Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
AFTER WILSON'S SCALP
COTTON ASSOCIATION TO RE
QUEST HIS RESIGNATION.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ATLANTA, Ga, July 29-The Southern
Cotton Association will follow up its work
in bringing to light the scandalous and dis
honest methods pursued by prominent Off
Gals connected with the bureau of statis-
tics OF the United States Department OF
Agriculture at Washington. D. c.. by re-
questing the resignation of Secretary James
L. Wilson on the ground Of incompetency.
Harvie Jordan, president of the Southern
Cotton Association. In speaking of the pres
ent investigation Of the bureau of statistics
by the grand jury at Washington, now in
session. said: THE charges preferred by
the Southern Cotton Association against
certain high officials in the bureau Of sta
tistics two months ago have been fully
sustained and the developments in the
scandal as Investigations proceed have
startled and amazed the producers and
business interests of the entire country.
TT has developed condition of graft in
the Department of Agriculture that might
well be compared to official dishonesty
charged under the present administration
OF certain government officials Of the Rus
sian empire.
1.-THE present head official of the Depart
ment of Agriculture has proven stumbling
block to the investigation from its incipi-
ency.
"Mr. Wilson ridicuIed the original charge
that Holmes, the assistant chief statisti-
cian had falsifed and manipulated the
June report on cotton acreage or that he
had given out any advance information.
But this charge was clearly proven. and
Holmes was discharged from tire depart
ment. Mr.. Wilson then objected to any
further investigation. and President Roose-
welt took the matter into his hands and
forced continuance of the investigation
through the Department of Justice.
Hyde Forced to Resign.
Mr.. Wilson then said that his chief stat
istician. John Hyde, was thoroughly hon.
est, competent and was not guilty Of wrong
doing. yet last week it was proven that
Holmes sat at the elbow of Hyde while the
June report was being falsified and the
advance information given out to Holmes
confederates. Mr.. Hyde was last week
forced to resign and Immediately fed to
Europe to escape the strong arm of the
law, while Holmes is sojourning in Canada
for the same purpose
"Mr. Wilson promised me in a personal
interview at Washington on July Is, at
which time Secretary Hester of the New
Orleans cotton exchange was present that
If sufficient funds were found he would
undertake to gather an entirely new crop
acreage report from local state and field
agents I'D to date and let the people know
the truth.
I've asked him particularly not to at
tempt to revise the fraudulent and manipu-
laeCu IepoII ISSUED by lHe
June 3.
There was no question as to the funds be-
ing on hand with which to do this work, yet
the Secretary with but two days tabula ton
of the old false report documents gave out
revised acreage report, making a perfect
farce of the whole proceedings and arous-
ing thereby intense indignation throughout
the whole country.
Mr.. Wilson also admitted that Mr. Hyde
was in error in stating that the June re-
port only covered the actual acreage plant
ed up to May %, but he has not yet made
| this statement officially to the public, which
would at once right a great wrong done the
southern cotton producers by John Hyde.
within the past few days John Hyde S
private secretary, Mrs. Burch, has also
been forced to resign and will now be
| called before the judge to tell her con-
nection and give information concerning
her association with Hyde and Holmes. 1t
has also been proven that the tobacco re-
port was falsified for speculative purposes.
and now the grain producers OF the west
| are charging the department with having
manipulated the grain reports.
THE matter will be presented to Pres1-
dent Roosevelt officially on the part of our
association and Mr.. Wilson's resignation
requested. If the department Is thoroughly
reorganized with a good and capable man
placed at its head, confidence can be re-
stored; otherwise 1t will not. The Presi-
dent Is determined to purify the depart
ment. and l am convinced that he can be
| fully depended on to safeguard the people $
interests in the departments under his Off
cial CONTROL