Committee Home Missions
Synod of North Carolina

Charlotte, N.C.

July 7th, 1916.¹

His Excellency
Gov. Locke Craig,
Raleigh, N.C.

My Dear Governor:-

Perhaps you have already thought of the condition of our State now, with practically all our State Troops, mustered in the U.S. Army, and very soon, will be taken to the border. This will leave our State without any military protection in case of [illegible].

The trouble of lynchings and their threatenings at Kinston, Night Rides in Duplin and Pender and strike in Wilmington are but [illegible] of much greater trouble that might occur. Im writing this to call the matter to your attention and ask if you have the power under the present law, will you not have some companies organized at once and get the U.S. Government to equip them with arms, uniforms &c?

With great respect, I am

Yours respectfully,

Wm. Black

1. Though this item was stamped "answered" as of July 9, 1916, a copy of the governor's response was not found among the papers of Locke Craig.