The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-02
COTTON MEN CALI FOR Reform.
Outline Changes Deemed Necessary In
the Agricultural Department.


WARRINGTON, Aug. l.-Although it was
shown yesterday that the leading officers
Of the Southern Cotton Association are
divided among themselves in regard to
the question OF ousting Secretary Wilson
from his position at the head Of the Agri-
cultural Department, President Jordan and
Secretary Cheatham Of the association got
together to-day In an extraordinary adj
dress to the members OF that organization.
Mr.. Chatham Is the man who stirred up
the present investigation Of the Agrioul-
tural Department. He came out in an
interview to-day In which he intimated
that vics-Pfsaident Peters OF the assooia-
ton was working at cross purposes with tho
officers because his salary Of 5000 was
recently cut OF by order OF the assooia-
TONS executive committee. II Mr.. Jordan
and Mr.. Chatham have their way. the
Agricultural Department scandal will be
Investigated by Congress
Here is their address
THE members OF the association lave
been appraised through the public press
from day to day of the work done by the
officers Of the association at Was ington.
As a result of their charges the unreliability
of the reports Of the Department Of Agricul-
ture relating to the cotton crop has been
fully disclosed and the maladministration
of that Department under It's present head
has been made evident.
Following these exposures efforts arc
now being made to divert public attention
! from the main issue. which is the imper-
fections of the Department. toward an
attempted prosecution Of anybody who can
/. be found a. a scapegoat. Their punis h.
ment. oven II 1t Is accomplished, is Of
secondary importance as compared with
the reformation Of the system which has
made their performances possible. and the
purpose Of this address is to secure the CO.
operation Of the members Of this associa-
ton h influencing in every legitimate way
reformation Of the system and reorganiza-
ton of the Department.
The membership Of this association,
numbering nearly one million, includes the
/ producers Of the most valuable product
Of American agriculture. The cotton crop
Of the United States and its byproducts are
worth between $500 900 900 and 500 900 900
annually. It furnishes two-thirds OF our
annual trade balance and in its production
and manufacture employs many million
: individuals No other product Of the
United States is Of greater or of equal i'm
portance. The practical monopoly of cot
ton which America enjoys and the narrow
balance which has existed for years be-
tween sufficiency and scarcity in the worlds
I oottou supply render the cotton market
peculariy and acutely susceptible to the
reports Of the Department Of Agriculture
regarding the condition and prospect of the
cotton report.
T. AZ. nsr
duty devolves upon the members of the
association. We are less concerned with
what has been done by a few individuals
and the consequences to them, regrettable
"a that may b. than with such reformation
Of departmental methods as shall secure
for W Just and accurate reports in future.
Under the system at present in vogue, and
which promises to be undisturbed unless
public attention shall be aroused to the
need OF reform. the reports issued by the
Department OF Agriculture are In their last
analysis simply the individual opinion Of a
honor By which the value Of the cotton
Z crop may be and has been affected as
much as S7S 900 900 in single day.
sNo such power should be delegated to
any individual, or statistical board, except
under conditions which guarantee the
the most incompatible, expert and in
telligent opinion. arrived at by the appH-
( cation Of The most scientific methods and
safeguarded by the most scientific pre-
cautions.
1T is therefore urgently recommended
10 the members Of the Southern Cotton
Association that through their Representa-
tivee In Congress and by every other means
available to them they exert their influence
md that of the association toward securing
the immediate reorganization Of the Agr-
cultural Department. especially with ref
erence to its reports on the cotton crop,
and that their Representatives be requested
specifically to demand:
h Il. The establishment within the De-
uartment of Agriculture O! bureau
10 b known az the cotton bureau, charged
opeclally and solely with the duty Of re-
porting upon the cotton crop and all matters
homecoming that staple
d -. The appointment a. the head OF
= that bureau at an adequate salary Of q man
4 whose reputation and antecedents shall