The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-11
DID HOLMES LEAK
| TO WHEAT TRADERS
SUSPECTED GOVERNMENT Ex-
PERT WAS HERE LATELY.
Now that Disclosures Have Come in
Connection with "Inside Informa-
ton" on the Cotton Report, the
: Wheat Report Is Awaited with In
terest-Holmes Was Reticent Here.

Is a wheat bulletin exposure comingg
Has anyone in the department. of agri-
culture at Washington been giving out
advance information to wheat-market
speculators9
These are questions that are pertinent
in Minneapolis at this time. The regu-
lar July report, giving the condition Of
the wheat crop, will be issued at Wash
, ington late this afternoon, being .le
layed from yesterday, the regular date,
because of the closing of offices for the
funeral Of Secretary Hay.
This bulletin will give the condition
of the northwest spring wheat crop Of
July l. It has formerly been an I'M
portant guide to the trade. The sus-
picion that the favored few in the
trade may already know what it Will
show, or that it may even have been
luggled to suit the views of certain
powerful spectators, will rob it OF It's
value. 1t cannot be said that such sus-
pfcion is unwarranted, in view of recent
tow, with reference to the leaking out
Of the june cotton report, and the fur
ther intimations or insinuations OF tho
cotton growers association that the
figures were manipulated for the pur-
pose of bearing the market, or depress-
ing tho Price of cotton.
Holmes Here Recently.
Now that the big scandal is on that
promises TO shake the agricultural lie
partment to IT'S foundations, some mem.
bers Oh: the Minneapolis Chamber of
Commerce will remember that Edwin
S. Holmes, the disgraced associate
statistlc,!an of the department, was in
Minneapolis recently. Mr.. Holmes Wis
tied this city semi professionally, but be-
fore his last visit-not so very long age
6o haS hoan hora for tim
! When here last, Mr.. Holmes did not ap
pear on the trading floor, but during 9
stay of about two days, lounged around
the Offices of some Of the larger grair
| firms. J.
A Journal representative learned Of
the presence of Mr.. Holmes at that time
and knowing his important connection
with the department rounded him up
with a view to an interview with ref
erence to methods of statistical compil
alton, which would have been, of genera
interest to the grain trade. With eX
IRENE politeness Mr.. Holmes begged no
to be interviewed for publication. de
INJURED at being referred to officially
gave the impression that he was travel
ing privately, and explained that It we
contrary to departmental usages for
member of the statistical staff to appea
in print about anything pertaining t.
the department. .s-. .-.:.
Said s'Leaks'' Were Impossible.
Speaking privately however, and no
for publication, MI. Holmes dilated a
length upon the efficient work of tn
department. The question of the posi-
bility of a leak was raised by the news
paper man, and Mr.. Holmes readily an
most convincingly showed that such
thing as a leak. was impossible; tina
while the department had unbounde
confidence in it's staff the possibilit
Of leak was obviated by so Divers
fed distribution of the work that n
> two compilers knew what any other tw
:. were doing, and even the chief statisti
clan could not tell what report woul
show. until various reports came to hin
and upon finding the total it was alway
given Immediately to the Associate
Press. 3d. T..sEE E~s". p =.
The explanation was most .convincin.
: There was little nervousn ess, howeve
> about Mr.. Holiness manner, which ma
or may not have been caused by til
5 bringing up of such subject.
: would appear from comparison
!, dates, that some of the secret wor
1 for which Holmes was dismissed fro
. the service must have been in progre
3 about the time that he was so ably d
y Tending the department. in Minneapoli
Mr.. Holmes, who was accompanied /
! his son, is not one to come readily und
I height or under, of sandy complexio
q and rather reddish hair, always vel
s we'll dressed and of pleasing persons
q ity. He looks more like a high graz
q professional man, than like a man wi
u would sell the private departmental i
10 formation, or manipulate it in favor
u spectators, as has been charged.