Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-02
COTTON MEN BEMANDREFORM
Southern Association officers Make Charges
Against Agricultural Department.
ASK FOR SEPARATE COTTON BUREAU
Allegation that Present Methods of
Gathering statistics Are Innccur-
ate and OmcinIs Compiling
Them COrrupa.

NASHlNGTON, Aug. l.-Fresident JORDAN
and Secretary Cheatham OF the Southern
Cotton association today issued a state
ment addressed to the members of the as
ISOLATION calling attention to the recent
disclosures in the cotton statistical work in
the Department of Agriculture, declaring
that efforts are being made to divert at
tention from the deficiencies" of the sys-
TEN itself Ito the thieving propensities OF a
few unworthy officials" and setting forth
demands to be made on congress to reform
conditions. The statement I'm part follows:
To the Members of the Southern Cotton
Association: The members of the assocta-
tion have been apprised through the pub
lie press from day to day of the work done
by the officers OF the association at WASH
ington. AS result of their charges the
unreliability Of the reports OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture relating to the cotton
crop has been fully disclosed and the mall
administration of that department under
its present head has been made evident.
Under the present circumstances great
duty devolves upon the members OF the
association. We are less concerned with
what has been done by a few individuals
and the consequences thereof, regrettable
as they may be- than with such reforma-
tion of departmental methods as shall Sc
cure for us just and accurate reports In
future. Under the system at present in
vogue, and which promised to be undis-
aroused to need of reform, the reports Is
sued by the Department of Agriculture are,
opinion of a few officials of doubtful ex-
perience and honor, by which the value OF
the cotton crop may be and has been az
fected as much as S5,OOOOO in a single
day.
Ask for Cotton Bureau.
No such power should be delegated to
any individual or statistical board except
under conditions which guarantee the most
incorruptible, expert and intelligent opin-
ion, arrived at by the application OF the
most scientific methods and safeguarded
by the most scientific precautions. 1t Is
therefore, urgently recommended TO the
members of the Southern Cotton assocla-
tion that through their representatives In
congress and by every other means avail,
able to them they exert their influence and
the immediate reorganization of the Agri-
cultural department, especially with REFER
ence to it's reports on the cotton report
and that their representatives in congress
be requested specifically to demand:
l. The establishment within the Depart
ment of Agriculture Of bureau TO be
known as the cotton bureau charged
specially and solely with the duty of report
ing upon the cotton crop and all matters
2. The Appointment at the head of the
bureau at an adequate salary, man whose
reputation and antecedents shall pc beyond
reproach and whose familiarity with cotton
cultivation shall be an additional guaran-
tee of his fitness
8. An organization of the bureau so es-
tablished upon thoroughly scientific lines
as will insure no possible bias In favor OF
either buyer seller on producer or man
utaCturer can De supposed OF asserted
4. The passage Of a law that will be more
specific in its scope and under which gov
ernment employees can be prosecuted Tor
giving away or selling valuable information
as has been done in the statistical bureau
"RefOrm at the Top"
We have no doubt of the zeal of the off,
GERS of the department, but II seems to be
as misdlrected in this crisis as 1t was in the
influence of the department, OF the lawyers
and of every man OF the government seems
to be devoted to the attempt to dragnet a
lot of irresponsible spectators. That there
have been for years leaks in the depart
ment is we'll known to the trade as the
existence Of the department itself; but these
are Insignificant as compared with the
fundamental mismanagement. At this time,
however, there Is manifest endeaver to
divert attention from the radical errors and
deficiencies of the department itself to the
thieying propensities of few unworthy
officials. Let us not be misled by any such
misdirected energy Let us reform at the
top and not on the side. Let us root out
the offenders, cleanse the personpel, change
the methods and renoVate the department
from root to branch. Then the cause OF
cotton and good government will alike be
served in Rooseyeltian fashion.
(Sgned) HARVIE JORDAN, President.
Southern Cotton Association.
RICHARD CHEATHAM, Secretary.
Wilson Not Disturbed.
Secretary Wilson said today that he was
not disturbed by the demands made by
certain officials of the Southern Cotton as
sociation and that he heartily approved
of the expressed intention of President
Jordan of the association to go to President
Roosevelt with his demands
'I have reported my course to President
Roosevelt" added Secretary Wilson, 'and
| have not taken President Jordan into
my confidence. President Roosevelt knows
what is going on in the department: Jordan
does not. Yes, ! hope Jordan will carry his
| demands TO Oyster Bay"