The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-16
CAPTAIN ROBSON
 REFUTES CHARGE
AFFlDAVITs SHOWING HE NEVER SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO ALLOW NEGROES TO COMPETE FOR EXAMINATIONS.
Tuscaloosa, Ala, March II. 1904.

40 thS EulloI Ol lHe ABe-hGIdlus
 sir-In my opinion the charge that I stated in my speech at Hamilton that I was willing to allow negroes to appear as competitors in competitive examinations for Annapolis and West Point is too ab- surd and silly to deserve notice.
 The charge is absolutely untrue, and that 1t is being circulated in an effort to injure me or prejudice the people against me shows the burden under which my op- ponents are laboring Some of my friends think that 1 should make to the press a denial of the statement, and I take this method of doing so. On my arrival at Tuscaloosa this morning l received the attached affidavits. They came to me un- solicited. In fact, did not know that the man McCollum referred to in the af- fidavts had been to Hamilton on such a mission, but 1t seems that some of the good people up there did hear of 1t, and they sent me these affldavits.
 Captain Bankhead said in one of his speeches that 1 had placed my campaign on low level This sort of an attack, which is absolutely untrue, will show the people where the mud in this campaign is coming from.
 Prof. James A. Duncan, who signs one of the affidavits, is a teacher in the West Alabama Agricultural school at Hamilton; Jason P Ford is an ex-democratic pro- bate judge of Marion county, and l. 5. Quinn and W. F. Shackelford are promi- nent farmers of that county. l also at tach the affidavit of MT. H. G. Benners, who is the editor of the Alabama Beacon of Greensboro. Ala. R. P. ROBSON.
 THE AFFIDAvITs.
 State of Alabama, Hale county.
 I, II. G. Benners, of Greensboro, Ala. do solemnly swear that I was present at Hamilton, in Marion county when Cap tain Bankhead and Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson met in joint debate. I heard every word of Captain Hobson's speech. In that speech Captain Hobson did not say that he would allow negroes to take port in competitive examinations for West Point or Annapolis and he said absolutely nothing form which such a conclusion could have been inferred.
 (Signed) H. G. BENNERS. Sworn to and subscribed before me this March 14 1904.
 THOMAS D. KNIGHT, Notary Public tSealed). The State of Alabama, Marion County. We, the undersigned, were present at the joint debate between Captain Hob son and Captain Bankhead at Hamilton, and heard the same.
 We heard the discussion between them as to the appointment of cadets to West Point and Annapolis. Captain Hobson stated that he was in favor of a compet- tive examination to determine who should receive the appointments He said nothing about letting a negro have the appointment if he should stand the best examination, nor did he say anything that could be interpreted to mean that a negro could get the appointment We live in Hamilton beat, and know the persons residing there, and have heard the de- bate widely discussed since it was held and we have not heard a single person contend that Captain Hobson made such statement in his speech here, and we know of our own knowledge that such a statement was not made. We understand that two or more Bankhead men have been asked to testify or sign statement that MT. McCollum brought around some days after the debate, but that they re- fused to do so although we are informed that three strong Bankhead partisans did sign some statement at MT. McCollum's s request.
 This 11th day of March 1904.
 (Signe0 w. F. SHACKELFORD,
 JASON P. FORD,
 I. S. QUINN.
 Sworn to before me,
 R. B. FIFE, (SeaD
 Register in Chancery The State of Alabama Marion count.
 Before me. B. R. Fite, register in chan eery, personally appeared James A. Dun can, who. being by me duly sworn. de- poses and says that he was present at and heard the joint debate between Captain Hobson' and Colonel Bankhead, at Hamil- ton, Ala and that the question of com petitiye examinations for West oPint and Annapolis was discussed in said debate. and that there was nothing said in 1t by Captain Hobson concerning the ap- pointment of negroes nor aid Captain Hobson say he was in favor of the ne- groes in any way participating in said examination. and further that I have not heard it claimed by either friends of Colonel Bankhead or any other persons that such statements were made. All the people understood Captain Hobsons posi- tion to be that he was in favor of q com petitive examination where white boys would be examined.
 Furthermore, nothing otherwise was ever spoken of here until Mr. McCollum representing Captain Bankhead, came to some very strong partisans of his and asked them to swear to a prepared state ment and I am informed that the first asked refused to make such statement. (Signed) JAMES A. DUNCAN Sworn to before me this the 11th day of March, 1904. B. R. FIFE,
 Register in Chancery.