The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-24
DECLARES Plan IS
BEING MATCHED TO
GUST COMPTROLLER
and Newspaper Man are Using In
finencc to Turn Sentiment
Against Him.

Washington, Jan. 23.--John
SHELTON Williams, comptroller Of
;. tpe cns7rpry. tpfay, ha~"d Yhes q
M snnfxsd, sSSs = pied, entss@sa y
into its-SWStsn . banker and h
Washington newspaper corre-
MpOndent TO crystalline sentiment
against his confirmation for
second term II the president
should send hts nomination to
the senate Mr.. Williams term
cxpires February 2.
Mr. Williams said he preferred not
to make public the names of those
involved for the present, but that the
banker was IAN official of a banking
been under serious criticism by the
controllers office for months past for
irregular and unlawful practices"
Norborne T. n. Robinson, wash
ington correspondent of the Buffalo
Evening News, tonight issued state
ment asserting that he was the corre-
spondent referred to and charging
that Mr.. Williams had had photo
graphed promissory note which he,
Robinson, had placed with the bank
in question. Robinson asserts that at
their conference Mr.. williams flash
ed" this photograph on him "in a
-
fact that the first curtailment of the
note had been made and that the
placing Of the note endorsed by two
men of standing was a transa ction
which no honest man could or
would criticise.''
Questions Newspaper Man.
Evidence in his possession. Mr..
William said showed that a certain
memorandum which he had obtained
by chance had been prepared for the
banker in question by the newspaper
man. The. latter was called to the
comptroller's office this week and
asked IL ne were the author Of
stories that had been SEPT out crfti-
cising the comptroilers Office. He
first denied that he was, Mr. williams
said. but subsequently admitted he
had furnished material for the story
to newspaper in Buffalo and other
newspapers including the New York
Tribune, the Wall Street Journal and
papers in Boston and Louisville, e KY.
Mr.. Rooinson's statement says:
Although he withholds names Mr..
Williams refers to me in his state
ment 1t Is easy to read between the
lines OF Mr.. Williams statement, the
suggestion Of intimidation. Mr.. Will
liams, the comptroller, Is using his
opuCl3l position TO OBTAIN private IN
formation which he could not obtain
as an individual. in having my prom
issory note photographed he was not
engaged in any duty required OF him
as a government official but as John
SHELTON Williams, struggling to hold
government job.
With other Americans ! have felt
we were at war with autocracy.
woodrow Wilson. to whom Mr.. Will
liams owes his position and to whom
he is looking for reappointment. is
fighting autocracy with all his might.
Yet Mr.. Williams. in an effort to in
timidate those who dare criticise him.
uses autocratic methods OF the sort
that the deposed William Hohenzol-
lern used to favor.
I did not seek participation in a
publicity campaign against Mr.. Will
liams. I have merely known him as
an unpopular government official. His
statement tonight must carry to all
fairminded men the conviction of his
unfitness for public Office. My news
paper associates in Washington at all
times have authority to pass on my
! standing In my profession"