As I told you yesterday, I am very much discouraged at the prospects of securing the legislation that the people of the state expect from this General Assembly to aid in road building.

I want to say to you again that if you want to accomplish anything during your administration along the line of improved roads, you will have to get busy and send a message outlining the kind of legislation you want enacted. If you don't do it, I am of the opinion that it is going to be a failure. I have spent nearly a month lobbying in behalf of the North Carolina Good Roads Association, and so far I haven't accomplished anything. I find that I cannot cope with all the paid attorneys that are lobbying on the other side, appearing for the railroads and various private enterprises who expect to graft the state convicts.

If I can give you any assistance in this work, I shall be very glad to do it, and I hope you will feel free to call on me, but I can't hang around and neglect my own business and be on such heavy expenses when I see no hopes of doing anything in this Legislature. There never has been stronger sentiment for any one thing than there is today for better highways in North Carolina and this legislature should do something to aid the work.

I expect to be in Raleigh Tuesday and Wednesday of next week and if I can be of any assistance to you I shall be glad to do so; otherwise I shall not be there.