The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-07-20
AFTER LEAK GANG
President Orders Probe Run
Deep Into Cotton Scandal.
CALLED BIG SCOUNDRELS
Wrong Designated as Far Greater
Than Outright Stealing-Attorney
General Moody Receives En-
phatic instructions.

phatic instructions.
President Roosevelt has determined
that the scandal growing out of the
cotton report leaks in the department
Of agriculture shall be probed to the
bottom. He holds that the man or
men responsible for the leaks are
even in a greater degree culpabie
than they would have been had they
stolen money outright from the gov
ernment. He proposes that Assistant
Statistician Holmes, against whom Sc
ricus allegations are made, shall be
punished if it shall be found possible
to secure his arrest and conviction
under present laws.
The president has followed the
work of the investigation conducted
by Secretary Wilson with keen inter.
est. The general results have been
presented to him, together with SUN
recommendations as Secretary W.
son had to make. The president took
prompt and decisive action. He re-
ferred the mat er to the department
of Justice, with instructions that it
should be given immediate and care
full attention. In accordance with
that order, SolE;tor General Holt is
making a thorough inquiry into the
case. .-.,..-a... ........... 4..-.
To reinforce his formal order, Pres
ident Roosevelt wrote the following
pointed letter to Attorney. General
Moody:
"My Dear Mr.. Moody: most earn
estly hope every effort will be made
to bring Holmes to justice in connec-
ton with the cotton report scandal.
Please go over the papers yourself.
The man is, in my judgment, far
greater scoundrel than if he had stol-
en- money 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 presidents let
ter, Attorney. General Moody replied:
Boston, Mass, July IA, 1905.-Dear
Mr.. President: have received your
letter July IL, and note with care the
anxiety you express that Holmes, the
offending official in the cotton case,
be brought to justice, if possible. I
have kept, through correspondence
with the solicitor general, in close
touch with this investigation. It
shall receive my most earnest per-
sonal attention. I will not now ex-
press IAN opinion, as I think it better
to await the result of some invess1ga.
tions now in progress in the depart
ment iof justice. At the first season.
able moment, will communicate to
you the progress we .have made and
the prospect of indictments. Very re-
specially, WILLIAM H. MOODY"
Cotton Men in Conference. ."-
Harvie Jordan, president of the
Southern Cotton Association arrived
in Washington Saturday, and imme-
diately went into conference with
Richard Cheatham, secre ary OF the
same association, and Henry G. Hes
ter, & secretary of the New Orleans
cotton exchange, who are at the cap
ital lin connection with the probing
Tie cotton men met at the rooms
Of Colonel Hester, at the Ebbitt
House. None of them would state
the character of the business under
consideration beyond saying that the
officials of the two organizations in
every way possible will assist the
investigation of the 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 and Hester, as a
result OF which it has been decided
to issue a new cotton acreage report
to take the place of the report issued
in June, provided there are sufficient
funds available to do thu work.