Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-19
CHIEF sTATISTIcIAN PLEADS
ILL HEALTH
TIRED OF BEING UNDER FIRE
says = Powerful Organization Has
Been Rent on Securing His Re-
tIrement but Events Have
VlndIcated Him
Nv Aseoclated Press.

WASHINGTON July 1S.-The resig-
nation Of John Hyde, statistician and
chief Of the bureau of statistics Of the
department of agriculture, was handed
to Secretary Wilson today and prompt
iy accepted. willett N. Hayes, the as
sistant secretary of agriculture, has
been placed in charge Of the bureau
temporarily.
Secretary Wilson and other officials
OF the department stated that Mr..
Hyde had not been implicated In any
manner In the irregularities that he
suited in the dismissal Of Edwin
Holmes, the associate statistician,
whom secret service operatives charged
with being guilty Of giving to brokers
advance figures of cotton crop statis-
tics. In his letter to the secretary Mr..
Hyde takes notice of the fact that he
will be criticised for resigning under
fire. and In defense says there has
never been a time when he was not
under fire. He declares that an or
sanization, meaning the cotton growers,
is bent upon getting him out of the
government service, and that his health
will not permit him to continue so
unequal struggle.
There is considerable speculation as
to the probable successor of Mr.. Hyde.
One name suggested is that Of B. W.
Snow of Chicago, statistician for well
known farm journals, who was assis-
tant statistician under ]. r. Dodge,
chief of the bureau. about twelve years
ago. Mr.. Dodge was in charge at the
time the present system of gathering
crop statistics was devised.
Henry Hestor, secretary of the New
Orleans Cotton exchange, in a CONVEX
sation with Secretary Wilson, contend
ed that the salary paid by the depart
ment is inadequate to get the right
kind Of men for the place.
Position Not Worth the Fight
Mr.. Hyde. in his letter of resignation,
says in part:
Dear Mr.. Secretary:
"During the last four years, or since
! succeeded in making the crop re-
ports of the department reasonably ae >
curate and correspondingly valuable
to the agricultural and commercial in
terests of the country, the administra-
ton of the office l have had the honor
to hold has been constantly under fire
from one side of the market or the
other. Five times it has been investi-
gated and on every occasion / hay e
been vindicated
I'm January, 1903, 1 was awarded
$2500 damages in a libel suit against
a prominent firm of cotton brokers by
jury Of their own friends and fellow
citizens. These results have been very
gratifying to me, but have the high
est medical authority for the statement
that the continued fight upon me has
already considerably shortened my life.
At the present time it is an accepted
fact that a powerful organization is
bent upon bringing about my retire
ment by one means or another. Now,
do not think the position hold is
worth the fight necessary to its reten-
tion, and the organization in question
is welcome to what satisfaction it can
derive from my withdrawal.
with much appreciation of the uni
form courtesy and kindness you have
shown me. and of the many tokens of
confidence I have received from you.
am most respectfully yours,
JOHN HYDE"
In accepting the resignation of Mr..
Hyde. Secretary Wilson said:
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your
resignation as statistician of this de-
partment. In accepting 1t / cheerfully
testify to the ability with which you
have discharged the heavy and difficult
duties of the office since you were frs.
appointed. The accuracy of your re-
ports have been recognized by the pub
lie generally, and l am glad to be able
to testify with regard to the charges
made against the integrity OF the
bureau Of statistics that no facts have
been brought to my attention impli-
eating YOU in any way. 1 regret that
failing health should compel you to
bring your work to an end"