55 THE FREEDMEN’S SAVINGS BANK 
used to help elect Grant and to carry the local 
elections in North Carolina caused a heavy run 
by the depositors. Another run caused by rumors 
of the bank’s political activities took out half a 
million dollars. It was practically impossible to 
keep the institution out of politics, for the Ne- 
groes connected with it were natural leaders, and 
the white officials were frequently in politics 
through their connection with the Freedmen’s 
Bureau and the local governments.’ 
INACCURATE BOOKKEEPING 
The accounts of the bank were never in good 
shape. This condition was due in part to the in- 
experience and lack of training of Negro clerks 
who were gradually employed in place of white 
clerks. And it was difficult for the management 
to dismiss an inefficient Negro employee. Presi- 
dent Alvord once stated that “the colored people 
seemed to think that they ought to be em- 
ployed,” and so, too, the management often 
thought. And in the later years much pressure 
was brought to bear to get in and keep in as 
clerks and cashiers prominent Negroes who had 
little business training. The cashier at Jackson- 
ville did not post the books for six months; other 
cashiers paid interest on total deposits, not on 
deposits in hand; few of them could ever make 
their books balance, and the central office could 
not force them to keep correct accounts. 
The one or two inspectors employed were un- 
able to reach all the branches, for a few which 
were usually in bad condition kept them busy, 
5 Ho. Rept. No. 121, 41 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 51; Douglas Report, p. 78. 
6