The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.10, page 139, June 1909, U. of Illinois Press

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JUNE . 1909 dum on that subject. Of course, I realize, I think, what you are trying to do and how you are trying to do it, and I am in full sympathy with you. I believe that in your own time and in your own manner you will do whatever is necessary to let the colored people see that you are not inclined to decrease materially the number of Negroes holding office throughout the country. If the Land Office in Louisiana is moved away from New OrIeans to Natchitoches, or to Alexandria, this will mean that both colored men, that is Mr. Cohen and the Negro Registrar of the Land Office, who are holding office will have to go out, as I do not think they could hold office in any of the small towns in Louisiana outside of New Orleans. If they have to go, it will mean that every Negro holding a federal office in Louisiana will be out, since after the first of July, Cohen and the Negro Registrar will be the only two. The colored people throughout the country watch very closely these little changes, and they are becoming not a little stirred up, and it is for this reason that I call these matters to your attention, from time to time. Wherever I get an opportunity of speaking to the indiviclual colored people or to them in a body, I have said to them that in your own way and in your own time you would see that the best thing is done in the interest of the colored people, whether this is in the direction of appointing them to office or in some other direction, and that you were their friend and would stand by them. If, in your ours way you could find some position in the state of Texas which Smith can be appointed to, it would help much. I happen to know that ever since he has been in office, he has spent more than half of his salary each year in helping forward the educat~on of our people in that state. Yours truly, Booker T. Washington [Enclosure] Memorandum for President Taft I. Negroes who have Disappeared from Office, since March 4th Last for one reason or another. Dr. W. D. Crum, Collector of Port, Charleston, S.C. Resigned. Mr. R. L. Smith, position in Marshal Houston's office, Paris, Texas —Asked to resign. ~39