The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-18

fcerS Of tic Southern Cotton Asso-
ciatior Will Assist in the Exami,,a-
ton of the Charges.
Oyster Fay, July 15..-- Presidcnc
Roosevelt has determined that the
scandal growing out Of The reports IN
the department OF agriculture shall be
probed 20 the bottom. He holds that
the men responsible for the leaks are
even IL a greater degree culpable Than
they would have been had they stolen
money outright from the government
He proposes that Assistant Statistician
Holmes, against whom serious aIlega-
tions are made, shall be punished if Il
shall be found possible to secure his
arrest and conviction under present
laws.
The President has followed the WORK
Of the investigation conducted by Secre-
tary Wilson with keen interest Tie
general results Rave been presented TO
him together with such recommended
tions as Secretary Wilson had to make
The President took prompt and decisive
action. They referred the matter
to the department of justice with i'll
structions that it should be given i'm
mediate and careful attention. In ac-
c0rdance with that order Solicitor Cen
eral HOyt is now making a thorough
inquiry into the case. To reinforce his
fOrmai order. President Roosevelt
wrote the following to Attorney Ger
eral Moody:
My dear Moody: | most earnestly
hope that every effort will be made to
bring Holmes to justice in connection
with the cotton report scandal. Please
go over the papers yourself The man
IS, IN my Judgment, q far greater scoun-
drel than if he had stolen money from
the government, as he used the govern
ment to deceive outsiders and to make
money for himself and for others.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed.)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
To VIM. H. Moody, Atty General,
Boston, Mass.
In response to the Presidents letter
Attorney General Moody replied:
Boston, Mass, July IA, 1905.
Dear Mr.. President:
| have received YOUR letter of July 12
and note with care the anxiety you ex-
press that Holmes, the offending official
in the cotton case, be brought to jlst
tice if possible. | have kept, througE
correspondence with the solicitor gen
eral, in close touch with this investl-
cation. Il shall receive my most earn
est personal consideration. I will not
now express an opinion, as l think it
better to await the result of some in
vestigations now in progress in the tie.
partment OF justice. At the first sea-
s0hable moment | will communicate to
you the progress we have made ami
the prospect of indictments.
Very respectfully,
(Signed)
WILLIAM H. MOODY.
To the President. Oyster Bay.
Washington, ID. C., July 10, 19cu.
Harvie Jordan, president Of the
Southern Cotton Association, arrived
here today and Immediately went iuto
conference with Richard Cheatham sec
retary Of the same association, and
A1CAiJ A1CSlCI, ScCl OI tuc ANO" VI
leans Cotton Exchange, who are in the
city in connection with the probing Of
the charges that The government cotton
statistics have been juggled for the
benefit of brokers. The cotton men met
at the rooms of Colonel Hester at The
Ebbitt House. None of them would
state the character of the business un-
der consideration beyond saying that
the officials of the two organizations,
in every way possible, will assist in the
examination of the charges which is
being conducted by the department Of
justice.
Mr.. Jordan denied that he had been
in New York, with a view of going to
Oyster Bay to lay the matter before the
President, and ne would not say that
he had an appointment to see the Pres
ident at any time.
Thus far there has been no deternl1-
nation by Chief Statistician Hyde to or
der the new cotton acreage report
which Colonel Hester requested the Ge
partment to make. The last report was
prepared from figures made on May 25
1t is believed that the government
. agents included in their figures os.i-