July 7th, 1917.

Dr. Jas. E. Shepard,
Pres. National Training School,
Durham, N.C.

Dear Sir:-

I concur without reservation in the sentiments expressed in your telegram of July 4th. For a mob to kill a man is the essence of brutality and cowardice. The white people are under a peculiar obligation to refrain from violence of any sort against the colored people of the land. Up to this time there has been no mob violence in the State of North Carolina during the present administration, and I am earnestly endeavoring to promote good feeling between the races, and sincerely trust that our people under all circumstances will refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

It is my opinion that the people of North Carolina, white and black, are law abiding and humane. We have been exceptionally free from the riots and disorder that have prevailed in some sections of the country, and I earnestly hope that the people of this State will not only sustain but improve the reputation for decency, peace and respect for law that they now enjoy.

The riots in St. Louis are simply cumulative evidence that after all the South is the best place for the black man [torn] the South the negro is recognized as a legitimate factor, and [torn] has never been any disposition to interfere with his [torn] activities. The South understands the negro and is ever ready to give him intelligent aid and sympathy.

I see in today’s papeprs that Mr. Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, charges that negroes have have been induced in large numbers to leave the South and go to sundry cities in the North and West in order to “break the back of labor”. It seems to me that it is an opportune time for the leaders of the negro race to impress upon their people the truth that the best friends of the negro are right here in the South and that in many cases those who make systematic efforts to induce the negro to leave the South know that trouble and danger await him.

Very truly yours,

Governor.

M-G