The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-04
DEFENDS ACTIONS
 OF CAPT AIN ROBSON Explains Why Hobson Did Not
 Register Last Year AT THE POST OF DUTY Naval Hero, Says Musgrove, Was Out of State Battling for Democracy. Mallory commends Hobson.
 Answers Moore.

l.. B. Musgrove, who is recognized as Captain Richmond Pearson Hobsons po- litical manager explained last night the reason why Captain Hobson did not regis ter last year as a voter in the Sixth dis trct, and incidentally replied to the n- terview of Jack s. Moore, recently printed In The Age Herald.
 Tn the closing days of the last presi- dential campaign" said MT Musgrove III. s. D. Mallory, chairman of the state democratic exeeuti ye committee, was re- quested by tho democratic national com- mittee to send Captain Hobson to West Virginia, New York and Indiana to speak in behalf of the national democratic ticket.
 Responded to Call.
 "Captain Hobson much to hls personal regret, but in response tb sense of duty to his party obeyed the summons MT. Mallory, who knows all the facts in the ease, and wnose reputation IS well established In the state, has writ ten a letter to MT. Robson on this very subject.
 ordinarily Captain Hobson's friends would not make public MT. Mallory's let ter but since Colonel Bankhead and his friends have seen fit to attempt to use Captain Hobson's failure to register against Captain Hobson, 1t is only just that Mr. Mallory's letter be printed"
 Aiallory's Letter.
 Here is the letter to which MT. Mus grove refers:
 "Capt. R. P Hobson, care of Army and
 Navy Club, New York:
 My Dear Captain: Answer to your let ter of July IA has been unavoidably de- layed. In compliance with your request l enclose you copies of the letters as follows:
 '1. Your letter to me of date October 12. 1904.
 "2 Your letter to me of date October 25, 1904.
 ''s. Letter of Hon. Thomas F. Gilroy of New York, of date November 9, 1904, to yourself
 A. Letter of James A. c. Johnson of New York, of date November IA, 1904, to yourself.
 "I regret I cannot furnish you with copy of letter written me at close of campaign In New Jersey and West Vir- ginia, tesdfying to the great value of your services in that campaign. This let ter was sent by me to the press, and has never been returned. I recall ve.y clear- ly our conversation over the phone. pre- cedlng the national election, in which we discussed the advisability of your spending the last week of the campaign In New Jersey and West Virginia. Urgent request for your services in those locali- ties had come to me from the party man. agers. In our conversation. while express Ing readiness to answer those calls, if l. as chairman of the state campaign com mittee so advised. you expressed the de- sire to register and vote at your home in Greensboro. and made objections to mak- ing any engagements north which would prevent you returning home in time to do so I stated to you that 1t having been represented to me that speeches from you at certain critical points in West Virginia and New Jersey would be of great party benefit, and possibly turn the scales there in our favor, 1t was your duty to forego the privilege of reg istering and voting and proceed at once to those points This you consented to do, and your Alabama engagements were cancelled. No just criticism of your &C., tion can be made. To the contrary, you should be commended for making the sac rfice. I am very truly yours,
 'TH. s. D MALLORY"
 VIII Sustain Hobson.
 "That letter of MT Mallory's." con tinued MT. Musgrove. should set at rest all unfavorable criticism of Captain Hobson on the subject.
 "The people of the Sixth district will agree with MT. Mallory that Captain Robson, far from being condemned should be heartily commended for the sacrifice made by him in behalf of his party He was ordered to the post of duty. and like the true man that he is he obeyed promptly and completely.
 "The good people of the Sixth district will recognize in this incident a spirit similar to that which induced Captain Hobson to carry the Merrimac Into Sam tiago harbor. In each case he was ruled by his high sense of duty-no matter what might be the consequences.
 Jack Moore's Interview.
 My attention" MT. Musgrove went on, was called today to an article in Satur- day's Age-Herald in which Jack s. Moore leaps to the defence of Colonel Bank head and attempts to asperse the ca