The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-07-28
COTTON LEAK
BEFORE JURY
Probing Of Notorious Scandal is
Begun at Washington.
BROKERS ARE SUBPEANED
RumorS Of More Sensational Develop.
mentS Current Bottom of Affair
Yet to Be Reached.

The investigation Of the leakage o.
the cotton reports OF the depar.men
OF agriculture was begun at Washing
ton Monday by the federal grand jury
In accordance with the call of District
Attorney Beach, the jury assembled
and promptly entered upon the work
before 1t. As Mr.. Beach entered the
room he declined 10 express an op!n.
ion as 10 how long the inquiry would
continue, 10 state how many witnesses
would he called, or TO give any in
formation whatever except that he
would personally conduct the inves.
tigation. There were no witnesses
present when the jury was called to
order.
Persistent rumors Of new evidence
regarding the cotton leak, and of prob.
able disclosures equally as sensational
as those OF the past, are to be heard
in interested quarters. Anything like
official confirmation of such stories is
lacking; however, the grand jury in
vestigation was conducted with unus-
Tal secrecy, and nobody around the
department would talk.
Advices received in the city indi.
cate that the southern producers are
by no means as excited by the situa-
ton as ara the spectators, and some
others who have nothing TO do with
the growing Of the staple. Everybody
who has the best interests OF the
south at heart however. IS insisting
on a full and complete investigation,
and on the punishment OF the Grim.
inals responsible for the juggling AMI
leakage of the crop reports in the
past.
Mill Men See Wilson.
The delegation from the American
Cotton Manufacturers Association, ap.
pointed at the re. ent meeting at Char
lotte, y, c., to take up with Secretary
Wilson the question Of issuing a new
June cotton acreage report, called at
the department Of agriculture Monday
and were in lengthy conference win
the secretary
At the conclusion of the conference
Secretary Wilson gave out the follow.
ing statement:
"The department Of agriculture has
determined that the statistical board
shall meet Wednesday, June &c. TO con-
slider whether revision OF the cotton
acreage should be made from existing
data or from a new inspection and t.
make public their findings or esti-
mates at IL o'clock, on that date, or
the earliest convenient date thereaf-
ter"
The cotton men informally discussed
the question OF ordering a new report.
No representations Of inaccuracy were
made against the June report. and the
members OF the delegation appeared
satisfied with the decision OF the sec
rotary, announced in the statement Is
sued. The suggestion was made that
a weekly report of the condition Of
cotton should be issued, but IL was
not urged upon the department 1,
was said that most of the cotton men
realized that more frequent reports
cannot be had under the present APP
preparation for gathering crop stalls
tics.
Cotton Brokers Summoned.
Subpenas requiring the presence on
several New YORK cotton brokers be.
fore the grand fury we're issued Mon.
4sy. The attendance OF those named
IA The subpeass is required in Wash.
3nbton before the end Of the present
,month.
IA fadera1 oaciaI said that all the
men upon whom subpenas have been
SsTved have made statements, both
signed and sworn, in which they tell
all they know OF the so-called cotton
scandal II was upon these statements
forwarded TO washington that District |
Attorney Beach caused the subpenas
to be issued. when, where and be /
fore whom the statements were made
could not be learned.