The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-15
THOMPSON SAYS HE
 MADE NO CHARGES Declares He Is Hands Off
 on Mobile Matter OTHERS DENY STORY
Reports That Major P. D. Barker's Administration Being Investi- gated Not Accredited By
 Local Republicans

That he never filed charges again t any officeholder in Alabama without the official being fully advised, and that he was in no wise connected with purported charges against Postmaster P. D. Barker of Mobile, was the state ment issued here yesterday afternoon by J. o. Thompson, collector of internal revenue, and one of the republican patronage referees in this state
 The report was given out that post office inspectors were examining the office of Major Barker in Mobile upon charges of MT. Thompson that negro employees had been compelled to render monetary tribute to the republican ranks in order to retain their postal positions. The charges were character ized by MT. Thompson as unfound ed and unwarranted.
 In addition to the denial of MT. Thompson, Postoffice Inspector Kline and Civil Service Agent Hesse made a statement here yesterday declaring that they had not been examining the Mobile office upon charges by MT. Thompson or anyone else, but that their exam ination was in line with one being car- ried on throughout the south as to the civil service, which included the Bir- mingham postoffice.
 MT. Thompson in discussing the re- ports said:
 "I do not care to enter into any con- troversy at this time, but in justice to my own friends I wish to say that have not made any charges against any officeholder in Alabama. If any officeholder is inefficient or violates his department and not for me to in- vestigate. When I do prefer charges they are made publicly and not in any secret way such as those alleged to have been made In Mobile would sug gest. I am playing politics, but I do not resort to such contemptible meth ods as preferring charges against an officer under such circumstances.
 q am opposing MT. Barker in this state and he and l are irreconciliably separated. As has been generally known we are not acting together. However, I will fight that battle out in the republican state convention when 1t meets and not by filing charges. l have just held conference with MT. Hesse and Inspector Kline, who are said to have been looking into affairs at Mobile. They tell me, and authorize the announcement, that absolutely no charges have been filed against Major Barker at Mobile. and they have not been Investigating any such conditions as is reported"
 The report from Mobile that Major Barker was under Investigation by the postoffice inspectors created decided
 interest in Birmingham among the re- publicans especially. The Barkerites here who are following the banner of the Mobile postmaster were much in censed over the charges and investiga- tion. Postmaster Joseph H. Montgom- cry, whose break from the camp of Joseph O. Thompson to the Barker headquarters is generally known, said yesterday:
 The friends of Major Barker cannot conceive of the slightest vestige of truth in the alleged charges from Mo- bile. They will not give dignity to the charges by even considering them. No man of Major Barker's standing would stoop to an act so utterly despic- able as was charged from Mobile. l feel sure that & mistake has been made and I reiterate that a satisfactory vim dication will be given the esteemed postmaster at Mobile