The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-04-28
Robertson Answers
Campaign Charges

Salisbury, Md, April 27:-Hilton
{ w Robertson, candidate for The
| Democratic nomination for Congress
from the first Congressional District
today issued the following statement
'|The petty politicians evidently
| are in a panic over the popular sup
port l am getting in the campaign
| for the Congressional nomination
for, l am informed they are quietly
spreading a lot OF little stories cal
culated to reflect upon my integrity
| as a business man. In this matter
| as in others, am only too glad to
| take the voters of the Eastern Shore
| into my confidence. | have nothing
| to conceal.
Il am informed they are whisper
i ing that certain bank has an sun-
| paid note of mine for $4,000, and
| therefore. my credit is no good. ]
! withhold the identity of the bank out
| of consideration for its depositors
and stockholders.
THE facts about that are just
these: The bank holds note of that
amount upon which l am an endorser
The note when first made was for
$4,000, the proceeds of which were
, used in financing items for tie White
Haven Ship Building Co., because the
Government was delinquent in max
ing it's settlement. The bank made
the loan with the full agreement and
understanding that it was to be re-
newable upon payment of curtail
and interest until the Government
should settle with the company.
Despite the fact the Government has
not yet settled, but is about to do
so, the note has been paid off to the
extent of $1,000 and interest, leav7
ing a balance of $4,000 secured by
SIS, 900 of personal property.
But, upon the note coming due,
just one month ago, the bank decid-
ed in view of my announcement, that
l would seek the Democratic nomi-
nation for Congress to refuse further
renewal and demanded payment in
full. Democratic voters readily can
see the motive. The bank is not
afraid of not getting its money. for
the security that was good enough
to go back of the $4,000 is still
back of the $4,000 balance.
In the absence of good, sound
camqaign material with which to at
tack me politically they seize upon
this apparent reason for trying to
discredit me. With the Crabbe let
ters and this subterfuge the Repub-
licans are going to great lengths and
low depths to defeat the Democratic
candidate who evidently is putting
up the winning fight for the nomi-
nation. By defeating me in the pri-
maries they see, of course, some
chance for returning Andrews to the
House at Washington.
For many years | have been a
large borrower from banks, single
loans being as large as. $119, 900, but
l have no difficulty about my credit.
Every business man know that a
business man has to borrow money.
"Anther stry they are handing
around is that 1 have no connection
with the bank of White Haven. The
facts are that l organized the bank:
own over a quarter of the stock and
am chairman of the board of direc-
tors.
Again they spread the runaor
that the White Haven Ship Building
Co., does not amount to anything and
that it has been building "scows",
not ships. The facts are that the
White Haven Ship Building Co., has
turned over to the Government two
$500 ton wood ships and that the
company has distributed through the
lower counties about million doF
lars. The company is now engaged
in building a 5000 ton dry dock for
the Bethlehem Company and has
other contracts pending.
"They tell that motor Company
in Washington in which l hold fifty
per cent interest is bankrupt. The
facts are that the company never has
been in financitl trouble and is not
now, despite the fact that the Gov
ernment Communicated the build
ing and used it during the war at
loss to the company of over 100000
We have taken the loss and consid-
cred it a part of our war contribu-
ton to the country
''They say / am not taxpayer in
my own home town, White Haven
The facts are that the Homestead
left to the children by my father has
been taxed as usual since his death
twenty-four years ago and that |
have paid my share of these taxes.
These and other petty stories are
being circulated by word of mouth
in a last moment effort to defeat my
candidacy. Any voter is welcome to
ask me my question with reference
to my private or public record and /
all be quite frank. had assum-
ed until these canards were started
that the voters were interested in
what 1 stood for, not my personal
affairs. l could quite readily give
current to some of the disagreeable
stories (have been told about my
adversaries but / don't want any
votes that might come that way"
Published by authority, Robertson
for Congress League, s-l>ury, Md.