The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-28
]. O. THOMPSON ID BRING COURT SIVT
 AGAINST H|TCHcCCK
Recent D evelopm en ts Prompt Him to Wash Hands" of Wood Cam
 paign Plans

Smarting under the charge that he is .acting as campaign manager in Alabama for Gen. Leonard Wood without au- thority, Joseph O. Thompson declares he will bring suit against MT Hitchcock for alleged libel. Mir Thompson made this statement yesterday after spending sev- eral hours in futile efforts to get in com nunication with Senator Moses in Wash ington.
 Fuolication in the Birmingham newspa- pers of the telegrams from Mir. Hitch cock to o, D. Street of Guntersville and Maj. Dallas Smith Of opelika practically put an end to Mir. Thompson's activities Tn behalf of Gen. Wood He declares that if there is to be mo greater sta ollity about the Wood national manage ment than has been in evidence in the past he does not care to have any fur ther connection with the campaign. Vhe fight between Mir. Thompson and rthe organization leaders in Alabama is or long standing. It began in 1s1e when MT Thompson espoused the cause of Colonel Roosevelt. while the organiza- tlon leaders backed lip President Taft. MT. Thompson was appointed state manager for General Wood by John T.. King shortly after the army officer an- nounced himself candidate for pres,- dent Upon the retirement of Mir. King as national manager. w. Cooper Proc tor of Cincinnati. his successor. and senator Moses Of New Hampshire, man. sser for the southern states, reappointed MT Thompson.
 The first intimation of friction eam- two weeks ago when State Chairman Pope M. Long received telegram iron, MT. Hitchcock stating that MT. Thomp- son mad no authority to act as manager m Alabama for General Wood. A weel, ago yesterday Senator Moses assured MT. Thompson that no change had been made and none was contemplated. Failing to receive a response to his telegram to Senator Moses Mir. Thonnp- son yesterday afternoon made the fol- lowing statement:
 T am without any information from any source other than the alleged tele- gram, but feel in justice to myself and to my friends that I should say the action, if true, is utterly without char acter, and if General Wood approves 1t, OF has put himself in such posi- ton as to be powerless to protect his | state managers under the shifting na- tionai management, he is unworthy of my support. However much other men may feel inclined to go on with him , shall wash my hands of the whole mat | ter
 | T was reluctant 10 go into active | political management or activities but was urged to do so by Mir. John T. King on July 10. last year by letter and sub sequently in personal interviews in the presence of General Wood, and by sub. l sequent letters. Later on when Kine was crowded out of the management and Proctor came in, then Moses, was re. ! quested by both to go on with the fisf1l l Tn Alabama, and again urged by MoSes to do so on last Saturday, as originally planned. My connection with the cam paign is of no particular importance nor | interest to the public but # is impor- tant that the public know, at they will know, the full details of the matter be- cause It effects the fitness of a. candi- date Tor President of the United States shall at once file suit in Chicago against Hitchcock for the publication of libel at which time all of the facts regarding my connection with the cam patgn will be brought out In that way Hitchcocks statement that was acting without authority will be shown to De an utter falsehood.
 Under Hitchcock's 8 arrangement Wood will get the vote of practically all of | the Alabama delegates if he does not need them, and not one vote if he does need them.
 Tt would be regretable for the public 10 have a firmly fixed opinion that Gen Leonard Wood no longer looks tc the people, but is allowing a delegate broker, Hitchcock, to underwrite his nomination."
 1 With his statement Mir Thompson ] gave out the following letters from John T. King and Senator Moses. under whose authority he was conducting the campaign in Alabama for General Wood
 New York, July 10, 1s19
 Hon. Joseph o. Thompson, Birming. 1 ham. Ala.
 | My Dear MT. Thompson-I am very sorry that you and l did not succeed in 1 getting in personal contact during the life Of our mutual friend Colonel Roose- Welt. When the colonel died, I had prac. | tically decided to retire completely fron politics. General Wood and his friends talked With me many times about his affairs, but was rather reluctant tc change my decision. found the pres Suie so great ana the developments fof l General Wood so apparently gen,rrt 1 throughout the country. that upon hi. request decided to go in and bear in, same relation to him as did to Colone Roosevelt | TT the matter of General Wood m peals to you, l would be very muct pleased to resume that contact whict would be very much pleased to resume J that contact which Colonel Roosevelt, l advised me to have with you I think 1 It would be out of place on my part 10 give you any arguments for Genera Wood in connection with the presidency believe men must find their own bear ings. have not discussed the question
 with anybody in the southern state, and will refrain from doing so until hear from you.
 am leaving July IS for a foul weeks trip west. and that will be hardl, time for you to answer me at the abov, address I will. however, be at tn, Blackstone hotel, Chicago until July sO 1 With kindest regards. I am,
 Very sincerely yours,
 JOHN T. KINGr
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