I wrote to Mr. Mackey on the 17th inst., carbon copy of which I sent you, and from which you will observe that I carried out your instructions to the best of my ability. I have not heard from Mr. Mackey, or from Mr. Scott, so that I do not know whether Mr. Mackey has taken up the matter with Mr. Scott where I left it off or not. If he has not done so, I trust that upon receipt of this letter you will take it up with Mr. Scott yourself, as I succeeded after some difficulty in pursuading him that it was his patriotic duty to make some sacrifice to the cause of his country.

I was in attendance upon a meeting of the District Board at Statesville yesterday, and found conditions about as chaotic as they have been all along, so that it is my opinion the whole clerical force, at least, will have to be reorganized before satisfactory results can be obtained.

As pointed out in my letter to Mr. Mackey, if you can get Mr. Keerans to accept a membership on this board, and then have him appointed Chairman in place of Mr. Gibson, I am sure that in less than two weeks everything will be running smoothly and satisfactorily to all concerned. If you cannot get Mr. Keerans, then I believe that Mr. Edgar W. Pharr has the executive ability, as well as the experience, to pull the board out of its present difficulties. I would advise, however, that if possible you, one way or another, either force or pursuade Mr. Keerans to accept this position.

If possible I expect to return to Statesville tomorrow, but my professional duties have accumulated upon me so rapidly that I find it impossible for me to continue on the board longer, and I, therefore, request that you accept my resignation, which I hereby tender, and appoint my successor at the earliest possible moment, as he is very much needed on the board.

As I told you in Raleigh, both of my sons, who were my junior partners, are in the service and it seems that this office has made quite enough sacrifices already. However, if it were imperative that I should make other and further sacrifices, I would not hesitate to do so.