturday night with
Messrs. Jordan ana Hester. az a
result OF which Il has been decided
10 issue a new cotton acreage report
to take the place OF the report Issued
in June, provided there are SUFFICIENT
funds available TO 90 the work.