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 Negroes
 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 inexperience
 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. President
 Alvord once stated that “the colored people
seemed to think that they ought to be employed,”
 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 Jacksonville
 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 unable
 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.

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