The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
SAYS M'DUFFIE Is
HURTING MOBILE
BY His TACTICS
Thompson Shows Shipping
Board Work Done At
s. Sacrifice
URGED BY LEADERS
TO GIVE SERVICES
President Harding Com
mended Fine And
Patriotic Attitude

WASHINGTON, April 4.-Referring
to the charges made against him by Con-
gresham John McDuffie. on the basis
that he had acquired additional news
papers and the inference that he had
devoted too much time to editorial
work, Frederick ]. Thompson of Mo-
bile, commissioner If the United States
shipping board from the gulf states,
made the following statement today: .
"Mr. McDuffie has sought continually
to neutralize my influence with the
shipping board because have never let
the newspapers in which l am inter-
ested support him for Congress. The
number of ships in and out of Mobile
and other gulf ports would indicate
that his efforts to harm the job have
had to do have been unsuccessful.
"As to my newspaper work, Mr.. Nc
Duffie could have found out easily
that last year Mr.. Buford Goodwin
was employed as general manager of
the newspapers in which ! am inter-
ested at a salary $1,000 more than
that I draw as member of the ship
ping board. This would not have been
necessary IL / could have stayed at
home and run the newspapers myself.
Urged To Remain
"Mr. McDuffie knew flor he tried to
get the job for SOMEBODY else) that re-
signed from the shipping bord year
ago, but was influenced to stay by the
advice of such men as Senator Under
wood, bankers and commercial leaders
in Mobile and throughout Alabama. who
urged me to continue the work Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson first asked me
to undertake, in the belief that / was
of some service to Alabama's port.
II was particularly impressed with
the view of former Senator B. b. Conner,
my partner in The Birmingham Age
Herald and The Montgomery Journal,
that we had acquired these newspapers
to have them serve in the interest of
the Alabama public, and that such a
purpose required that, If in official posi-
tion to serve Alabama's seaport, even
at measure of sacrifice Of attention
to these newspapers, such service should
not be avoided by me.
President Harding's Letter
And when / consented to stay on,
President Harding wrote me a letter
as follows:
Chairman Lasker has told me
shipping board until we make the
grade" so TO speak, in getting some
Helpful legislation to encourage and
maintain our American merchant
marine. He has told me of your
acquisition of additional newspaper
interests and the call for your de-
votion of all your time to these
larger interests. Under all the cir
cumstances, think it is exceed
ingly fine and patriotic of you to
remain in the service of the gov
eminent in order to give of your
influence and advice In promoting
the important program which Is be-
fore u.s. want you to know of my
grateful appreciation
Mobiles congressman should not try
to destroy my usefulness in the ship
ping board, but that is a matter for
his personal determination and a mat
ter Of personal indifference to me. 1t
does hurt Mobile, and he is the con-
gresham from Mobile. He should help
and not try to hurt the port. But that
is up to him and the people Of Mobile
and the district"