The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-07-14
StatiStician Hyde'S Assistant Sold
Information to Brokers.
DISCHARGED FROM OFFICE
Secretary Wilson Makes a Long AMI
Detailed Statement OF whole Affair.
No Ground for Prosecution.

oCINlO0 dktnlo llNO NNG CudIBtS uldut
by Richard Cheatham, secretary OF
the Cotton Planters Association, thai
information had been given to cotton
brokers in New York by some per.
son or persons In the bureau OF sta.
tlstics, department Of agriculture, Sec
rotary Wilson Saturday made public
an official report in which he states
that Edwin S. Holmes, the associate
statstician. has been guilty of Jug.
Cling" the Official report. The report
says:
ut has been found that Mr. Holmes
communicated valuable information to
T. c. Van Ripper, New York broker,
and NJ. Haas Of New York, who act
ed as a go-between in conveying the
information from Holmes TO other
New York brokers, including Theo-
dore Price. Steps have been taken
by Secretary Wilson to prevent any
further leakage of the department fig.
u!es and an entire reorganization OF
the bureau of statistics and manner
OF preparing monthly crop reports
has been outlined by him. The pa
pers in connection with the investlga.
ton were referred to the United
States attorney for the District OF
Columbia and he has reported that
In his opinion a criminal prosecution
will not lie against Holmes. Holmes
has been dismissed from the service
o. the department"
According to the report, Wilson
Judd OF New York, formerly In the
employ of L. n. Van Ripper, induced
the latter to tell OF his connection
with Holmes and then gave the infor'
nation to Mr.. Cheatham. Van Ripper
became the principal witness In the
investigation conducted by the secret
service and said he was induced TO
communicate the fact that advance
information was given out by Holmes
because he had heard that Holmes
, and his associates had Intended 10
try to manipulate the June cotton re.
port. Using this information as
foundation. the secret service agents
interviewed numerous persons who
had been mentioned by Judson and
Van Riper as we'll as gathering
mass OF correspondence. including
many letters written by Holmes to
Van Ripper and others. The report
made to Secretary Wilson and the
secretary's comments, together with
the details OF the new plan OF con
d1Hcting the bureau OF statistics,
males more than 1000 words. 1t re-
views the entire investigation, begin
! ming with the charges that were laid
before Secretary Wilson by Mr..
Cheatham several weeks ago.
/ After reviewing the charges Secre'
/ tary Wilson gives a summary OF the
testimony adduced before secret ser
vice agents. Mr.. Van Ripper, the New
York broker, under examination, SAID
he beaame acquainted with Holmes IN
New York in August, 1904. through
a mutual friend" According 10
this testimony Holmes told Van RI
per he could get information CON
corning the government crop report
principally through the report OF tho
general agents and the report OF the
state agent. Van Ripper said Holmes
furnished the information from time
10 time for several months In advance
O, the publication OF Official figures
and that information furnished by
Holmes correspondent exactly with
the hglres afterwards published as
the Official crop report.
It was planned by certain inter
ests, Including parties in responsible
position in the bureau OF statistics
70 use influence 20 have Mr.. Hyde
sent 10 Europe so that Mr.. Holmes
would be the acting head OF th'
bureau OF statistics, and in this po
sltion would have free hand q
furnish such reports as were wanted
According 10 the new plan outIlned
by Secretary Wilson 70 govern tho
prepara;lon Of monthly reports OF the
bureau OF statistics, the general spc
clal field agents and state agents VII
report on the successive crops a.
rsctly 10 the secretary or acting sec
retary OF agriculture. These reports
will remain sealed in the custody
NJ these officers until the day th'
ofBcIal report Is to be made.
olmstead Succeeds Holmes
II OirnuNaaI has been an