I am taking the liberty of writing to you regarding the North Carolina School for the Feebleminded at Kinston, and in behalf of the retention of Dr. Ira M. Hardy as Superintendent. I beg to submit to you as my deliberate opinion that the Board of Trustees should retain the services of Dr. Hardy as Superintendent, and that his deposition would be an act of inexcusable injustice. I have known Dr. Hardy in my home town, and I have been impressed with his persistent advocacy during many years of the establishment of the Institution for the feebleminded. I know that his heart and conscience have been fully enlisted, and I believe that he has brought to the discharge of his duties and that he will further illustrate, if he has opportunity to do so, his loyalty and his capacity to serve these unfortunate children of our State.

I have not received a line from Dr. Hardy, nor has anyone else requested me to write this letter in his behalf. My only information as to any disposition to depose Dr. Hardy has been derived from the press.

While I am an admirer of Dr. Hardy just as I admire any man who follows an ideal of service, yet I cannot truthfully say that Dr. Hardy is any particular admirer of mine, either personally or politically, infact we have often differed as to our choice of candidates for various public positions, but I should feel unworthy of public confidence and would certainly forfeit my own self respect if I permitted any political considerations to influence me in my conclusions regarding the deserts of Dr. Hardy and his claims to be retained as Superintendent.

Certainly I need not remind you of my confidence in your administration and my desire that you shall make a conspicuous record of service, and this spirit together with my admiration of the work of Dr. Hardy induced me to write you this letter.

With best wishes, I am,