FRANK M. WOOTEN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
GREENVILLE, N.C.

February 5th. 1918.

Colonel John D. Langston,
Raleigh, N.C.

My Dear Colonel:-

Replying to your letter of the 2nd. inst.

Since reflecting I am satisfied that you have acted wisely in deciding not to come to Greenville at this time. It now seems that matters are improving and that your plans are working out well.

I am satisfied to recommend Mrs. Ella Lee Randolph, of this place for the position of chief clerk to the Local Board. She is a good stenograph, typewriter and filing clerk. Her experience has been, principally, in a lage wholesale establishment in which all three branches were important to the conduct of the business, and were under her charge. She was married about a year ago, and at that time gave up her position. She now lives here with her husband, They board, therefore she has no family duties to be in the way of her work. She seems to be a strong woman, and character, well fitted for that particular work under Section 43. S. S. R. She is willing to leave the salary as a secondary matter. In as much as she is a woman of good judgment, and discretion, I have talked with her of the situation in confidence. We think that she can do the entire work (clerical) for the Board: That, if she needs additional help that she can secure it of the young women of the Red Cross, or others in the town, and is willing to begin the work with that in view. However, I do suggest that you have a man come down to start her in a method that has been found well adapted for filing in this particular work, and to induct her into office, but if you cannot economically have this done, then I suggest that you retain, for a week or two, the services of one of the young ladies now in the office, Under the circumstances, that may not be the wise thing to do. But you decide that. If either of them is retained in the office to aide Mrs. Randolph to learn the plan adopted and the exact condition of the details when she goes in, Miss Lillie Dell Critcher should be designated, at a salary of fifteen dollars for the week, only. And if she is retained longer that she be given a salary of twelve dollars and a half a week. Of course, I have said nothing to her of this, and she may not remain at any price. But, I know that neither of the other two young ladies would remain since the little flurry.

Mrs. Randolph is depending on securing voluntary clerical assistance, when needed; thus eliminating expense for additional help. As to her salary, as stated above, it is secondary, yet I think it best to pay a reasonable price and exact constant and efficient services from nine o’clock in the morning till five or six o’clock in the afternoons. I told her that I would suggest to you eighty dollars per month for her services as chief clerk to the Board. That will be perfectly satisfactory to her. In fact she may be perfectly satisfied with less. If you think it wise to do so, write her a nice letter and in it name any salary you think proper. It might be well to give her eighty dollars now, and have it understood that when the work becomes nominal, only, that you will request her to keep office on a reduced salary. I am writing these details because I am acquainted with them, and know that it is necessary for you to know them for the purpose in hand. She understands that work may be temporary, only.

I can go to Raleigh Thursday afternoon, reaching there about seven o’clock, in the evening, over the N. S. R. R. If it suits the Governor to see me that evening, it will be convenient for me, if not convenient for him, and you, I can remain over during Friday, and reach Greenville at six o’clock that afternoon. If the Governor desires to have me at any other time, it will be my pleasure to adopt that time and go to his office, at the time named by him.

I am,

Sincerely

F. M. Wooten, G.A.A.