The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-18
THE ROBSON CASE
LUCIEN WALKER OBJECTS TO
 NAVAL CONSTRUCTORS STATEMENTS.
Absolves MT. Bankhead-Says Con- gressman from Alabama Was Not Asked to Introduce
 Retirement Bill,
New York Herald, Feb, 15.

New York Herald, Feb. 15.
 To the Editor of The Herald:
 In The Herald of February 6 appears an interview with Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson, late of the United States Navy, in the course of which he reflects upon what he asserts was the conduct of Congressman John H. Bankhead of Alabama, and MT. Bankheads Secretary respecting his own efforts to secure re- tirement from the navy. After saying much that was not gracious or true con- corning MT. Bankhead. Captain Hobson proceeds:
 Not only that, but I have absolute proof that his Secretary. who is cor respondent for several Alabama news papers, sent forth many stories calcu- lated to reflect upon my position. attack ing the sincerity of my desire to get out and intimating that was only anxious to get free and run for Congress and gc into politics."
 am MT. Bankheads Secretary, but am not "a correspondent of several Alabama newspapers" being simply the Washing ton correspondent of The Montgomery Advertiser, which I exclusively represent at the capital, and not for many years have I been the correspondent here of any other Alabama newspaper, excepting that during the last session of Congress l wrote Washington letters for the only morning journal published in Birming- ham.
 Necessarily I was obliged occasionally to refer to Captain Hobson, especially in my work for The Montgomery Advertis- CT. which takes a very extensive special telegraphic service and which requires me to cover more or less fully, all matters of special interest outside of the regular press reports.
 The files of the two newspapers refer red to are absolute proof that I never wrote in any instance during such news paper work an unkind word about Cap tain Hobson: never even hinted an at- tack or reflection of any nature what ever upon him; never an intimatiop that could have been construed into unkind- ness.
 On the contrary, I have written pages In praise of him, for which on three oc- casons he was gracious enough to thank me, and for which have received thanks from members of his family in Alabama.
 When Captain Hobson came to Bir- mingham on one occasion was one of a party of young men of consequence in the community who entertained him at a banquet and I wrote for publication an elabirate story of him on that occasion. telling in the most sympathetic manner of how he looked and acted and, in part what he said. Indeed. 1t Is a matter of common knowledge in Alabama that ] have been a stanch friend of Captain Hobson.
 As a matter of news have been ob- iiged to present the arguments made in Washington against Captain Hobson's re- tirement
 He was not retired in the ordinary way because two different medical boards of the navy found that he was not physi- cally qualified for retirement-that his eyes were quite good enough for the del acate and difficult work of a naval con- structor. He was not retired by act oi Congress for the reason. in part, of the findings of the medical boards, but main. ly for the reason that a special act in his behalf would establish a precedent ex tremely dangerous to the we'll being o the navy, in that any other young officer could with just as good excuse ask to bt retired. while the navy is already grave ly underofficered-
 am reliably informed that Captain Hobson did not in any instance ask MT Bankhead or any other Alabama Con, Kyessman to introduce the bill for his re. tirement Indeed there was scarcely time for immediately after the President special message in his behalf MT. Gal. finger of New Hampshire. introduced the bill in the Senate, and MT. Moody ot